The void left by Sridevi, Indian cinema’s first female superstar, will be hard to fill. Who can forget her outstanding performances in a repertoire of films such as Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu and English Vinglish. In the former, the song “Sippi irukkuthu” will never fade away. It is a “duet song” that still mesmerises. In English Vinglish , Sridevi was a complete natural. Scenes such as her inability to communicate in English on her flight to New York and her traumatic experience at a coffee shop will remain etched in our memories.
D. Sethuraman,
Chennai
Sridevi’s entry into Bollywood came at a time when there were no battalions of managers, publicists and stylists who are now an integral part of a filmstar’s team. And the media was not as adulatory as it is today. I understand that she was not very fluent in English and spoke very little Hindi. But being the star that she was, she quickly found her feet. If stardom is to be judged by mass appeal, then there’s no other Indian actor who has the kind of reach that Sridevi did. It will be hard finding another actor like her as she was a combination of beauty, grace and all-round talent.
Padmini Raghavendra,
Secunderabad
Sridevi was an icon who was dignified and conducted herself with decorum, professionalism and commitment. The outpouring of grief following news of her untimely passing shows her range and depth of her popularity. She was a household name and has shown us how if one is professional and show commitment to work with discipline and good manners one can reach the top.
J.P. Reddy,
Nalgonda, Telangana
In a glittering career spanning decades, Sridevi transcended the language barrier, captivating cinema audiences with her versatility and scintillating screen presence. She is perhaps the only actor to have starred opposite a series of heroes in a variety of language films. India may never produce a female actor of such mettle and ability.
N.J. Ravi Chander,
Bengaluru
Long after her peers left the field, Sridevi was back with a bang. Her last two films, Mom and English Vinglish only reinforced appreciation of her versatility and range of acting skills. Sridevi is perhaps the only Indian actor who was a marquee name and could allow an entire film to rest on her shoulders.
Meghana A.,
Shell Cove, NSW, Australia
The Indian film industry has lost a versatile actor. Her ability to essay all kinds of roles and express a range of emotions and nuances with aplomb can never be matched. What will make her stand out is that despite her superstardom, she never threw her weight around and stayed free of all controversies. This is a lesson for all young actors today.
M. Somasekhar Prasad,
Badvel, Andhra Pradesh
The rich tributes in the global media paid to Sridevi — in The New York Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Straits Times , for example — are an eye-opener. The superstar appears to have struck a chord across the globe, in lands where there is a strong Indian diaspora such as in the West and Australia, and countries as diverse as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Cambodia and Vietnam. Her ability to break the language barrier and then relate to the world with her unmatched acting skills was what made her a true star.
Aju Makita,
Dubai, UAE
