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Marilyn Monroe had said, 'Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.'
Silk Smitha would probably have agreed.
In real life, Silk was ahead of her time. She took pride in what she did and was never ashamed in what she was doing. Silk was bindaas, fearless, open and wanted to live to the fullest. She believed in taking every opportunity and living every moment and was not bothered about what people talk or think. There was some childishness in her but she was fearless.
People think Silk was bold only because she used to dress up or pose in certain way...but this was one part of her fearlessness. Some even felt she was shameless but I don't think she was. Today, girls are in complete command of their life and sexuality... they are unapologetic and take pride in whatever they do. Silk was like that back then. And which is why she was misunderstood and people exploited that in a wrong way.
Distressing Childhood
Silk Smitha was born in a poor family, in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. Due to financial problems in the family, she had to drop out of school in fourths standard itself. She blossomed to grow as a sultry looking girl and she was constantly propositioned and physically ‘exploited’ by men because of her arresting looks . Her family thought they could solve the problem by marrying her off. Her husband and in-laws turned out to be monsters from whom she escaped and started her life afresh under the guardianship of an aunt.When she was 17 years old, she left for Madras to pursue her dreams.
Her family still lives in the village, where her brother is a semi-literate agriculturist. Vara Prasad, the only brother of Smitha, said that the family and relatives were upset with the news about a film on his sister with obscene content.The only difference between Silk and "Dirty Picture" , the movie which is allegedly based on Silk's life,
is that contrary to the vulgar and cheap manner in which Balan's character has been depicted. Smitha led a dignified life off screen.
"In the film, Balan's character is a smoker and an alcoholic, who has several sexual liaisons. Smitha was never like that in her real life."says Prasad, Silk Smitha's brother.Writer Janaki Venkatraman, who met Smitha at the height of her career, says she was a plain girl in real life.
"Smitha had a lascivious presence. But she was never a dirty picture" Janaki Venkatraman writer
"Smitha came across as a direct and practical person who was level-headed. She looked a lot less oomphy than her sizzling screen avatar," she says.
Smitha even had a brief tryst with "serious cinema", working with new wave Tamil filmmakers like Bharathiraja and Balu Mahendra.
Critics who panned her for selling out as a sex object praised her nuanced performances in films like Alaigal Oyivadillai and Moonram Pirai.
