The life of yesteryear actor Silk Smitha continues to be a fascination for filmmakers over two decades after her death.
Ace director Pa Ranjith is now all set to make a web series on the life of the actor who ruled the screen for several years but died tragically.
Without divulging more information, the director confirmed the news to TNM.
According to a source quoted in the Deccan Chronicle, “The web series will be shot lavishly and aired across several episodes. Director Pa. Ranjith feels that his series will be true to Silk Smitha and bring out untold stories of her childhood. Further, he believes that her story has a pan-Indian appeal and hence, he’s doing a web series.”
According to the report, the filmmakers believe that the star's childhood remains an unexplored aspect of her portrayal onscreen.
With Pa Ranjith helming the project, the film is expected to be politically and socially conscious. The director’s films have also treated women characters with nuance. It is also expected that Silk Smitha, who is largely remembered in popular narrative as ‘sultry damsel’, will be reimagined with this film.
National Award-winning actor Vidya Balan had played Silk Smitha in the smash hit The Dirty Picture which released in 2011.
The Hindi language film was produced by Ekta Kapoor and remade in Kannada and dubbed in Tamil and Telugu.
However, the film had received criticism from those who had known Silk Smitha at the time, stating that the film's representation of the star was not accurate.
Director Pa Ranjith, who is fresh on the heels of the success of the Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala, recently confirmed his Bollywood debut to TNM.
While the cast is yet to be decided, the film is a period drama. His production house, Neelam Productions, currently has director Maari Selvaraj’s debut feature, Pariyerum Perumal, up for release. Documentary filmmaker Malini Jeevarathinam’s Ladies and Gentlewomen was also produced by Neelam Productions.