Srividya's demise: a star has ceased to glitter in Kollywood

Chennai, Oct 20 (UNI) Whether it was glamour oozing character, one with negative shades or the self-abnegating, silent sufferer, she was one of the few actors who could essay a variety of emotions with aplomb.

Srividya, the daughter of Carnatic musician M L Vasanthakumari, who succumbed to cancer last evening in Kerala, was a rare gem of the South Indian cinema. The Tamil film industry in particular would consider her untimely demise as a great loss of a great talent.

As though a Godsend to the tinsel world, the petite actress made her debut in Tamil cinema in her teens in the mid 60s in "Tiruvarutselvar'', a mythological movie about a devotee of Lord Muruga in the Hindu pantheon of Gods starring another legend late Sivaji Ganesan. Then she played a cameo role in an action film ''Moondrezhuthu''.

But Srividya came good as an actress in ''Apporva Ragangal'', directed by another acknowledged genius in Tamil cinema, K Balachandar in 1975. She endeared herself to film buffs and critics alike essaying the role of a Carnatic singer and played wife to superstar Rajnikant, who had made his debut in the film in a brief role.

From then on, Srividya , dividing her career between Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films, blossomed into a major actress and played heorine to both Rajnikant and her own favourite Kamal Hassan.

As her immense talent would have it, Srividya, who was physically not in shape, played the role mother to the new generation of superstars like Vijay and Satyaraj, another acknowledged talent in Kollywood.

Before signing off her glorious career in Tamil cinema with the film ''Pilot'', some of Srividya's successful films included, ''Sollathaan Ninaikkiren'', ''Imayam'', ''Apoorva Sagothargal'', ''Mapillai'', ''Kattabomman'', ''Thainaadu'', ''Karpooramullai'', ''Kaadalukku Mariyadai'', ''Manithan'', ''Thalapathi'', ''Vetripadigal'', ''Kannedire Thondrinal'', 'Aaru Pushpangal'', ''Kaadala Kaadala'' ''Needikku Thandanai'' , ''Rasigan'' and ''Indiran Santhiran''.

All these films made by prestigeous banners, including directors of the calibre of Maniratnam, had a stupendous run of 200 days and were declared 'mega hits', in Kollywood trade jargon.

It would be a cliche to say that there would never be another Srividya in South Indian cinema. But many a fan of hers as well as critics and those who had acted alongside her vouch for this! UNI VV SSC BST2008