It is about Silk Smitha, who lit mainly the Tamil cinema screen with her unmatched sensual charm. But all India is celebrating the meteoric rise and tragic end (with suicide) of this yesteryear's sex siren.
The 1980s saw "sex bombs" exploding on the screen with dancers scantily clad in the fabrics their filmmakers advertised in copycat fashion -- "Polyester" Padmini, "Nylon" Nalini and "Silk" Smitha, the biggest of them all.
The Bollywood blockbuster traces the life of Reshma, who flees her home in a south Indian village and heads to Chennai looking to break into films.
Realising that the short cut to fame is her body, Reshma becomes Silk, who unabashedly courts both fame and famous superstars.
The title says it all. The "dirt" is not just in the minds of the people who thronged the theatres. It is also a saga of exploitation -- sexual, social and commercial, take it as you want. Yes, the title says it all, with a contemporary touch.
Smitha was one of the early "item girls" that have today become a unique selling point of cinematic entertainment that is going viral and global. Boosted by technology, this low-brow genre is scoffed at by classicists and conservatives. But it sells the movie.
Unlike the svelte "Sheila" (Katrina Kaif), "Munni" (Malaika Arora Khan) or "Jalebibai" (Mallika Sherawat) and many other current sensations, Smitha was a voluptuous woman with loads of curves. Not surprisingly, her role is performed by Vidya Balan.
The bosomy Balan is the most talked about Bollywood personality today. A critically acclaimed actress, she has become a star but would, perhaps, like to remain an actress, given her master's in sociology.
But she has curves and enjoys them by her own admission. She can flaunt them with greater verve, given her family background and education -- the two things Smitha did not have.
R. Balki, who directed Balan in Paa opposite Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, told Balan: "You are one of a class, enjoy it."
Director Milan Luthria, who had worked with the original Smitha during her last days that brought her to Bollywood, swears that Balan is the only "sex symbol" left, what with the Khans flaunting their torsos and heroines shedding their curves in favour of size zero figures and images to suit the new century's ethos.
Balan and Luthria's task was to resurrect the 1980s. Balan says it was amusing to understand concepts like Smitha was so hot that if you put an egg on her navel, it got fried!
They have depicted with great success Smitha's blatant attitude. Her body got her name, notoriety and money. But they also brought heartbreak and emptiness in equal measure. The men she courted serenaded her at night but wanted to keep her closeted during the day.
A celebration of sorts of Smitha, the film is also a tribute to Balan, her non-conformist choice of roles and willingness to immerse herself in them.
"When I was asked to play Silk, I had apprehensions about playing a character who wears her sexuality on her sleeve. Initially, I found it offensive. (But) it is one of those roles where you become one with the character... the ultimate that every actor aspires for. These days Vidya is Silk and Silk is Vidya," she told The Hindu.
"It isn't just Silk's life that I was following. There is fame and loneliness, despair and heartbreak in many lives. From Marilyn Monroe to Silk Smitha, and so many others, one found a common thread. There was no peace in their lives after their meteoric rise."
Mahesh Bhatt, who directed Smitha, noticed "a disconnect" from the world around in her "vacant" looks.
Do Balan, her playing Silk and the public interest they have generated, empower women?
"Of course, it is empowering if her life is seen in the right context. It takes guts to be so unapologetic about your sexuality," Balan says.
By the way, Silk is not all of the southern flavour engulfing India -- and crossing borders. And it is not all "dirty".
Take note of the Kolaveri D video storm caused by actor Dhanush. It talks against violence, corruption and much else that worries us today. Watch it and watch a score of copies. The Pakistani version lampoons the military. An Indian copy exhorts everyone to become Anna Hazare and fight corruption.
Thank the Internet and take your pick.
View the original article here
The 1980s saw "sex bombs" exploding on the screen with dancers scantily clad in the fabrics their filmmakers advertised in copycat fashion -- "Polyester" Padmini, "Nylon" Nalini and "Silk" Smitha, the biggest of them all.
The Bollywood blockbuster traces the life of Reshma, who flees her home in a south Indian village and heads to Chennai looking to break into films.
Realising that the short cut to fame is her body, Reshma becomes Silk, who unabashedly courts both fame and famous superstars.
The title says it all. The "dirt" is not just in the minds of the people who thronged the theatres. It is also a saga of exploitation -- sexual, social and commercial, take it as you want. Yes, the title says it all, with a contemporary touch.
Smitha was one of the early "item girls" that have today become a unique selling point of cinematic entertainment that is going viral and global. Boosted by technology, this low-brow genre is scoffed at by classicists and conservatives. But it sells the movie.
Unlike the svelte "Sheila" (Katrina Kaif), "Munni" (Malaika Arora Khan) or "Jalebibai" (Mallika Sherawat) and many other current sensations, Smitha was a voluptuous woman with loads of curves. Not surprisingly, her role is performed by Vidya Balan.
The bosomy Balan is the most talked about Bollywood personality today. A critically acclaimed actress, she has become a star but would, perhaps, like to remain an actress, given her master's in sociology.
But she has curves and enjoys them by her own admission. She can flaunt them with greater verve, given her family background and education -- the two things Smitha did not have.
R. Balki, who directed Balan in Paa opposite Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, told Balan: "You are one of a class, enjoy it."
Director Milan Luthria, who had worked with the original Smitha during her last days that brought her to Bollywood, swears that Balan is the only "sex symbol" left, what with the Khans flaunting their torsos and heroines shedding their curves in favour of size zero figures and images to suit the new century's ethos.
Balan and Luthria's task was to resurrect the 1980s. Balan says it was amusing to understand concepts like Smitha was so hot that if you put an egg on her navel, it got fried!
They have depicted with great success Smitha's blatant attitude. Her body got her name, notoriety and money. But they also brought heartbreak and emptiness in equal measure. The men she courted serenaded her at night but wanted to keep her closeted during the day.
A celebration of sorts of Smitha, the film is also a tribute to Balan, her non-conformist choice of roles and willingness to immerse herself in them.
"When I was asked to play Silk, I had apprehensions about playing a character who wears her sexuality on her sleeve. Initially, I found it offensive. (But) it is one of those roles where you become one with the character... the ultimate that every actor aspires for. These days Vidya is Silk and Silk is Vidya," she told The Hindu.
"It isn't just Silk's life that I was following. There is fame and loneliness, despair and heartbreak in many lives. From Marilyn Monroe to Silk Smitha, and so many others, one found a common thread. There was no peace in their lives after their meteoric rise."
Mahesh Bhatt, who directed Smitha, noticed "a disconnect" from the world around in her "vacant" looks.
Do Balan, her playing Silk and the public interest they have generated, empower women?
"Of course, it is empowering if her life is seen in the right context. It takes guts to be so unapologetic about your sexuality," Balan says.
By the way, Silk is not all of the southern flavour engulfing India -- and crossing borders. And it is not all "dirty".
Take note of the Kolaveri D video storm caused by actor Dhanush. It talks against violence, corruption and much else that worries us today. Watch it and watch a score of copies. The Pakistani version lampoons the military. An Indian copy exhorts everyone to become Anna Hazare and fight corruption.
Thank the Internet and take your pick.
View the original article here
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