Google Doodle honours late Bollywood icon Sridevi on 60th birth anniversary

In a heartfelt homage to the late and illustrious Bollywood actress Sridevi on her 60th birth anniversary, Google Doodle paid tribute on Sunday. Born on August 13, 1963, in what is now Tamil Nadu, Sridevi’s extraordinary acting prowess graced the silver screen over four decades, during which time she starred in nearly three hundred films. Even now, she continues to be heralded with much adoration and respect within the industry.

Sridevi was a mere four when her journey into the world of movies began. Google, in its detailed illustration of the actress, penned her tale, “She fell in love with movies as a child and started acting at four years old in the Tamil movie, Kandhan Karunai. Sridevi learned to speak multiple South Indian languages, which allowed her to break into India’s other film industries…”, the tech behemoth stated.

Mumbai-based guest artist Bhumika Mukherjee, the talent behind the extraordinary doodle, effortlessly encapsulated the spirit and charm of Indian cinema in the illustration. The vivid colours and dramatic font sparked a wave of nostalgia, featuring Sridevi in a captivating dance pose.

Narrating more about Sridevi’s rise to fame, Google further highlighted her breakthrough role in K. Balachander’s Moondru Mudichu back in 1976. “… Regarded as the gem of Tamil cinema, Sridevi’s on-screen charisma drew the eyes of producers from the Hindi-speaking film industry as well,” it meantioned.

The narration continued, “After performing the lead role in the action-comedy Himmatwala, Sridevi solidified her status as a national icon and box-office magnet in Bollywood.” In the subsequent decade, her charisma only amplified with a string of blockbuster hits such as ‘Sadma’, ‘Chaalbaaz’, and numerous others. “She remains one of the only Bollywood actresses to headline blockbuster movies without a male lead in an industry traditionally centred around male dominance,” emphasised Google.

A decade-long sabbatical came to an end as Sridevi made a successful foray back into the cinematic world with ‘English Vinglish’ in 2012, earning widespread applause. That year, she was also honoured with the Padma Shri. In 2017, she secured the “Best Actress” National Film Award for her compelling performance in the crime thriller ‘Mom’.

In addition to her exemplary career, Sridevi was wife to film producer Boney Kapoor and mother to two daughters, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor. Her untimely death shook the film industry and fans alike when she passed away tragically due to accidental drowning in Dubai in 2018.