Remembering the flawless Chandni…

Prajna Prasad Sravan Kumar

A Bollywood fan musing about his second love, the Chandni of Bollywood, the ever beautiful Roop Ki Rani – Sridevi

Considering the last years of life as bonus from the Almighty, my late octogenarian grand father used to lead it with full zest as he was of the notion of “Kalisatha sathiye” which literally means sixty is the age for every life in Kaliyug.

Reiterating that thought at present context is not to support that view point rather to express my utter disbelief in accepting the fact that someone with the stature and stardom of Sridevi has left us at the age of 54 which is even less than sixty. God is so unkind. Life is so fragile and full of uncertainties for the mere mortals like us.

For me, getting the knowledge of you, the superstar Sridevi was purely an instance of serendipity. My quest to know more about my favorite Bachchan Saab landed me in your arena of stardom in the movie Khuda Gawah. That was the first time I saw your charisma on screen and came to know the concept of double roles.

You were as equally impressive as Mr. Bachchan in the movie. Fascinated by the title of the movie “Roop ki Rani, Chron Ka Raja” in my adolescent years, when I had a glimpse of you, I was completely awestruck and your vivaciousness truly justified the name of the film. Though a die hard fan of Madhuri Dixit, your portrayal of sensuality in the song “kate nahin kat te din ye raat”  of the movie Mr.India is as equally fascinating as  “Dil Dhak Dhak karne laga” of Beta and my respect for you become manifold as you did it much before the act of Madhuri Ji.

Further I saw you in Judaai, I was spell bound by your versatility. As you were on a long break from Cinema during my initial active film watching years in theatre, I couldn’t see you on a 70 mm screen which will hunt me in the rest of my life. But each time I got to know more about you through your movies like Chaalbaaz, Chandni, Lamhe and Sadma, my adulation for you grew in leaps and bounds. If I would have seen you before Madhuri Ji on screen, then my act of matinee idol worshipping could have been something different.

You are one of those rarest of the rare female superstars who had a grip across film industries. Your journey from a child artist at the age of four to the on and off-screen Mom speaks volumes about your body of work. You are the one who have struck an equal chord with Kamal Haasan, the epitome of excellence, Rajinikanth, the Demigod of Sothern Cinema and Big B, the Shahensha of Bollywood. You have left your footprints equally at Madras as well as Bombay.

If Jeetendra became the Himmatwala, definitely you are the source of that himmat. Anil Kapoor might be the Mr India, but you are the inspiration behind the mister. If Rajinikanth is the Chaalbaaz, you are undoubtedly the reason behind all chals(tricks). Innumerable awards and accolades imply your superstardom and larger than life persona.

Your hypnotizing performances will be terribly missed. The full moon day will be less interesting in the absence of you, the Chandni. Each time thunder comes, we will assume your presence and revisit “bijli girane me hun aayi”. You will be missed every time any marriage procession is overjoyed by the hysteric performance of naagin dance.

Every time an ordinary housewife tries to have a grip over the language of English, your spontaneity will rush into the thoughts. Every time the carefreeness of a girl is gossiped, “Najane kahan se ayi hai ye ladki” will be remembered and your absence will be felt. “Ae Zindgi Gale Lagale” may offer solace to the itching hearts, but your absence will add piles to the agony. Your untimely departure has really put the whole nation and the fans across the globe in Sadma. The Indian film industry has lost its Shree. You will be missed forever. Rest in Peace Sridevi Ji.

(Prajna Prasad Sravan Kumar is an IT Professional and currently based at Kolkata)