Clearly, 'Nagina' belongs to the magnificent Sridevi. It is also well known for Sridevi's energetic performance as she sets the floor on fire with the most famous 'snake dance' on screen. 'Main Teri Dushman' is one song that lingers and it is shot quite brilliantly with Amrish Puri's snake charmer tormenting Sridevi's 'Rajni'. The background score is very annoying and the songs (with the exception of the last one) are terrible. Malhotra maintains the suspense and surprise element very well. Sridevi is first portrayed as a bubbly village belle but as the plot unfolds, actress slowly peels each layer of her character, catching one by surprise but in a very believable way. I like how Malhotra sets the tone and lets the events unfold, keeping the viewers engaged.

Note that this is an 80's movie (when commercial Hindi films were at their lowest but 'Nagina' shines and manages to stay above).

One snakewoman is mentioned then it is Sridevi's 'Nagina' that comes to mind. Who remembers a Rekha or a Reena Roy in such an avatar. Many famous Indian actresses, like Reena Roy and Rekha, have been witnessed to play snakewoman on screen but none of them have reached the proportion that Sridevi has with 'Nagina'. It finally went to Sridevi as, one would know after watching the film, 'Nagina' was only meant for her. Harmesh Malhotra struggled a lot to find a leading lady for this mythological yet modernized fantasy thriller but all these actresses, not willing to take the risk, turned down the part. For me, 'Nagina' is one of the few very enjoyable Hindi films of the 80s.

Nagina hindi film