Silk Smitha

Infobox actor
bgcolour = #ccccff
name = Silk Smitha


imagesize =
caption = Silk Smitha in "Niraparathi"
birthname = Vijayalakshimi
birthdate = birth date|1960|12|2|mf=y
location = Eluru, Andhra Pradesh
deathdate = death date and age|1996|9|23|1960|12|2|mf=y
deathplace = Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Silk Smitha (December 2, 1960 – September 23, 1996) was a South Indian cinema actress. Even though Smitha appeared in some character roles, she became popular through her glamourous appearances in softcore films.

Biography

Born Vijayalakshimi into a poor family in Eluru (in Andhra Pradesh), she left school after the fourth standard, determined to become a film star. Moving in with her aunt in Madras (then the centre of the South Indian film industry) [cite news
Last Name = Kuldip
First Name= Singh
title = Obituary
language = English
publisher = The Independent
date = 1996-09-26
url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960926/ai_n14066122
accessdate = 2006-11-09] , she soon found a sponsor who renamed her Smitha. [cite news
Last Name = KP
First Name= Sunil
title = Chronicle of a death foretold
language = English
publisher = Rediff India Abroad
date = 1997-04-04
url = http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04silk.htm
accessdate = 2007-03-10] After garnering much notice and acclaim with her first major role, in the Tamil movie "Vandi Chakkaram" ("The Wheel"), in 1979, Smitha assumed the name "Silk," after her character's name in the movie. [cite news
Last Name = Staff Correspondent
First Name= Pradeep
title = Some reel-life role models
language = English
publisher = Deccan Herald
date = 2006-10-26
url = http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Oct262006/update11483520061026.asp
accessdate = 2006-11-09]

Career

Silk Smitha went on to star in over 200 Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and a few Hindi films. Her dance numbers and her bold performances in films like "Moondru Mugam" have made her the ultimate symbol of sensuality in Tamil, Kannada. Malayalam and Telugu 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. [cite news
Last Name = Sebastian
First Name= Pradeep
title = Magic workers
language = English
publisher = The Hindu
date = 2005-03-06
url = http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/lr/2005/03/06/stories/2005030600310500.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-09] One of her films, "Layanam", has earned a cult status in the Indian adult film industry, and was remade as "Reshma ki Jawani". [cite news
Last Name = Bhattacharya
First Name= Roshmila
title = Sex Sells
language = English
publisher = Screen Weekly
date = 2002-11-08
url = http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=8
accessdate = 2006-11-09] Her most respected film is "Moondram Pirai", remade as "Sadma". [cite news
Last Name = Ashok Kumar
First Name= SR
title = A saga of success
language = English
publisher = The Hindu
date = 2006-09-06
url = http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2006/09/15/stories/2006091500110200.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-09]

Death

In 1996, Smitha was found dead in her Chennai apartment. In the previous year she had tried to shift career in order to become a film producer. Financial problems and the loss of support among former friends and colleagues apparently led to depression. It is suspected that Smitha committed suicide. [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 =2007-12-22]

elected filmography

* "Yamakinkarudu" (1982)
* "Moondru Mugam" (1983)
* "Khaidi" (1983)
* "Challenge" (1984)
* "Layanam" (1989)
* "Halli Meshtru" (1992)
* "Sphadikam" (1995)
* "Adharvam" (1989)

Footnotes

References

* 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

*

Persondata
NAME= Smitha, Silk
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Vijayalakshimi
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actress
DATE OF BIRTH= December 2, 1960
PLACE OF BIRTH= Eluru, Andhra Pradesh
DATE OF DEATH= September 23, 1996
PLACE OF DEATH= Chennai, Tamil Nadu