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Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess
SRIDEVI, by author & screenwriter, Satyarth Nayak with Foreword by Kajol and published by Penguin, charts her five-decade long journey from child-star to India's First Female Superstar. Besides Sridevi's glorious innings in Hindi Cinema, this book delves deep into her iconic body of work in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam & Kannada cinema. With exclusive interviews of the biggest actors and directors that Sridevi worked with, both in Bollywood and in the southern film industries, the narrative is filled with rare anecdotes and inputs from all of them, tracing the legend's evolution from her first film as a child actor in Thunaivan (1969) to her grand finale with Mom (2017). Filled with rare images of Sridevi and personal memories of several cinema personalities, this book will both entertain and enlighten the reader about lesser-known aspects of her legendary career spanning fifty years. Join us as we not only celebrate the phenomenon that Sridevi was but also give you glimpses of the person she was.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
270 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2019
18 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Satyarth Nayak
6 books103 followersSatyarth Nayak is an author and screenwriter based in Mumbai. A former SAARC Award-winning correspondent with CNN-IBN, Delhi, he holds a Master’s in English Literature from St. Stephen’s.
Satyarth’s bestselling biography, ''Sridevi—The Eternal Screen Goddess'', was published by Penguin in 2019 and charted the journey of the screen legend from child star to becoming India’s first female superstar. It met with high acclaim with the media hailing it as ‘’that one work of literature to decode Sridevi.’’ Satyarth’s debut novel, ''The Emperor’s Riddles'', that released in 2014, became a bestselling thriller, earning comparisons with Dan Brown for being a ‘history meets mystery’. Amish Tripathi described it as ‘’a fantastic blend of myth, imagination and mystery’’ while Hindustan Times called it ‘’a celebration of our great Indian civilization.’’ Satyarth followed it up with his second thriller, ''Venom'', in 2020. He has also scripted Sony’s epic historical show, ''Porus'', touted as India’s most expensive television series that aired from 2017 to 2019. His short stories have won the British Council award and appeared in Sudha Murty’s Penguin anthology, ''Something Happened On The Way To Heaven''. Satyarth’s latest book titled, ''Mahagatha'', has been published by HarperCollins and is an epic collection of 100 greatest mythological tales from the Puranas of Hinduism, narrated from Satya Yuga to Kali Yuga.
Named one of the Top 50 authors to follow on social media and a regular speaker at national and international literature festivals, Satyarth is currently scripting a high-profile mythology web series, working on his first film script and writing his next book based on the Mahabharata.
Satyarth’s bestselling biography, ''Sridevi—The Eternal Screen Goddess'', was published by Penguin in 2019 and charted the journey of the screen legend from child star to becoming India’s first female superstar. It met with high acclaim with the media hailing it as ‘’that one work of literature to decode Sridevi.’’ Satyarth’s debut novel, ''The Emperor’s Riddles'', that released in 2014, became a bestselling thriller, earning comparisons with Dan Brown for being a ‘history meets mystery’. Amish Tripathi described it as ‘’a fantastic blend of myth, imagination and mystery’’ while Hindustan Times called it ‘’a celebration of our great Indian civilization.’’ Satyarth followed it up with his second thriller, ''Venom'', in 2020. He has also scripted Sony’s epic historical show, ''Porus'', touted as India’s most expensive television series that aired from 2017 to 2019. His short stories have won the British Council award and appeared in Sudha Murty’s Penguin anthology, ''Something Happened On The Way To Heaven''. Satyarth’s latest book titled, ''Mahagatha'', has been published by HarperCollins and is an epic collection of 100 greatest mythological tales from the Puranas of Hinduism, narrated from Satya Yuga to Kali Yuga.
Named one of the Top 50 authors to follow on social media and a regular speaker at national and international literature festivals, Satyarth is currently scripting a high-profile mythology web series, working on his first film script and writing his next book based on the Mahabharata.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 18, 2020
When Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan left this world for good on the 24th of February 2018, it became difficult for millions of admirers like me to come to terms with the fact that we would never be able to see her recreate the magic of "Sridevi"; someone that made millions fall in love with cinema in general and with her in particular.
A legend no less, Sridevi acted in approximately 300 films in a career that was nothing short of extraordinary. Her spectacular success and iconic performances in the Tamil and Telugu films in the 1970s and 1980s were later only superseded by her burning desire to conquer Hindi Cinema as well. Her record-smashing debut in Bollywood catapulted her to the numero-uno position in three different film industries for over two decades; all while rightfully earning her the epithet of "The First Female Superstar of the Country". Her stardom stood out amongst her contemporary female stars and, in more instances than one, toppled that of her male counterparts as well. Blockbusters like Nagina, Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Judaai, and English Vinglish are a testament to the fact that her presence could easily reduce her male co-stars into being mere sidekicks. Even her much acknowledged underperformers in India have solid achievements to boast of: while Lamhe was a massive success overseas, Khuda Gawah opened to record-breaking initials at the ticket counters.
Sridevi, who made her on-screen debut as 'Baby Sridevi' at the tender age of four, soon established herself as the only female pan-India superstar. While she certainly was way ahead of her times and was a performer par excellence, many even went on to claim that she was, in fact, the greatest actress ever. On a very personal note, I cannot forget how her portrayal of a shape-shifting serpent in Nagina terrified me to bits, or how utterly charming she was as the eternal Chandni. My respect for her went places after having witnessed her acting prowess in films like Lamhe, Laadla, Judaai, Sadma, Chaalbaaz, English Vinglish, and, lastly, Mom. Sri also has a record of playing the maximum double-role characters by a lead actor, male or female.
Sri's greatness lies in the fact that she, unbeknownst to herself, was among the first few actors to have spearheaded the role of the show-stealing heroine in Bollywood. Soon after she established herself as a dominant force in the industry, she refused to play a mere sidekick to stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor by demanding roles that commanded more of her contribution and screen presence. Also, bidding adieu to a profession that helps one scale new heights of success cannot be easy, irrespective of the field of work one is involved in. But that is exactly what the Queen Bee happily did: retired from a profession that had turned her into a bonafide screen goddess to ensure that her children were given the childhood which she was denied. As reticent as Sri was in real life, she stunned the camera and set the dim theatres across the country on fire with performances that were full of charm, grace and finesse; many of which can never be matched or emulated.
As an avid movie-goer and an admirer of Sridevi, I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to catch her last two films on the big screen. Her 2012 outing, 'English Vinglish', marked her big comeback to cinema after a 15 year-long hiatus. Not only did Sri turn the picture into a global box office hit, but she also earned her comeback the much deserving tag of being the absolute best by a yesteryear star. She followed the stupendous success of English Vinglish with 'Mom'; a 2017 revenge-drama that was certainly amongst the best films produced that year. Her timeless expressions and deep piercing eyes helped her perform with grit and strength, thus further elevating the stature of the film. However, what made Mom all the more special is the fact that a lot of what she portrayed in the film resembled her real-life persona as well. A hard-working individual, a protective mother, a brave wife, a solid cine-star and a lady of integrity: Sridevi was all those and so much more. One connects with the amount of effort that she put in her last film; as if it were her first. I know I did, which is why I'll forever remember her as MOM.
PS: The only minor issue with this book is the deliberate, and sometimes unnecessary, use of jargon.
A legend no less, Sridevi acted in approximately 300 films in a career that was nothing short of extraordinary. Her spectacular success and iconic performances in the Tamil and Telugu films in the 1970s and 1980s were later only superseded by her burning desire to conquer Hindi Cinema as well. Her record-smashing debut in Bollywood catapulted her to the numero-uno position in three different film industries for over two decades; all while rightfully earning her the epithet of "The First Female Superstar of the Country". Her stardom stood out amongst her contemporary female stars and, in more instances than one, toppled that of her male counterparts as well. Blockbusters like Nagina, Chandni, Chaalbaaz, Judaai, and English Vinglish are a testament to the fact that her presence could easily reduce her male co-stars into being mere sidekicks. Even her much acknowledged underperformers in India have solid achievements to boast of: while Lamhe was a massive success overseas, Khuda Gawah opened to record-breaking initials at the ticket counters.
Sridevi, who made her on-screen debut as 'Baby Sridevi' at the tender age of four, soon established herself as the only female pan-India superstar. While she certainly was way ahead of her times and was a performer par excellence, many even went on to claim that she was, in fact, the greatest actress ever. On a very personal note, I cannot forget how her portrayal of a shape-shifting serpent in Nagina terrified me to bits, or how utterly charming she was as the eternal Chandni. My respect for her went places after having witnessed her acting prowess in films like Lamhe, Laadla, Judaai, Sadma, Chaalbaaz, English Vinglish, and, lastly, Mom. Sri also has a record of playing the maximum double-role characters by a lead actor, male or female.
Sri's greatness lies in the fact that she, unbeknownst to herself, was among the first few actors to have spearheaded the role of the show-stealing heroine in Bollywood. Soon after she established herself as a dominant force in the industry, she refused to play a mere sidekick to stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor by demanding roles that commanded more of her contribution and screen presence. Also, bidding adieu to a profession that helps one scale new heights of success cannot be easy, irrespective of the field of work one is involved in. But that is exactly what the Queen Bee happily did: retired from a profession that had turned her into a bonafide screen goddess to ensure that her children were given the childhood which she was denied. As reticent as Sri was in real life, she stunned the camera and set the dim theatres across the country on fire with performances that were full of charm, grace and finesse; many of which can never be matched or emulated.
As an avid movie-goer and an admirer of Sridevi, I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to catch her last two films on the big screen. Her 2012 outing, 'English Vinglish', marked her big comeback to cinema after a 15 year-long hiatus. Not only did Sri turn the picture into a global box office hit, but she also earned her comeback the much deserving tag of being the absolute best by a yesteryear star. She followed the stupendous success of English Vinglish with 'Mom'; a 2017 revenge-drama that was certainly amongst the best films produced that year. Her timeless expressions and deep piercing eyes helped her perform with grit and strength, thus further elevating the stature of the film. However, what made Mom all the more special is the fact that a lot of what she portrayed in the film resembled her real-life persona as well. A hard-working individual, a protective mother, a brave wife, a solid cine-star and a lady of integrity: Sridevi was all those and so much more. One connects with the amount of effort that she put in her last film; as if it were her first. I know I did, which is why I'll forever remember her as MOM.
PS: The only minor issue with this book is the deliberate, and sometimes unnecessary, use of jargon.
April 22, 2020
The end had me crying. The book was well written and I imagine that the author took a lot of time to write this with the amount of descriptive detail he goes into. I wish there was slightly more on her personal life.
February 7, 2020
It's well written and talks extensively about Sridevi's craft, but I feel that it was white-washed a tad bit.
November 11, 2023
Sridevi holds a great importance to me. She one of the most inspiring female stars and she just absolutely had an interesting career. This was a good one!
January 21, 2022
Read almost half of it last year and the remaining part just now. It's so beautifully written and at some points, it seemed more like a tribute than a biography.
April 15, 2020
An exhaustive insight into Sridevi's luminous career in Indian cinema and her unique brand of versatility, beauty, phenomenal public popularity and her domination in an industry typically run on patriarchy norms. A must-read for zealous admirers like me!
April 10, 2020
Sridevi was an eternal star. No woman must have ruled the hindi film industry as her for 40 yrs
A star in a true sense. This book also reflects a sweet humble side of her.
She has worked with whom not ? The only film actress who dictated her terms .
Author has invested lot of efforts . A lovely read.
A star in a true sense. This book also reflects a sweet humble side of her.
She has worked with whom not ? The only film actress who dictated her terms .
Author has invested lot of efforts . A lovely read.
February 10, 2020
This is a comprehensive look at actress Sridevi's illustrious film career, from her debut at the age of 4 years old, to her final film 50 years later. It's a celebration of an incredible talent, a woman worshiped by the masses like a deity, a woman who achieved "hero" status in a male-dominated, patriarchal industry and culture. But, as others have pointed out, the book is a non-controversial look at Sridevi's life, providing little new information about who she was off-screen. There are hints that all was not well in her life -- how could it be when, at 13, 14, and 15 years old she was being paid to romance men on screen who were old enough to be her father or grandfather? And while the author does question whether this had a psychological impact on Sridevi, he doesn't go much farther than that. I also felt that he glossed over her controversial "marriage" to a man who wouldn't divorce his wife and the book never mentions the rumors in the 1980s of a first marriage to another actor. There is one intriguing line in the book that stands out: Sridevi's reported disclosure that an actor was making unwanted advances toward her and, when she rebuffed him, he allegedly ran over her foot with a car. It is a tidbit like this that makes the reader see the vulnerable side of the actress and how, despite her successes and star power, she still had to deal with a dark side of male privilege. All in all, I enjoyed this book because it's really the first biography dedicated to Sridevi's career.
March 7, 2020
The book is a detailed account of the legend Sridevis career from the age of 4 till her unfortunate demise .
It was interesting to read about the determination and ambition with which Sridevi was at par with the leading heroes in her movies thus setting a standard that even if your above 50 you can still make a comeback and be successful.
It tells you about her strengths and vulnerabilities to show that stars too have their moments and the price one pays for stardom .
I think what could have been avoided was a detailed explanation of the script of her movies in the book and more emphasis could have been given to her later years
.
It was refreshing to know how many double roles she played and rightly said that the industry didn’t have the scripts for her as she was Super talented .
May she find peace 🙏🏽
It was interesting to read about the determination and ambition with which Sridevi was at par with the leading heroes in her movies thus setting a standard that even if your above 50 you can still make a comeback and be successful.
It tells you about her strengths and vulnerabilities to show that stars too have their moments and the price one pays for stardom .
I think what could have been avoided was a detailed explanation of the script of her movies in the book and more emphasis could have been given to her later years
.
It was refreshing to know how many double roles she played and rightly said that the industry didn’t have the scripts for her as she was Super talented .
May she find peace 🙏🏽
March 7, 2020
The wonderful reviews this book has been getting everywhere made me pick it up and its truly a piece of literature on Sridevi. An author is always constrained while writing a biography about a famous person and working within that, Satyarth does a brilliant job. Two things I loved about the book was one, it gives a detailed account of Sridevi's iconic body of work down south which most people up north are unaware of. And two, it gives you a close glimpse of the person Sridevi truly was. The analysis by Satyarth of various aspects of Sridevi is incredible and eye-opening. The rare anecdotes shared by everyone the author has interviewed is a collector's edition in itself. This is truly a book for generations. Highly recommended.
March 6, 2020
The book was originally titled "Sridevi: Girl Woman Superstar". I think then itself I felt a sort of aversion to not just the book but the idea of it. How do you write about one of the most formidable yet mysterious icons of Indian Cinema? A brief look at the acknowledgments validated this doubt - the writer thanks her husband under whose shadow the book was written; essentially this book becomes Sridevi propaganda. So all gossip is muted, all scandals removed, all faults blurred. How do you then write a biography that does justice to a rich life that moved millions? It doesn't help that Nayak, who has thoroughly researched the book finding and interviewing every possible lead, holds Sridevi on a pedestal. The best kinds of odes are the ones that read like a friend wrote it- think about Manto's 'Stars from Another Sky'.
This book is NOT her biography. It is a meditation on her filmography. (In some sense this is a genius framework given that quite literally, her life, for the most part, was just movies)
I wrote about Sridevi in the clouds of literature here if you want to read more: https://www.filmcompanion.in/reading-...
This book is NOT her biography. It is a meditation on her filmography. (In some sense this is a genius framework given that quite literally, her life, for the most part, was just movies)
I wrote about Sridevi in the clouds of literature here if you want to read more: https://www.filmcompanion.in/reading-...
September 28, 2020
Sridevi's first tryst with the camera started at an early age of four. Born to bilingual family in Madras, her father Ayyappan was a Tamilian and her mother Rajeshwari belonged from Andhra. She made her debut as a child artiste in the Tamil cinema in 1967. Soon after she was approached to play child artistes in many movies. She went on to act with the popular actors of that era. During her teenage years, she ruled the south Indian movie industry, before heading into the Hindi cinema in 1983, where she challenged the patriarchal Bolly industry and eventually, emerged as the female superstar in the coming years. She commanded a huge fan following in all the four languages of southern India--Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam--besides Hindi. With 300 films to her name, she remained the face of the pan Indian cinema for 5 decades till her demise.
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The author has managed to take us through the journey of the multifaceted Sridevi -a daughter, a sister, a diva, a hero, a superstar, a wife, a mother, and an artiste- yet, she remains an iconic enigma. I liked how the nine chapters in the book are named "Acts" to beautifully showcase the vivid phases of the superstar's life. Besides the various interview excerpts from magazines and quotes from her co-stars, film critics, film directors, the biography provides insights of a lesser known Sridevi to the world.
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The stunning book cover has a regal-looking Sridevi in monochrome. The sole reason why I picked this book in the first place!! Well, I'm glad I did.
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This Sridevi memoir is a toast to every Sridevi fan to celebrate her charisma, her flamboyant persona and, her beguiling acting. Even if you aren't, till you finish this book you'll end up being a Sridevi fanatic.
.
The author has managed to take us through the journey of the multifaceted Sridevi -a daughter, a sister, a diva, a hero, a superstar, a wife, a mother, and an artiste- yet, she remains an iconic enigma. I liked how the nine chapters in the book are named "Acts" to beautifully showcase the vivid phases of the superstar's life. Besides the various interview excerpts from magazines and quotes from her co-stars, film critics, film directors, the biography provides insights of a lesser known Sridevi to the world.
.
The stunning book cover has a regal-looking Sridevi in monochrome. The sole reason why I picked this book in the first place!! Well, I'm glad I did.
.
This Sridevi memoir is a toast to every Sridevi fan to celebrate her charisma, her flamboyant persona and, her beguiling acting. Even if you aren't, till you finish this book you'll end up being a Sridevi fanatic.
October 9, 2020
Disclaimer: I have been a big Sridevi fan since I was a kid. I was prepared to love this book, if it was a well written tribute to one of the most legendary actresses of our time. Which it completely was, so all my love and gratitude to all the people who made this book possible, especially Satyarth Nayak himself, for providing such fascinating insights into what is an exceptionally unique life. I was sobbing throughout the book, because I was so overwhelmed by the emotions and memories that the text invoked. And even though I knew exactly how the book would end, it still managed to break me.
Definitely one of the better biographies about Bollywood, and a must read for anyone interested in acting, or the history of Indian cinema, or how a woman could be revolutionary to rewrite the rules and change how an entire industry functioned. Rest in peace, dear Sridevi. You will never, ever be forgotten.
Definitely one of the better biographies about Bollywood, and a must read for anyone interested in acting, or the history of Indian cinema, or how a woman could be revolutionary to rewrite the rules and change how an entire industry functioned. Rest in peace, dear Sridevi. You will never, ever be forgotten.
February 21, 2024
3.5
I can see what an effortful project writing this biography must have been—given the uncompromising aloofness that the actress maintained all her life. For better or worse, the book barely reaches any closer to the mindscape of Sridevi, trading a revelation of her intimate life for a fanboyish yet skilled critique of her public life—her presence in films and in the audience's minds—in delicious details. While the book fails with its caricature-like descriptions of the actress' restrained nature, it succeeds in retaining the elements of mystery and fascination surrounding her, which continue to inspire attraction toward her among the fans.
I can see what an effortful project writing this biography must have been—given the uncompromising aloofness that the actress maintained all her life. For better or worse, the book barely reaches any closer to the mindscape of Sridevi, trading a revelation of her intimate life for a fanboyish yet skilled critique of her public life—her presence in films and in the audience's minds—in delicious details. While the book fails with its caricature-like descriptions of the actress' restrained nature, it succeeds in retaining the elements of mystery and fascination surrounding her, which continue to inspire attraction toward her among the fans.
July 6, 2024
People often underestimate the power of inspiration drawn from art and cinema.
Reading "Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess" reminded me of a significant life lesson:
Sridevi's journey wasn't just about her cinematic success, but about how she consistently broke barriers and reinvented herself. 🦋
Just like in our careers and personal lives:
[1] Perseverance: Despite numerous challenges, she remained at the top of her game for decades.
[2] Reinvention: From a child actress to a leading lady, she constantly evolved, adapting to changing times.
[3] Passion: Her dedication to her craft was unparalleled, inspiring countless people.
Reading "Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess" reminded me of a significant life lesson:
Sridevi's journey wasn't just about her cinematic success, but about how she consistently broke barriers and reinvented herself. 🦋
Just like in our careers and personal lives:
[1] Perseverance: Despite numerous challenges, she remained at the top of her game for decades.
[2] Reinvention: From a child actress to a leading lady, she constantly evolved, adapting to changing times.
[3] Passion: Her dedication to her craft was unparalleled, inspiring countless people.
July 19, 2020
The book is well-researched. It chronicles the journey of Sridevi to a rising star. However to elevate her to a 'screen goddess' is too high a distinction. Bollywood has produced quite a crop of talent and there is no dearth of talented actresses in the industry. The book focusses majorly on golden years of Sridevi's life and fails to comprehend that she was not infallible and like any human being, she too had certain weaknesses. However, if you are an ardent fan of Sridevi or is eager to learn more about her, this book won't disappoint you.
November 11, 2024
Very good introduction and goodbye to one of India’s finest artists. Focuses, justly so, on the world of film in which she immersed herself. One feels the hope, with the author, that she did , in the years she was finally a little bit distanced from cinema, have the satisfying life she expressed that she desired.
February 17, 2020
While the book is well written, I wish the author and the publishing house had paid more attention to editing the book properly. Mistakes and missing words almost make you put the book down but you pick up again because Sridevi!
March 13, 2020
Quite a gushing account of a very talented actress. Every major film of the actress has been analysed and described in minute details.
February 19, 2021
A very lucid account of Sridevi's professional life. Would have loved to read more about her personal one too.
Its a great read and gives a lot of insight into this prodigy.
Its a great read and gives a lot of insight into this prodigy.
August 3, 2022
god made me read this during the mars/rahu transit
January 27, 2025
This is a lovely portrait of an actress of the highest caliber and more importantly of a woman with the most delightful persona. This is a must read for anyone interested in the art of cinema.
March 14, 2020
Amazing
I loved this book that finally gave us an insight into the live of one of my all time favourite actresses. I cried though while reading about her death. She will forever remain in our hearts.
I loved this book that finally gave us an insight into the live of one of my all time favourite actresses. I cried though while reading about her death. She will forever remain in our hearts.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews