Now a Malayalam film on 'real' Silk Smitha

Kochi: The Dirty Picture may have been one of the most popular Hindi films of 2011 but it appears not everyone is convinced that it was an authentic biopic on Silk Smitha's life. It is the argument of those pushing for a 'real' take on Silk Smitha that all was not 'Dirty' about the actor and that there were many critical aspects of her life that were ignored in Milan Luthria's effort. That is why the Malayalam film industry is coming up with its own film based on the life of Vijayalakshmi aka Silk Smitha.

The film, tentatively titled 'Profile', portraying the life of an actress who - with her sensuous, dusky face and titillating dancing - ruled over the South Indian film industry for nearly 17 years, is all set to go on floors by early June.

The difference: it is being done by a set of people who knew her professionally and worked with her through her long association with Malayalam cinema.

• 

  Born on December 2, 1960, Silk Smitha became a sensation in the industry with her dare bare acts.

• 

  Sexy southern star Silk Smitha is back in news, thanks to Vidya Balan's 'The Dirty Picture'.

• 

  Silk starred in almost 450 films in different languages.

• 

  Born Vijayalakshmi, Silk Smitha's youth was turbulent and hard.

• 

  She dropped out of school due to financial problems and got married early.

• 

  When her marriage failed she ran off to Chennai to make a life for herself.

• 

  Starting off as a make-up girl in the 1970s, she became an movie extra and then subsequently the most wanted heroine of the early 80s.

• 

  The name 'Silk' came in 1979, with her first Tamil film 'Vandi Chakkaram', in which she played a bar girl named Silk.

• 

  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 as well.

• 

  Smitha made her debut in the Malayalam film 'Inaye Thedi' in 1979.

• 

  But due to her overt sex appeal, she switched to roles of cabaret dancers and vamp roles and got type casted.

• 

  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, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam cinema.

• 

  Some film critics, historians and journalists have referred to her as a 'soft porn' actress.

• 

  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.

• 

  It was suspected that Smitha committed suicide, but the circumstances of her death remain a mystery.

• 

  Silk Smitha was 35 year old when she died.

• 

  Vidya Balan's character in 'The Dirty Picture' is inspired from Silk Smitha.

images

The film, tentatively titled \'Profile\', is all set to go on floors by early June this year only.

"'Profile' is based on the life of Silk Smitha. Antony Eastman, who introduced Smitha to the Malayalam industry through the movie 'Inaye Thedi', has penned the story. Veteran script-writer Kaloor Dennis, who etched out more than 15 characters for her, will write the screenplay for the movie to be directed by Anil (of the Anil Babu team)," a source close to the production team said.

However, Kaloor Dennis refused to divulge any details regarding the characters in the script. "I have completed the scripting of a movie based on the life of an actress. But I cannot disclose the details now," he said.

The makers are trying to rope in Richa Gangopadhyay ('Osthi', 'Mayakkam Enna' fame) to do the role of Smitha in the film, it is reliably learnt.

"'Dirty Picture' didn't portray Smitha's real life and was made without any proper understanding of the way South Indian film industry works. If the new venture can narrate the conflicts that Smitha encountered during her life, it would be a worthy movie experience," said noted film critic CS Venkiteswaran.

Also See

• Noted Malayalam film producer Appachan passes away
• Malayalam Films: Internet racket to make a film virtual hit
• The Dirty Picture: Who was Silk Smitha?

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)