Savitri (actress)
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| Savitri (సావిత్రి ) |
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 Savitri as "Sasirekha" in Mayabazar |
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| Born | December 6, 1935 Chirravur, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | December 26, 1981 (aged 46) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Spouse | Gemini Ganesan (1955-1981) |
| Children | Vijaya Chamundeswari Sathish kumar |
Kommareddy Savitri or Savitri Ganesh (Telugu: సావిత్రి కొమ్మారెడ్డి; 6 December 1935 – 26 December 1981), was a versatile Indian film actress, director and producer. She had appeared in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi language films.
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[edit] Early life
Savitri was born to Kommareddy Nissankara Rao Guruviah and Subhadhramma in Chirravur (near Tenali) in Guntur, Madras Presidency, now part of Andhra Pradesh. She learned music and Indian classical dance under Sista Purnayya Sasthri. She performed stage shows during her childhood. She has acted in 318 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi languages, with ten to fifteen movies released per year.[1]
[edit] Career
[edit] Early career
She gave some public performances as a child artiste in Vijayawada. Later, she worked in a theater company run by Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao. She also started her own company, the Navabharata Natya Mandali. Her best stage role was in Atma Vanchana written by Bucchi Babu.
[edit] Telugu career
She was offered a role in ‘Agni Pariksha’ in 1949. However she looked too young (she was 14) after screen tests and was dropped. Then, she was selected for the main role in the film Samsaram by the banner ‘Sadhana Chitra’ in 1950. However, she was replaced by Pushpavalli and was given a small role, with Nageswara Rao. She performed a dance in Pathala Bhairavi in 1951. Her first big role was as a second lead actress Pelli Chesi Choodu by L. V. Prasad in 1952.
She later acted in memorable Telugu films like Chandra Haram (1953), Devadasu (1953), Ardhangi (1955), Missamma (1955), Donga Ramudu (1955), Amara Deepam (1956), Todikodallu (1957), Mayabazaar (1957), Abhimanam (1958), Mangalya Balam (1958), Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1959), Muripinche Muvvalu (1960), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), Chivaraku Migiledi (1960), Manchi Manasulu (1961), Aradhana (1962), Gundamma Katha (1962), Rakta Tilakam (1963), Mooga Manasulu (1963), Doctor Chakravarthy (1964), Poojaphalam (1964), Devatha (1965), Pandava Vanavasam (1965), Kanya Sulkam, Naadi Aada Janme, Prana Mitrulu (1967), Varakatnam (1968), Maro Prapancham (1970), Manase Mandiram (1966) and Jagan Mohini (1978). These movies are testimony to her versatile acting skills.
[edit] Tamil career
Savitri was a popular actress in Tamil. She has paired opposite leading actors like Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran. She married Gemini Ganesan, while acting in (‘Manam Pola Mangalyam’)(1953) with him. Savithri's 100th film ‘Konjum Salangai’ (‘Muripinche Muvvalu’ in Telugu) also happened to be paired with Gemini Ganesan. She was fondly called நடிகையர் திலகம் ('Nadigaiyar Thilagam') in the Tamil film industry. The top film to name was the பாசமலர் ('Paasa Malar') in which she was the sister of Sivaji Ganesan.
Kalathur Kannamma (1959), Pasamalar (1961), Pava Mannippu (1961), Paarthal Pasi Theerum (1962), Karpagam (1963), Karnan (1963), Kai Kodutha Deivam, Navarathri (1964), Thiruvilaiyadal (1965), Yaar Paiyyan, and Padithal Mattum Podhuma are some of her memorable classics in Tamil cinema.
[edit] Bollywood career
She has acted in few Hindi films like Bahut Din Huwe, Ghar Basake Dekho, Balaram Sri Krishna and Ganga Ki Lahren.
[edit] Kannada career
Savitri acted in few Kannada films towards the end of her career. She played the role of mother in films like Thaayige Thakka Maga and Ravichandra. She also acted in Chandanada Gombe.
[edit] Director and Producer
Savitri had directed films like Chinnari Papalu (1968), ‘Chiranjeevi’, ‘Maathru Devatha’ and ‘Vintha Samsaram’ in Telugu. 'Kuzhanthai Ullam' and 'Praptham' in Tamil.
[edit] Personal life
Savitri was married to Gemini Ganesan in 1955 and she declared it publicly three years after the wedding. Gemini Ganesan and Savitri made a hit pair on-screen. Her wedding was revealed when she signed in a photo for a Lux advertisement as Savithri Ganesh.[2]
They had two children Vijaya Chamundeswari and Sathish Kumar. Since there was no availability of televisions at that time, she arranged a 16mm projector to show movies to kids. She would watch Hollywood movies and analyze them thoroughly. She loved Sophia Loren and Shirley MacLaine. She died at the age of 46.
[edit] Awards and honours
- Rashtrapati Award for best acting for the film Chivaraku Migiledi in 1960.[3]
- Kalaimamani from the Government of Tamil Nadu
- Nata Siromani by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
- Nadigayar Thilakam for her fine performances in Tamil films [4]
- Yuvathi Mandali and with an apt title as Maha Nati.[5]
[edit] Partial filmography
[edit] References
- http://www.mahanatisavitri.com
- Savitri at the Internet Movie Database
- Savithri's profile at Upperstall.com
- Savithri's Official Website
- Savithri's Profile
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.savithri.info Savithri's Profile
- ^ "Star and a versatile actor". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 15 August 2003. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/08/15/stories/2003081501500300.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
- ^ "Find Tamil Actress Savitri Videos, Savitri Movies, Savitri Pictures and Filmography". Jointscene.com. http://www.jointscene.com/artists/Kollywood/Savitri/199. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
- ^ http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/95B322D75A8CC87B65256DBB00275281
- ^ "Tributes to Savitri: A legendary actress". Merinews.com. 2010-09-03. http://www.merinews.com/article/tributes-to-savitri-a-legendary-actress/15792408.shtml. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
