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{{short description|Indian actress}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Silk Smitha
| caption =
| native_name =
| image = Silk Smitha.jpg
| birth_name = Vijayalakshmi Vadlapatla
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1960|12|2}}
| birth_place = [[Kovvali, West Godavari district|Kovvali]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1996|9|23|1960|12|2}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| death_cause = [[Suicide by hanging]]
| occupation = Actress, dancer
| years_active = 1979–1996
}}

'''Vijayalakshmi Vadlapatla''' (2 December 1960 – 23 September 1996), better known by her [[stage name]] '''Silk Smitha''', was an Indian actress and dancer who worked predominantly in [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]], [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]], [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]], [[Kannada cinema|Kannada]] and [[Hindi]] films.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Zainab Mulla|title=Silk Smitha Happy Birthday: Top song videos of the bad girl of Southern cinema!|url=http://www.india.com/stream/silk-smitha-happy-birthday-top-song-videos-of-the-bad-girl-of-southern-cinema-209382/|access-date=14 June 2016|work=India.com|date=2 December 2014}}</ref> Smitha was part of several successful [[Item number|dance numbers]] in the 1980s Indian films.<ref>{{Cite web|last=K|first=Janani|date=2 December 2020|title=Who was Silk Smitha?|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/who-was-silk-smitha-1745997-2020-12-02|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-26|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

She entered the industry as a supporting actress, and was first noticed for her role as "Silk" in the 1979 Tamil film, ''[[Vandichakkaram]]''.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author=Anupama Chopra|author-link=Anupama Chopra|date=28 September 2011|title=Why Silk Smitha is Bollywood's favourite bad girl|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?ID=ENTEN20110184987&keyword=bollywood&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&nid=136920|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929234545/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?ID=ENTEN20110184987&keyword=bollywood&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&nid=136920|archive-date=29 September 2011|publisher=NDTV Movies}}</ref> She became a major [[sex symbol]] and was the most sought-after erotic actress in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://247latestnews.com/mysterious-death-indias-biggest-sex-symbol-silk-smitha/|title=The mysterious death of India's biggest sex symbol Silk Smitha|date=23 February 2015|access-date=15 August 2017}}</ref> In a career spanning 17 years, she appeared in over 450 films.<ref name=":0" />

== Early life ==
Smitha was born in a [[Telugu people|Telugu]] family, to Ramallu and Sarasamma in Kovvali village, Denduluru Mandal, [[Eluru]]. She left school after fourth standard (when she was about 10 years of age) due to the family's financial constraints. Her striking looks burdened her with uninvited attention, and her family married her off at a very young age. Her husband and in-laws treated her poorly and she soon ran away.<ref name=silk>{{cite news |last=Jayaraman |first=Gayatri |title=Silk Route |url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/tbb41xSiFdBXsY8zcK346M/Silk-Route.html|work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416103742/http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/tbb41xSiFdBXsY8zcK346M/Silk-Route.html |archive-date=16 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="BNET and the Independent">{{cite news| title = Obituary|publisher = The Independent cited in BNET| date = 27 September 1996 | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960926/ai_n14066122| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071017094321/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960926/ai_n14066122| url-status = dead| archive-date = 17 October 2007| access-date = 9 November 2006| last = Kuldip| first = Hussain }}</ref>

Smitha started as a touch-up artist for an actress and soon got a break in small character roles.<ref name=silk/> She got her first movie as a heroine by Malayalam director Anthony Eastman in his film "Inaye Thedi", though the movie got released very much later. Anthony gave her the name Smitha.<ref name=smitha>{{cite news |title=First person: The Silk Smitha I knew |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/first-person-the-silk-smitha-i-knew-imagegallery-kollywood-llzmyedcfbisi.html|work=[[Sify]] | date = 27 September 1996}}</ref>She got her big break in Tamil by director [[Vinu Chakravarthy]]. He took her under his wing; his wife taught her English and arranged for her to learn dancing,<ref name=foretold>{{cite news| title = Chronicle of a death foretold | publisher = Rediff India Abroad| date = 4 April 1997 | url = http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04silk.htm| access-date = 2 January 2009}}</ref> though soon, due to her marked sex appeal, she switched to roles of cabaret dancers and vamps and inevitably found herself [[Typecasting (acting)|typecast]].<ref name=silk/> After garnering much notice and acclaim with her first major role in the Tamil film ''[[Vandichakkaram]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/12/14213439/silk-smitha-cinema-history.html |title=கவர்ச்சி நடனத்தால் ரசிகர்களைக் கவர்ந்த 'சில்க்' சுமிதா தூக்கில் தொங்கினார் |publisher=Cinema.maalaimalar.com |date=22 September 1996 |access-date=14 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217120609/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/12/14213439/silk-smitha-cinema-history.html |archive-date=17 December 2013|trans-title=Sexy dance, attracted the fans 'Silk' Sumita hung herself to death}}</ref> in 1979, Smitha assumed the [[Stage name|screen name]] "Silk", after her character's name in the movie.<ref>{{cite news| title = Some reel-life role models| work = Deccan Herald| date = 26 October 2006| url = http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Oct262006/update11483520061026.asp| access-date = 9 November 2006| last = Staff Correspondent| first = Pradeep| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722152604/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Oct262006/update11483520061026.asp| archive-date = 22 July 2011| url-status = dead}}</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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527143621/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-21/news-interviews/28618730_1_silk-smitha-dirty-picture-ekta-kapoor|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 May 2012|date=21 February 2011|author=Vicky Lalwani}}</ref> After it became a big hit, she could not escape typecasting, severely limiting her range throughout her career.<ref name=silk/>

Smitha went on to star in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and a few Hindi films. Her dance numbers and bold performances in films like ''[[Moondru Mugam]]'' made her the ultimate symbol of sensuality in [[South India]]n cinema. Her [[item number]]s in films like ''[[Amaran (film)|Amaran]]'', ''[[Halli Meshtru]]'' (in [[Kannada]]) 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| title = Magic workers| date = 6 March 2005 | url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lr/2005/03/06/stories/2005030600310500.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110629034434/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lr/2005/03/06/stories/2005030600310500.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 29 June 2011 | access-date = 9 November 2006| work = [[The Hindu]]| last = Sebastian}}</ref> A vast majority of her movies are considered "softcore" by Indian standards and a common theme is her playing a freakishly strong agent in skimpy [[bikinis]] and beating up huge thugs. Her acting prowess did not go completely unnoticed, and in her rare non-sexual roles she impressed critics and audiences, such as her portrayal of a wife hurt by her role in her husband's rape of their maid (which she passively allowed by not preventing him from entering the maid's bathroom and standing "guard" during the shameful act, to prevent embarrassment to their family) and when she poignantly admitted her mistake in her confrontation of her husband in ''[[Alaigal Oivathillai]]'' (1981).<ref name=silk/> One of her films, ''[[Layanam]]'' (1989), has earned cult status in the Indian adult film industry and was dubbed in numerous languages, including [[Hindi]] as ''[[Reshma Ki Jawani]]'' (2002), acquiring cult status.<ref name=silk/><ref>{{cite news| title = Sex Sells| work = Screen Weekly| date = 8 November 2002| url = http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=8| access-date = 9 November 2006| last = Bhattacharya| first = Roshmila| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181504/http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=8| archive-date = 30 September 2007}}</ref> Her most respected film is ''[[Moondram Pirai]]'', by [[Balu Mahendra]], remade in Hindi as ''[[Sadma]]'', with much of the top-drawer cast, including Sridevi, Kamal Hassan, and Silk Smitha reprising their roles.<ref>{{cite news| title = A saga of success| date = 6 September 2006 | url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/09/15/stories/2006091500110200.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071021034832/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/09/15/stories/2006091500110200.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 21 October 2007| access-date = 9 November 2006| last = Ashok Kumar| work = [[The Hindu]]| first = SR}}</ref>

Such was her audience-drawing power that, 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/>

== Personal life ==
Silk Smitha had a small circle of close friends. She was an introvert and did not make friends quickly with anyone. She is also known for her short temper, willpower and straightforwardness, which some mistook for arrogance. In reality, she was punctual (arriving in movie sets well before the shooting commences), responsible, and ambitious (having learned to speak the English language fluently despite her limited education). She is also described as having a "soft" and "child like" personality by her friends and fans. She was skilled with makeup and made it her profession before entering the industry. She was naturally beautiful and well known for her doe-like eyes, golden complexion and physique.

== Death ==
On the morning of September 23, 1996, she contacted her friend, dancer [[Anuradha (actress)|Anuradha]], to discuss a matter that was disturbing her. Anuradha planned to visit after dropping her child at school.

Arriving later that morning, Anuradha found Smitha dead by hanging. A few months after her death, it was declared in the [[postmortem]] report that Smitha committed suicide, with high amounts of [[alcohol]] in her body.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/12/16224107/cinema-history.html|title='சுமிதாவுக்கு திருமணத்தில் நம்பிக்கை இல்லை': 'சில்க்' சுமிதாவின் காதலர் பேட்டி|publisher=Cinema.maalaimalar.com|access-date=14 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221172406/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/12/16224107/cinema-history.html|archive-date=21 December 2013|trans-title=' Sumita does not believe in the marriage ': Silk 'Sumita's Valentine Interview }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/12/15203008/Silk-smitha-cinema-history.html|title='எனக்கு வாழ்க்கை தருவதாக|access-date=14 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114224641/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/12/15203008/Silk-smitha-cinema-history.html|archive-date=14 January 2014|trans-title=Give me life}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{{Main|Silk Smitha filmography}}

== In popular culture ==
In 2011, a film inspired by Silk Smitha's life, titled ''[[The Dirty Picture]]'', was produced in [[Hindi]] by [[Ekta Kapoor]]. The movie was directed by [[Milan Luthria]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Vidya's nothing like Silk|newspaper=Pune Times of India|date=2 September 2011}}</ref> and starred [[Vidya Balan]] (who later won [[National Film Award for Best Actress]]). The movie was released on Smitha's birthday, along with its dubbed versions in Telugu and Tamil (2 December 2011) and received favourable reviews. Reports suggest that the family of Silk Smitha, on whom the film is based, is not happy with the movie. Smitha's brother, V. Naga Vara Prasad, claimed the film was made without the family's consent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/videos/entertainment/20/the-dirty-picture-irks-silks-kin/6504 |title='The Dirty Picture' irks Silk's kin |work=The Indian Express|access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> After the claim, [[Ekta Kapoor]] immediately changed her statement by quoting ''The Dirty Picture'' is not based on Silk Smitha's life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/11/nov/07-the-dirty-picture-is-not-about-silk-smitha-111103.asp |title=THE DIRTY PICTURE is not about Silk Smitha! – Bollywood news |publisher=glamsham.com |date=7 November 2011 |access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref>

However, in 2013, a [[Kannada language|Kannada]] film titled ''[[Dirty Picture: Silk Sakkath Hot]]'', starring [[Pakistani]] actress [[Veena Malik]] was released. The film was based on Silk Smitha, and Veena Malik was praised for her performance in the film. The film was a hit in Karnataka.

A [[Malayalam]] film titled ''[[Climax (2013 film)|Climax]]'', starring [[Sana Khan]] as Silk Smitha released on 24 May 2013.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== 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}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smitha, Silk}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:Telugu actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Suicides by hanging in India]]
[[Category:Actresses from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:People from Eluru]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:1996 suicides]]
[[Category:People from West Godavari district]]

Silk Smitha - Revision history

imported>Blue Square Thing: Reverted 1 edit by 2405:201:6007:4A42:74DE:5A6A:E27A:5520 (talk): OLINK