Layanam

Layanam (transl. Dissolution) is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language erotic drama film directed by Thulasidas and produced by R. B. Choudary.[1] The film features prominent sexploitation actresses Silk Smitha, Abhilasha, and Devishri, as well as young Nandu. It was one of the biggest hits in the South Indian soft-porn industry, and has earned a cult status.[2] The movie was later dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi.[1] It features the story of a young boy (Nandu) who became intimately related to three older women.[1][2]

Layanam
Promotional poster designed by RK
Directed byThulasidas
Produced byR. B. Choudary
Written byBhaskaran
StarringSilk Smitha
Nandhu
Abhishek
Devishri
Music byJerry Amaldev
CinematographyMelly Dayalan
Edited byG. Murali
Distributed bySuper Good Films
Release date
1989
Running time
110 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Plot

Layanam is the story of the sexual relationship between a woman and a younger man. In the film, the character portrayed by Silk Smitha lives alone in a large house. She is constantly harassed by men in the locality. One day, Nandu's character, a boy on the run for no fault of his own hides in the back of Smitha's car, but is caught, but let off. They meet again, and upon learning that he is an orphan, Smitha employs him as a servant.

Nandu starts fantasizing about his employer, while rejecting sexual offers from others. Smitha's cousin Abilasha comes to stay in the house, and develops a crush for the boy, which Smitha disapproves. Smitha and Nandu slowly start to like each other and decide to get married. At the point, Smitha's long thought dead husband returns complicating the situation. In the end, the lovers commit suicide.

Critique

Tehelka wrote in 2011, "Layanam, a fetished cult hit, is a perfectly good soft porn movie that rather prematurely disintegrates into a real movie. Its scriptwriting intentions are noble, though. Silk Smitha’s remarkably self-possessed performance shows us both her outer sexual confidence and her inner anxiety over being lonely."[3]

Legacy

Two of the actors - Silk Smitha and Nandu - of the film later committed suicide, enhancing the film's status. Malayala Manorama wrote in April 2016 that "some reports suggest that he went into depression after acting in a soft-porn movie (Layanam) and became a drug addict". Silk Smitha, known for her bold roles and alcoholism, also committed suicide, declaring a failed love affair to be the reason.[4]

10 years after its release it was remade in Hindi as Reshma Ki Jawani.[5][2] The uncensored movie was released in theaters in 1989 and the censored VCD version was released only in 2000 with many of its controversial scenes edited out.

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References
  1. Ashish Rajadhyaksha & Paul Willemen, Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema, page 518, British Film Institute, 1994, ISBN 0-85170-455-7
  2. Rashmi Mishra, Silk Smitha birthday: 5 things to know about the original ‘Dirty Picture’ girl, December 2, 2016, India.com
  3. Poorva Rajaram, The Silk Root, 10 Dec 2011, Tehelka
  4. Onmanorama Staff, Shocking suicides: Actors who stunned us with their sudden exits, 04 April 2016, Manorama Online
  5. Roshmila Bhattacharya, SEX SELLS: Another chottisi prem kahani makes money, Screen India, 2002-11-08
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