Silk Smitha: The Marilyn Monroe of Indian Cinema
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Silk Smitha was a famous south Indian movie star who ruled the box office as one of the most famous adult stars of the 80s. Even though she appeared in some supporting roles, Smitha became popular through her glitzy roles in softcore films.
Born as Vijayalakshimi in Eluru, she left school after the fourth standard, determined to become a film star. She moved in with her aunt in Madras, the centre of the South Indian film industry at the time, and soon met a Godfather who gave her the new name Smitha.
Smitha adopted the name "Silk," based on the name of the character she played in the Tamil film Vandi Chakkaram (The Wheel), for which she received widespread attention and acclaim in 1979.
Known as the Marilyn Monroe of Indian cinema, Silk Smitha went on to star in over 200 films. Her dance numbers and her bold performances in films like Moondru Mugam have made her the ultimate symbol of sensuality in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu cinema.
On September 23, 1996, Silk Smitha was found dead in her Chennai apartment, suspected of suicide. Financial problems, disillusionment in love, and alcohol addiction had apparently led to depression. However, there has been immense speculation and controversy surrounding Silk Smitha's death cause.
Smitha shared the suffering she was going through in her life in a letter that she wrote just before she died. The letter is roughly translated as follows:
“Only I know how hard I worked to become an actress. Nobody loved me. Only Babu treated me with some love. Everyone exploited my work. I have so many desires in life which I want to fulfill. But I get no peace wherever I go.
Everyone’s actions are disturbing to me, and that’s why death beckons me. I have always done good for everyone and yet my life is like this? God, what is the justification for this? I have to give half of my property to Babu. I loved Babu so much and sincerely too, and I believed that he would never cheat on me, but he did just that.
For the past five years, someone has been saying that he would give me life. Do you know how much I longed for that life? But when I realized that it was all just words, I am exhausted and cannot stand it anymore."
