Thursday, April 25, 2019

Epitaph of an era

The epitaph of an era

The abrupt and sudden demise of Sridevi Boney Kapoor plunged an entire nation into inconsolable grief and angst. A born actress, who sashayed almost every conceivable role, from the tender age of 4. An artiste whose histrionics, subtle seductive demeanour, and graceful dancing, captured the imagination of all sections, ages and classes of society made an exit from this world that almost superimposed the real with the reel.
A nation with a celluloid obsession went overboard with speculations, conspiracy theorists had a field day, media was on overdrive to spike up the TRPs.
     The sheer efforts, hard work, dedication, application, discipline and prodigious talent never found any mention amidst this hysteria.
Sridevis unfortunate end actually was the end of an era.  An era that was ushered in by this very reticent, underrated young actress who forced everyone to take notice of her by her sheer talent and ability to connect with all segments of the audience.
Sridevi Kapoor (born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan; 13 August 1963 – 24 February 2018), mononymously known as Sridevi,  starred in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada films. She went on to become Hindi cinema's first "female superstar" not a mean feat  in a largely male dominated industry.
 After a string of commercial hits she excelled herself in Sadma released in 1983. This pièce de résistance
brought Sridevi critical acclaim. This film was a remake of her Tamil film Moondram Pirai and is included in the list of '10 Must Watch Movies. Her histrionic abilities brought a smile on the lips and a tear in the eyes simultaneously.
She had the equanimity to take a break of 8 years from the glitz and  glamour of stardom to do full justice to raising a family. This tectonic shift was effected without any trace of doubt ot remorse. The ability to wipe off the paint and mascara to settle into a totally self effacing life of domestic anonymity requires the greatest of strength and conviction. Sridevi played this role to perfection without any audience, awards or acclaim.
Her comeback vehicle saw her reinvent herself playing the role of a shy, middle aged housewife.
The Times of India called it "easily one of the best films of 2012" and Sridevi's performance "a masterclass for actors."
Sridevi next made her mark in her home production titled Mom (2017). It was a milestone of sorts being  her 300th film.It sent the  critics praising Sridevi's performance, and was hailed by one and all.
It established her as the high-priestess of Indian cinema.
Her rather tragic end raised a storm of controversies and conjectures but it was largely because her end signified the end of an era. The end of a breed of thorough bred actresses, who effortlessly slipped in and  out of a plethora of roles, both on and off the screen.

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