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{{Infobox actor
| name = Silk Smitha
| image = Silk Smitha Still (12).jpg
| birth_name = Vijayalakshmi
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|12|2|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Eluru]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1996|9|23|1960|12|2|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
}}

'''Silk Smitha''' ('సిల్క్' స్మిత) (2 December 1960 – 23 September 1996) was an [[Cinema of India|Indian]] film actress. Starting a make-up girl in 1970s, she became an movie extra <ref>{{cite web |title= Why Silk Smitha is Bollywood's favourite bad girl|author=Anupama Chopra|authorlink=Anupama Chopra|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?ID=ENTEN20110184987&keyword=bollywood&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&nid=136920 |date=September 28, 2011 |publisher=NDTV Movies }}</ref> and subsequently the most wanted heroine of the early 80s. The [[sobriquet]] "Silk" came in 1979, with her first Tamil film ''Vandi Chakkaram'', in which she played a [[bar girl]] named Silk. In a career spanning 17 years, she did over 450 films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi languages.

== Biography ==

Born '''Vijayalakshmi''' in poor family in [[Eluru]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], Smitha left school after her fourth standard due to financial constraints. Due her good looks, she was ‘exploited’ by men, thus her family married her off at a very young age. But when she started getting ill-treated in her marriage, she ran away to Madras (Chennai) and started living with an aunt.<ref name=silk/><ref name="BNET Independent">{{cite news | Last Name = Kuldip| First Name= hussain| title = Obituary|publisher = The Independent cited in BNET| date = 1996-09-26 | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960926/ai_n14066122| accessdate = 2006-11-09}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>

==Career==
She started her career as as a touch-up artiste for a B-grade actor, and soon got a break in small character roles.<ref name=silk/> Later she was discovered by Indian director [[Vinu Chakravarthy]] at a flour mill. He renamed her Smitha and his wife taught her English, while she learned dancing from another teacher.<ref>{{cite news | Last Name = KP| First Name= Sunil| title = Chronicle of a death foretold | publisher = Rediff India Abroad| date = 1997-04-04 | url = http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04silk.htm| accessdate = 2009-01-02}}</ref> Smitha made her debut in the [[Cinema of Kerala|Malayalam film]] ''Inaye Thedi'' in 1979.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/movies/apr/04silk.htm Chronicle of a death foretold] Rediff April 04, 1997</ref>, though soon due to her overt sex appeal, she switched to roles of cabaret dancers and vamp roles and thus got [[type casted]]. <ref name=silk/> After garnering much notice and acclaim with her first major role in the Tamil film ''Vandi Chakkaram'', in 1979, Smitha assumed the [[Stage name|screen name]] "Silk", after her character's name in the movie.<ref>{{cite news | Last Name = Staff Correspondent| First Name= Pradeep| title = Some reel-life role models| publisher = Deccan Herald| date = 2006-10-26 | url = http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Oct262006/update11483520061026.asp| accessdate = 2006-11-09}}</ref><ref name="toi_20110221">{{cite news|title=Ekta slams Silk Smitha's boyfriend|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-21/news-interviews/28618730_1_silk-smitha-dirty-picture-ekta-kapoor|date=February 21, 2011|author=Vicky Lalwani}}</ref> However after it became a big hit, she could not escape typecasting, severely limiting her range throughout her career.<ref name=silk/>

Silk Smitha went on to star in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and a few Hindi films. Her dance numbers, semi-nude scenes and bold performances in films like ''[[Moondru Mugam]]'' made her the ultimate symbol of sensuality in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] cinema. Her item numbers in films like ''[[Amaran]]'' were also celebrated at the box office. Some film critics, historians and journalists have referred to her as a "soft porn" actress.<ref>{{cite news | Last Name = Sebastian| First Name=| title = Magic workers| publisher = The Hindu| date = 2005-03-06 | url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lr/2005/03/06/stories/2005030600310500.htm| accessdate = 2006-11-09}}</ref> A vast majority of her movies are softcore and a common theme is her playing a freakishly strong agent in skimpy [[bikinis]] beating up huge thugs. Even in the rare non-sexual roles, she impressed critics and audiences, such as her role of a wife hurt by her husband's infidelity in ''[[Alaigal Oivathillai]]'' (1981). <ref name=silk/> One of her films, ''[[Layanam]]'' (1989), has earned a cult status in the Indian adult film industry, and was dubbed in numerous languages including, [[Hindi]] as ''[[Reshma Ki Jawani]]'' (2002), which too acquired cult status.<ref name=silk/><ref>{{cite news | Last Name = Bhattacharya| First Name= Roshmila| title = Sex Sells| language =| publisher = Screen Weekly| date = 2002-11-08 | url = http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=8| accessdate = 2006-11-09}}</ref> Her most respected film is ''[[Moondram Pirai]]'' by [[Balu Mahendra]], who he remade it in Hindi as ''[[Sadma]]'', with much of the cast, including Sridevi, Kamla Hassan, and Silk Smitha reprising their roles.<ref>{{cite news | Last Name = Ashok Kumar| First Name= SR
| title = A saga of success| publisher = The Hindu| date = 2006-09-06 | url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/09/15/stories/2006091500110200.htm| accessdate = 2006-11-09}}</ref>

At the peak of her career, according to Tamil film historian, [[Randor Guy]], "Films that had lain in cans for years were sold by the simple addition of a Silk Smitha song.”. <ref name=silk>{{cite news |title=Silk Route: Ekta Kapoor​’s forthcoming film ‘The Dirty Picture’ revisits a sequins-and-pelvic-thrust era of Tamil cinema..|url=http://www.livemint.com/2011/09/30210746/Silk-Route.html?h=A3 |publisher=[[Mint (newspaper)]] |date=September 30 2011}}</ref>

==Death==

In 1996, Smitha was found dead in her [[Chennai]] apartment. The previous year she had tried to become a film producer. Financial problems, disillusionment in love and an alcohol dependency apparently led to depression.<ref name="BNET Independent"/> It is suspected that Smitha committed suicide.<ref name=indiatoday>{{cite news|last=Vasudev| first=Shefalee| title= Young Affluent and Depressed | publisher = ''India Today'' |date =2002-12-23 | url =http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20021223/living.shtml | accessdate =2009-01-02}}</ref>, but the circumstances of her death remain a mystery.

==In popular culture==
In 2011, a [[biographical film|biopic]] on Silk Smitha's life, titled ''[[The Dirty Picture]]'', is being produced in [[Hindi]] by [[Ekta Kapoor]], directed by [[Milan Luthria]] <ref>{{cite news|title=Vidya's nothing like Silk|newspaper=Pune Times of India|date=September 2, 2011}}</ref> starring [[Vidya Balan]] as Smitha which is slated to release on Smitha's birthday on December 2, 2011.<ref>{{cite news| title= First Look: Vidya Balan as Silk Smitha | publisher = ''Times of India'' |date =2011-08-26 | url =http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-26/news-interviews/29931311_1_silk-smitha-vidya-balan-ekta-kapoor | accessdate =2011-11-29}}</ref><ref name=silk/>

==Selected filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year!! Film !! Role !! Language
|-
| 1979 || ''Inaye Thedi'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1979 || ''Vandi Chakkaram'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Alaigal Oivathillai]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Seethakoka Chiluka (1981 film)|Seethakoka Chiluka]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Yamakinkarudu]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Moondram Pirai]]'' || Headmaster's wife || Tamil
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Sagalakala Vallavan]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Pattanathu Rajakkal]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Theerpu]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Thanikattu Raja]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Ranga]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Sivantha Kankal]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Parvaiyin Marupakkam]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Moondru Mugam]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Paayum Puli]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Thudikkum Karangal]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Sadma]]'' || Soni || Hindi
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Thai Veedu]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Prathigna]]'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Thanga Magan]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Khaidi]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Jeet Hamaari]]'' || Soni || Hindi
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Jaani Dost]]'' || Laila || Hindi
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Attakkalasam]]'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Eettappuli]]'' || Rani || Malayalam
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Silk Silk Silk]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Soorakottai Singakutti]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Gudachari No.1]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Roshagadu]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Challenge (1984 film)|Challenge]]'' || Priyamvada || Telugu
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Rustum]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Neenga Kettavai]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Vaazhkai]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Prachanda Kulla]]'' || || Kannada
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Ottayam]]'' || Bhagyalakshmi || Malayalam
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Revenge (1985 film)|Revenge]]'' || Geetha || Malayalam
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Chattamtho Poratam]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Shri Datta Darshanam]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Raakshasudu]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Aalappirandhavan]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Miss Pamela]]'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Layanam]]'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Adharvam]]'' || Ponni || Malayalam
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Pick Pocket (film)|Pick Pocket]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Sonthakkaran]]'' || Sudha || Tamil
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Avasara Police 100]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Sunday 7 PM]]'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Aditya 369]]'' || Rajanarthaki Nandini || Telugu
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Thalattu Ketkudhamma]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Chaithanya]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Thambikku Oru Paattu]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Idhayam]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Naadody (1992 film)|Naadody]]'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Halli Meshtru]]'' || || Kannada
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Antham]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Sabash Babu]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Bava Bavamaridi]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Mafia (1993 film)|Mafia]]'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Ulle Veliye]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Alimayya]]'' || || Kannada
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Rakshana]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Muta Mestri]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Oru Vasantha Geetham]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Vijaypath]]'' || || Hindi
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Palnati Pourusham]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Maro Quit India]]'' || || Telugu
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Spadikam]]'' || Laila || Malayalam
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Thumboli Kadappuram]]'' || || Malayalam
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Lucky Man (film)|Lucky Man]]'' || || Tamil
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Coimbatore Mappillai]]'' || || Tamil
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further Reading ==
* Ashish Rajadhyaksha, ''Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema'', Oxford University Press, 1994 (ISBN 0-85170-669-X)
* Roopa Swaminathan, ''Star Dust: Vignettes from the Fringes of the Film Industry'', Penguin, 2004 (ISBN 0-14-303243-7)
* Suparna Bhaskaran, ''Made in India: Decolonizations, Queer Sexualities, Trans/National Projects'', Palgrave Macmillan, 2004 (ISBN 1-4039-6726-1)

== External links ==
* {{imdb name|id=0810427}}
*[http://www.silksmitha.in Silk Smitha Blog]

<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
| NAME = Smitha, Silk
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Vijayalakshimi
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Actress
| DATE OF BIRTH = 2 December 1960
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Eluru]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 23 September 1996
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smitha, Silk}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian actors]]
[[Category:Tamil film actors]]
[[Category:Actors who committed suicide]]
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:Kannada film actors]]
[[Category:Suicides in India]]
[[Category:People from West Godavari]]
[[Category:Non Malayali actors acted in Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Pseudonymous artists]]

[[kn:ಸಿಲ್ಕ್ ಸ್ಮಿತಾ]]
[[ml:സിൽക്ക് സ്മിത]]
[[pt:Silk Smitha]]
[[sv:Silk Smitha]]
[[te:సిల్క్ స్మిత]]
[[zh:西麗克·史密莎]]

Revision as of 20:13, 4 October 2011

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