Savithri

Savitri or Savitri Ganesh was an actress, director and producer of films in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages. She was known for her liveliness and captivating performance and is still treated as the benchmark for action in Telugu movies.

Savithri was born to Nissankaram Guraviah and Subhadramma in Chirravur in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 1937. She learned music and classical dance under Sista Purnayya Sasthri. She performed stage shows during her childhood. She later acted in 318 films in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages, with ten to twenty movies released per year.

Savithri married Gemini Ganesh in 1953 and was blessed with two children Vijaya Chamundeswari and Sathish Kumar. Savithri was a strict, disciplined and compassionate as a mother. Since there was no availability of televisions at that time, she arranged a 16mm projector to show her films to kids. She would watch all the Hollywood movies and analyze them in an amazing manner. She loved Sophia Loren and Shirley  MacLaine.

She later directed some films herself. When she met the Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, she gave away all her jewels for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Savithri was a left-hander. Her favorite sports were cricket and chess. She used to play chess at home. She claimed that her favorite sports person was Gary Sobers. She was active in celebrity cricket matches.

Her first offer 'Agni Pariksha' at age twelve in 1949. However she looked too young after screen tests and was soon dropped. She was selected for main role in the film 'Samsaram' by the banner 'Sadhana Chitra' in 1950. However she was replaced by Pushpalatha and she was given small role, as she was nervous to act with popular actor Nageswara Rao. She performed a dance in Pathala Bhairavi in 1951. Her first main roles was as a second heroine Pelli Chesi Choodu by L. V. Prasad in 1952. Her early popular roles are in Ardhangi and Missamma.

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 Kodu (1959), Muripinche muvvalu(1960), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), Manchi Manasulu(1961), Aradhana (1962), Gundamma Katha (1962), Rakta Tilakam (1963), Mooga Manasulu (1963), Doctor Chakravarthi(1964), Poojaphalam (1964), Devatha(1965), Pandava Vanavasam (1965), Kanya Sulkam, Naadi Aada Janme, Prana Mitrulu (1967), Varakatnam (1968), Maro Prapancham (1970), Manase Mandiram(1971) and Jagan Mohini (1978). These movies are testimony to her versatile action skills. She got national award for the magnum opus movie Chivarakumigiledi.

She gave some public performances as a child in Vijayawada. 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.

Savithri was a legendary actress in tamil film industry. She has paired opposite leading actors like Sivaji Ganesan, M.G.R in many films. She married Gemini Ganesh, 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 Ganeshan. She was fondly called 'Nadigaiyar Thilagam' in tamil film industry.

Kalathur Kannamma, Kai Kodutha Deivam, Thiruvilaiyadal, Navarathiri, Pasa Malar, Yaar Paiyyan, Paarthal pasi theerum, Padithal Mattum Podhuma, Karpagam, Karnan, Paava Mannippu are some of her memorable classics in tamil.

She acted in few Hindi films like 'Bahut Din Huwe', 'Ghar Basake Dekho', 'Balaram Sri Krishna' and 'Ganga ki Leharen'.

She had directed films like 'Chinnari Papalu', 'Chiranjeevi', 'Maathru Devatha' and 'Vintha Samsaram' in Telugu. 'Kuzhanthai Ullam' and 'Praptham' in Tamil.

Awards:

She got National Award for Best Actress in 1960 for her performance in the movie Chivaraku Migiledi. The movie was the telugu remake of Deep Jele Jai (1959), a bengali classic starring Suchitra Sen which also got remade in hindi later in 1969 as "Khamoshi" with Waheeda Rehman enacting the lead role.

She was crowned with title Nadigayar Thilakam (Greatest Actress) for her fine performances in tamil.

She was awarded with the title Kalaimamani by the Tamil Nadu State Government, Nati Siromani by the Andhra Yuvathi Mandali and with an apt title as Mahanati.

Name : Savithri

Date Of Birth : 6, Dec, 1937

Birth Of Place : Andhra Pradesh, India

Languages Worked : Tamil, Telugu, Hindi

Profession : Actress, Producer, Director

Spouse : Gemini Ganesh (Actor)

Interest : She learned Music and Classical Dancer

Debut Film : 'Agni Pariksha' (1949)