During my stay in Salem 1980-82 I used to daily see one Tamil or Malayalam films with my colleagues Mr TV Vaidyanathan who knew both Tamil and Malayalam and Mr CND Nair who was a Malayali.
Most of the days we would complete our site work by 10 PM so as to have enough time to take our dinner . Our standing instructions to our favourite waiter Thambi Manjunath of Hotel Gokulam, 5 Roads Junction was to keep our dinner in our rooms. We will quickly take our dinner and then rush to Salem city for 11 PM last show. We will go for either an English movie or a Tamil / Malayalam movie recommended by our friends or as chosen by our driver. I learnt to read Tamil a little to read name of films and name of cinema halls as in the posters. Our usual pick used to be films made by Bhagya Raja and we saw the films Antha 7 Naatkal (original version of Woh Saat Din) and Moondram Pirai (Original of Sadma). Moondram Pirai starred Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. I instantly became fan of both Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. Innocence on the face of Bhagyalaxmi (Sridevi) who has lost her memory and is behaving like a child is so real. Cheenu (Kamal Haasan) who tries hard to get her memory back is so desperate to make Bhagyalaxmi recognize him one she regains memory is remarkable in the climax scene. .
Sridevi Kapoor born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan (1963-2018) entered Hindi film industry in 1983 and soon stole heart of millions through her performances. I particularly like her comical performances in Mr India, Chalbaaz and Judaai. Her more serious films such as Sadma, lamhe, Chandini, Ladaala and Khuda Gawah do also touch our heart. Her two second innings films English Vinglish and MOM were welcome come back and Film going public expected many more such films from her. Her untimely departure has shocked millions of her fans -- that includes me !
May her soul rest in peace. God bless her family.
