Remembering Sridevi's strongest words on her 56th birth anniversary.
Her big, luminous eyes and electric smile always lit the screen.
But it was the way she became one with her character while retaining her larger-than-life charisma that made Sridevi one of Indian cinema's biggest superstars.
Although her quivering, shrill, voice wasn't her strong point, she spoke her lines with such abandon; imperfection transformed into distinction.
We miss her presence.
And we miss her voice.
As we mark Sridevi's 56th birth anniversary on August 13, Sukanya Verma remembers Sri through some of her memorable movie quotes.
Chaalbaaz
'Seeta, Salma ya Suzy, naam se kya farak padta hai? Main toh bas ek aurat hoon jo mardon ki banayi is duniya main apne shart se jeena chahti hoon'
Sridevi's delightful twin avatar in Chaalbaaz takes a fascinating look into her extremes.
Of course, it's the edgy extrovert, swaggering-by-the-second, cheeky chutzpah of Sri as Manju that steals the show in this 30-year-old classic.
What's not to love about this beer-glugging feminist telling Sunny Deol how she feels before they began boogieing in the rains to Na Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai?
Chaalbaaz
'Main madeera nahi peeti ji'
Mousy Anju deserves a mention too.
While her sassy sister could outdrink a bar, her shy twin evokes much amusement when she meekly asserts her teetotaler ways in Sri's signature singsong voice.
Chaalbaaz
'Jaani yeh chaaku hai. Lag jaaye toh khoon nikal aata hai'
Trust Sridevi to parody dialogue specialist Raaj Kumar's popular line from Waqt to such hilarious effect, you'll be compelled to attribute some of its ensuing success to the Chaalbaaz lady.
Chandni
'Cognac sharaab nahi hoti'
In Yash Chopra's Chandni, Sridevi plays a soft-spoken, starry-eyed girl who falls for an exuberant, wealthy, guy.
Around his lively company, her guard drops too.
Chopra deftly captures their moments of romantic reverie, where the duo imagines their Swiss honeymoon in a cognac-triggered haze.
Laadla
'Understand? You better understand!'
As the bullying, bratty boss and businesswoman ready to trounce anyone who dare defy her do or die policy, Sri spews vitriol and snaps fingers.
The Original Thanos, she!
Lamhe
'Aapke liye main saari duniya se lad sakti hoon. Magar kisi parchayi se nahi lad sakti'
On realising the woman in the painting is not her and that the man she loves once loved her deceased mother crushes Sridevi deeply.
Hurt and humiliated, she sees no point in continuing the fight. Even the fiercest of romantics have their limitations.
She can take on society, but not shadows.
Mr India
'Yeh bache hote hi kyon hain? Agar log bade hi paida hua karte toh kitna achha hota'
From the children-loathing journalist to being forced to share a roof with a bunch of boisterous kids to a sympathetic figure, who sees through their long faces and comes to their rescue, Sri's character in Mr India does a heart-warming turnaround.
Khuda Gawah
'Jyada mat socho laale di jaan. Soch gehri ho jaye toh faisle kamzor ho jaate hain'
Khuda Gawah presses all our sentimental buttons when Sridevi echoes the same philosophy as her father (played by Amitabh Bachchan) even though the two have never met.
Until they reunite, that is, amidst much tears and drama in Mukul S Anand's grand, ambitious offering.
English Vinglish
'Life is a long journey, Meera, sometimes... you will feel you are less, Kevin sometimes, you will also feel that you are less than Meera. Try to help each other, to feel equal, it will be nice'
In Gauri Shinde's effective English Vinglish, Sridevi's graceful, carefully measured speech at a family wedding pricks at the conscience of her callous husband and ungrateful daughter bringing about inevitable remorse.
Mom
'Galat aur bahut galat mein se chun-na ho, toh aap kya chunenge?'
Morality doesn't dictate a wronged mother seeking justice for her brutally assaulted daughter.
Sridevi's revenge-thirsty Mom is quite clear about not letting her scruples interfere with her settling scores.
This story was first publish on February 22, 2019.
