Welcome back, Sri!

Sridevi will perform on stage after 15 years, at the 52nd Fair One
Filmfare Awards, 2006. Is this enroute her way to Bollywood?

Aditi Jayakar Kane

Sridevi rehearsing for the 52nd Fair One Filmfare Awards 2006
Sridevi, who was lightning on screen throughout her career spanning
almost three decades in Bollywood, will be back on stage after 15
years, performing for the 52nd Fair One Filmfare Awards, 2006. Being
the Sridevi fans that we are, we decided to take a look at the
rehearsals at the Yashraj Studios.

Studio 1 of Yashraj Films did not appear dazzling in the least when
we arrived there at 3.30 pm for Sridevi's rehearsals for the awards.
However, soon the drapes of white cotton lying in a heap were spun
into a spectacular web on the stage, a large chandelier donned its
center and a huge pink lotus cut-out bloomed out of nowhere
suddenly. And voila, the place was transformed. All this while
Sridevi upstairs getting ready on the first floor in a room (which
had a nameplate announcing her name on the door).

A good deal of waiting later (at 6.45 pm) Sridevi arrived and
ascended the steps behind the lotus on stage. We know it's silly to
gush so here's a mild account of her -dressed in a swaroski studded
white amrapalli outfit, designed by Manish Malhotra she looked every
bit a of a diva.

The performance began with Sridevi dancing to the tandava rhythm of
Chandni, and Sridevi got it right in just two takes. All the while
the four cranes swerved hawk like cranes catching her from different
angles, while laser beams bathed the cotton drapes in pink and blue.

Manish Malhotra, who was sitting around munching sandwiches rushed
to her aid every time her chunri got entangled in the Swaroski. Says
Manish, "It took me ten days to get this outfit ready and I've given
her the Chandni look once again. For her other acts I've given her
very interesting tops with a net gold petticoat, a beige ghagra and
wine coloured Pultazo pants. They look stunning on her as she has
maintained herself so beautifully and is so slim and tall."

The performances have been choreographed by Shiamak Davar and
Sridevi's personal trainer from Shiamak's troupe, Kashmira, was
constantly pepping up the actress, helping her rehearse before every
take. Sridevi will be performing to four songs in all - the tandava
and `Mere hathon mein naun naun chudiyan hain' from Chandini , `Har
kisi ko nahin milta pyaar' from Jaanbaaz and `Naa jaane kahan se aai
aain' from Chalbaaz.

Says Kashmira, "Sridevi was really keen to show that being away from
the stage for 15 years has not hurt her talent. She was so
professional that she didn't tire of rehearsing for a whole week."

Sridevi has chosen these numbers to show her versatility, says
Kashmira. "With `Na jaane' , she is playing the 19-year-old
comedian. She can look naughty and match her partner who is a young
boy in this dance, effortlessly. With the tandava she shows she's a
flawless performer, with `Mere hathon mein' …she's a sexy screen
siren and with `Har kisi ko nahin' she's romantic to the core."

So is she a trifle nervous about facing the camera after so long? "
Nervous?" laughs Kashmira. " Absolutely not. She' s excited…and
fabulous!"

The associate sponsors of the awards are Bisleri and Ashrafi
Finance. The TV partner is Sony Television.