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commences), responsible, and ambitious (having learned to speak the
English language fluently despite her limited education). She was also described as having a "soft" and "child like" personality by her friends and fans. She was skilled with costume design, makeup and made it her profession before entering the industry.
272:
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
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Smitha had a small circle of close friends. Owing to being an introvert she was said to not make friends quickly. She was often known for her short temper, determination and straightforwardness, which some mistook for arrogance. She was punctual (arriving in movie sets well before the shooting
265:) were also celebrated at the box office. Some film critics, historians and journalists have referred to her as a "soft porn" actress. 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
33:
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on 2 December 1960 to a Telugu couple, Vadlapati
Ramallu and Sarasamma. She was a school dropout due to her family situation. Her family married her off at a very young age. Her husband and in-laws treated her poorly and she soon ran away.
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as Silk Smitha. 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. After the claim arose,
218:. He took her under his wing; his wife taught her English and arranged for her to learn dancing, though soon, due to her marked sex appeal, she switched to roles of cabaret dancers and vamps and inevitably found herself
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Smitha started as a touch-up artist for the actress Aparna and soon got a break in small character roles. She was given her first movie role as a heroine by
Malayalam director
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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
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232:"Silk", after her character's name in the movie. After it became a big hit, she could not escape typecasting, severely limiting her range throughout her career.
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in the 1980s Indian films. She entered the industry as a supporting actress, and was first noticed for her role as "Silk" in the 1979 Tamil film,
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found in her body. The police also recovered a suicide note from her, which could not be deciphered. Her death remains as an unsolved mystery.
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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.
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Smitha went on to star in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and a few Hindi films. Her dance numbers and bold performances in films such as
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768:[Sexy dance, attracted the fans 'Silk' Sumita hung herself to death]. Cinema.maalaimalar.com. 14 December 2013. Archived from
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999:[' Sumita does not believe in the marriage ': Silk 'Sumita's Valentine Interview]. Cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from
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289:(1989), has earned cult status in the Indian adult film industry and was dubbed in numerous languages, including
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in his film "Inaye Thedi", though the movie was released very much later. Eastman gave her the name Smitha.
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Such was her audience-drawing power that, at the peak of her career, according to Tamil film historian
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In a career spanning 18 years, she appeared in over 450 films. Smitha was part of several successful
1146:"On Silk Smitha's birth anniversary, Chandrika Ravi announces a biopic on her; check out first look"
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322:, "Films that had lain in cans for years were sold by the simple addition of a Silk Smitha song."
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A few months after her death it was reported that Smitha may have died by suicide due to excess
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to discuss a serious issue that was disturbing her. Later that morning, Smitha was found
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222:. After garnering much notice and acclaim with her first major role in the Tamil film
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539:"Remembering India's evergreen sex symbol Silk Smitha on her 62nd birth anniversary"
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565:"The Rise of Soft Porn in Malayalam Cinema and the Precarious Stardom of Shakeela"
483:"Silk Smitha Happy Birthday: Top song videos of the bad girl of Southern cinema!"
997:"'சுமிதாவுக்கு திருமணத்தில் நம்பிக்கை இல்லை': 'சில்க்' சுமிதாவின் காதலர் பேட்டி"
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Suparna
Bhaskaran, 'Decolonizations, Queer Sexualities, Trans/National Projects
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portrays her, with Vishnu Priya Gandhi, a lookalike of her, playing the role.
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766:"கவர்ச்சி நடனத்தால் ரசிகர்களைக் கவர்ந்த 'சில்க்' சுமிதா தூக்கில் தொங்கினார்"
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965:"Remembering Silk Smitha: 30 lesser-known facts about the ethereal beauty"
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of the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as one of the most sought-after
125:(2 December 1960 – 23 September 1996), better known by her stage name
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1120:"THE DIRTY PICTURE is not about Silk Smitha! – Bollywood news"
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1164:"Silk Smitha's Cameo Appearance in Mark Antony Disappointing"
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513:"The mysterious death of India's biggest Cine Queen Smitha"
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Star Dust: Vignettes from the
Fringes of the Film Industry
299:(2002), acquiring cult status. Her most respected film is
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has a shop name "Silk Soda Center" also inspired by her.
129:, was an Indian actress and dancer who worked mainly in
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790:
602:"Why Silk Smitha is Bollywood's favourite bad girl"
445:
was slated to portray Silk in upcoming biopic film.
343:movie shoot, Smitha contacted her friend actress
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791:Staff Correspondent, Pradeep (26 October 2006).
692:. The Independent cited in BNET. Archived from
1049:"Silk Smitha – What led to her untimely death"
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241:made her the ultimate symbol of sensuality in
149:films. She became one of India's most popular
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161:in the 1980s. Smitha was a key figure in the
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439:as Silk Smitha, was released on 24 May 2013.
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339:On the night of 22 September 1996, after a
214:She got her big break in Tamil by director
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900:Bhattacharya, Roshmila (8 November 2002).
31:
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663:Jayaraman, Gayatri (30 September 2011).
563:Mini, Darshana Sreedhar (1 April 2019).
1249:
1025:[Give me life]. Archived from
716:"First person: The Silk Smitha I knew"
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1126:from the original on 31 December 2011
1090:"'The Dirty Picture' irks Silk's kin"
1055:from the original on 12 February 2021
742:. Rediff India Abroad. 4 April 1997.
708:
688:Kuldip, Hussain (27 September 1996).
372:
931:Ashok Kumar, SR (6 September 2006).
844:"Ekta slams Silk Smitha's boyfriend"
592:
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724:. 27 September 1996. Archived from
643:
493:from the original on 3 October 2016
401:is not based on Silk Smitha's life.
13:
1327:People from West Godavari district
1174:
1100:from the original on 29 March 2020
842:Vicky Lalwani (21 February 2011).
746:from the original on 21 April 2021
14:
1348:
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1184:, Oxford University Press, 1994 (
1122:. glamsham.com. 7 November 2011.
977:from the original on 23 June 2022
631:from the original on 26 July 2021
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519:from the original on 19 May 2017
481:Zainab Mulla (2 December 2014).
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740:"Chronicle of a death foretold"
413:Dirty Picture: Silk Sakkath Hot
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228:, in 1979, Smitha assumed the
1:
1292:20th-century Indian actresses
1287:Actresses in Malayalam cinema
1282:Actresses from Andhra Pradesh
1182:Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema
1074:"Vidya's nothing like Silk".
619:K, Janani (2 December 2020).
604:. NDTV Movies. Archived from
467:
416:, starring Pakistani actress
181:
1277:Suicides by hanging in India
1212:, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004 (
793:"Some reel-life role models"
269:and beating up huge thugs.
137:cinema, in addition to some
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1332:Artists who died by suicide
1272:Actresses in Kannada cinema
10:
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1307:Actresses in Telugu cinema
1023:"'எனக்கு வாழ்க்கை தருவதாக"
867:Sebastian (6 March 2005).
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165:genre in the late 1980s.
16:Indian actress (1960–1996)
1317:Actresses in Hindi cinema
1297:Actresses in Tamil cinema
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569:Feminist Media Histories
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281:Malayalam softcore films
581:10.1525/fmh.2019.5.2.49
368:Silk Smitha filmography
163:Malayalam softcore film
123:Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati
60:, Andhra Pradesh, India
44:Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati
621:"Who was Silk Smitha?"
1312:Indian film actresses
1180:Ashish Rajadhyaksha,
608:on 29 September 2011.
600:(28 September 2011).
448:The 2023 Telugu film
309:, remade in Hindi as
1337:Pornography in India
912:on 30 September 2007
515:. 23 February 2015.
457:The 2023 Tamil film
1195:Roopa Swaminathan,
1078:. 2 September 2011.
1076:Pune Times of India
1051:. 27 October 2020.
1003:on 21 December 2013
933:"A saga of success"
772:on 17 December 2013
351:in her hotel room.
279:(1981). One of her
276:Alaigal Oivathillai
186:Smitha was born in
159:South Indian cinema
85:Cause of death
79:, Tamil Nadu, India
1166:. deccanchronicle.
1094:The Indian Express
1029:on 14 January 2014
945:on 21 October 2007
849:The Times of India
827:has generic name (
696:on 17 October 2007
378:In 2011, the film
373:In popular culture
89:Suicide by hanging
1302:People from Eluru
1199:, Penguin, 2004 (
677:on 16 April 2015.
399:The Dirty Picture
381:The Dirty Picture
249:in films such as
216:Vinu Chakravarthy
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103:Years active
69:23 September 1996
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668:
665:"Silk Route"
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575:(2): 49–82.
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384:directed by
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71:(1996-09-23)
18:
1262:1996 deaths
1257:1960 births
1232:Silk Smitha
1033:14 February
1007:14 February
902:"Sex Sells"
825:|last=
776:14 February
625:India Today
543:India Today
460:Mark Antony
435:, starring
418:Veena Malik
406:In 2013, a
395:Ekta Kapoor
390:Vidya Balan
362:Filmography
230:screen name
190:village in
151:sex symbols
127:Silk Smitha
25:Silk Smitha
1251:Categories
1130:23 October
1104:23 October
949:9 November
916:9 November
885:9 November
807:9 November
700:9 November
690:"Obituary"
468:References
320:Randor Guy
182:Early life
95:Occupation
50:1960-12-02
1059:5 January
938:The Hindu
874:The Hindu
817:cite news
750:2 January
548:6 October
523:15 August
487:India.com
437:Sana Khan
427:Malayalam
139:Malayalam
115:Full list
106:1979–1996
1124:Archived
1098:Archived
1053:Archived
975:Archived
744:Archived
629:Archived
517:Archived
491:Archived
388:starred
345:Anuradha
220:typecast
981:23 June
635:26 July
497:14 June
408:Kannada
356:alcohol
341:Kannada
286:Layanam
267:bikinis
263:Kannada
188:Kovvali
143:Kannada
98:Actress
77:Chennai
1238:
1216:
1203:
1188:
451:Dasara
432:Climax
252:Amaran
203:Career
135:Telugu
335:Death
312:Sadma
305:, by
291:Hindi
147:Hindi
131:Tamil
111:Works
58:Eluru
1236:IMDb
1214:ISBN
1201:ISBN
1186:ISBN
1132:2012
1106:2012
1061:2021
1035:2014
1009:2014
983:2022
951:2006
918:2006
887:2006
829:help
809:2006
778:2014
752:2009
721:Sify
702:2006
670:Mint
637:2021
550:2023
525:2017
499:2016
261:(in
255:and
145:and
133:and
66:Died
40:Born
1234:at
577:doi
293:as
157:in
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967:.
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846:.
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425:A
283:,
194:,
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