The South Indian film industry still remembers the life and tragic end of actress Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati, famously known as Silk Smitha. Her journey, from a humble background to becoming a celebrated actress, remains a captivating yet sorrowful tale.
Born on December 2, 1960, in Kovvali village, Andhra Pradesh, Vijayalakshmi's early life was marked by poverty, forcing her to drop out of school at a young age. At 14, she was married off due to financial constraints. However, the marriage was abusive, and she left it after two years. Seeking a better life, she moved to Chennai and worked as a makeup artist.
Her break came when actor and director Vinu Chakravarthy noticed her talent. She was given the role of 'Silk' in the 1980 film "Vandichakkram," which catapulted her to fame, and she adopted "Silk Smitha" as her stage name. Smitha quickly became a sensation, known for her sensuality and captivating dance performances. She became a symbol of sensuality in South Indian cinema, with her dance numbers in films like "Moondru Mugam," "Amaran," and "Halli Meshtru" being widely celebrated.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, when on-screen intimacy was often symbolized subtly, Smitha brought a unique charisma and confidence to her roles. She carved a niche for herself, becoming an integral part of the commercial film industry. Despite often being typecast in soft-erotic roles, Smitha's acting prowess was evident in films like "Alaigal Oivathillai" and "Moondram Pirai". In a career spanning 17 years, she acted in over 450 films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi languages.
Although she worked with stars like Mohanlal and Kamal Haasan, her personal life was troubled by financial difficulties and failed relationships. On September 23, 1996, she was found dead in her apartment, having died by suicide at the age of 35.
Another actress whose life ended too soon was Fatafat Jayalakshmi. Born in Andhra Pradesh in 1958, Jayalakshmi entered the film industry at 14 and quickly rose to stardom. She acted in over 60 films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Jayalakshmi was a favorite of Rajinikanth, with whom she shared screen space, and she was also known for her role opposite Akkineni Nageswara Rao in "Iddaru Ammailu". Her dialogue "Fatafat" from one of her movies became very popular. In 1980, Jayalakshmi married a relative of Tamil Nadu's former Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran, and left the film industry. Sadly, her married life was not happy, and she died by suicide on November 21, 1980, at the age of 22. Rajinikanth has mentioned that, despite acting in fewer films together, Jayalakshmi was one of his favorite actresses.
The untimely deaths of both Silk Smitha and Fatafat Jayalakshmi highlight the dark side of the film industry. Despite achieving fame and success, both actresses faced personal struggles that ultimately led to their tragic demise.
