Smooth as silk, slick as Vidya Balan

Friday night show — two hindi flicks — six-pack abs vs curves; and the Balan babe, in all her fullness, knocked the big guys’ film fair and square. The show ran house-full with more women at the theatre than men.

Ms Balan drew attention right from the beginning of the movie. Throughout the film, even the excessive emphasis on her heavy assets couldn’t distract the audiences’ attention from her beautiful eyes, her naughty smile and her guttural laughter.

As the National Anthem played in the theatre before the film, a middle-aged woman, could be heard screaming (not singing) Jana Gana Mana. All were wary that the enthusiastic patriot might respond over-the-top to the many sexual innuendos in the film. Ironically, she laughed the most.

Ms Balan has worked hard for this film. Putting on weight with a small frame such as hers is a herculean task. Add to that, her attention to detail — her body-language, expressions, dressing-style, speech and mannerisms — is marvelous. I admired her make-up and look towards the second-half of the film.

What I liked most was the character graph of Silk — the naïve character’s realisation that making it in the film industry is all about ‘survival of the sleaziest’. Eventually, she becomes a mere sex object — one to be collected, savoured and possessed, but never to be loved and respected — which affects her, causing her downfall. Throughout the film, Vidya Balan held her own and made it impossible to notice any one else but her.

During my early days of modeling, I had met Vidya, just after her famous music video with the band Euphoria, at the Reliance ad shoot with cricketer Virendra Sehwag. Vidya was on the sets the entire day, helping, giggling and running around with all the other assistant directors. Watching the film was like revising the same bubbly girl.

After scorching the screens with The Dirty Picture, what is Silk Vidya going to come up with next? Whatever it is, she will make us sit up and take notice.