Tuesday 14 August 2012

‘Silk Smitha’ fever sweeps the South

She may not have been on the film scene for the last 15 years. But who can forget her seductive eyes, luscious lips and curvaceous dusky figure?
This was the phenomenon called Silk Smitha who ruled south cinema in the early 80s and died under mysterious circumstances in 1996.
The seductress, who lured millions of fans with her oomph factor still continues to draw huge crowds even after her death — for her biopic.
Bollywood actress Vidya Balan has shed her inhibitions to give a whole-hearted, convincing portrayal of the sex symbol. Released this Friday, The Dirty Picture, the much hyped Hindi film on the life and times of Silk Smitha, has all tickets sold out till the weekend.
Trade pundits feel that such an opening for a Bollywood film clearly shows that it is only the ‘Silk Smitha’ factor which is bringing Tamil audiences to the theaters.
The movie, bought by Metro Net, has been released in 150 screens in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Since Silk was more popular in Tamil cinema, the film has been dubbed in Tamil and simultaneously released here.
Abirami Ramanathan who has released the film in his multiplex says, “The advance booking for DP is full till Monday, which was expected. Silk Smitha had a huge following and everyone is curious to see how she has been projected by the Bollywood producers.”
He also reveals that the response in Kerala is amazing. Silk enjoyed big status in Malayalam cinema in the late 80s.
Sources add that akin to a Rajini or Kamal, or Ajith or Vijay films, extra shows are being planned in some of the suburban screens due to overwhelming response.
The Dirty Picture takes aim at the filmy men who exploited Silk Smitha, says a veteran filmmaker who watched the film on the first day first show. Apparently, not just film buffs but the entire industry is keen to watch the film in the theaters.
Ace director S.P. Muthuraman, who had cast Silk in several of his films including in Rajinikanth starrer Paayum Puli and Kamal’s Sagalakala Vallavan says, “Silk Smitha had a style of her own and was admired by all. She was an obedient and cooperative girl. If a film is made on her, it is but natural that everyone would want to watch it.”
Sura, a renowned writer and publicist who had worked for one of her films Play Girls opines, “Despite being an item girl, she always commanded respect in the industry. And no other actress till today has mesmerised one and all, irrespective of age, like Silk Smitha did, Everybody, right from a three-year-old kid, to teenagers, to women, to senior citizens were her fans.”
Re-living the Silk heyday is a powerful intoxicant as audiences flocking to see the film are discovering…

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