Savitri (actress) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Savitri
|
|
|---|---|
Savitri, November 1951
|
|
| Born |
Nissankara Savitri
6 December 1936 |
| Died | 26 December 1981 (aged 45) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
|
| Other names | Mahanati Savitri Nadigaiyar Thilagam |
| Occupation | Actress, singer and director |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Rashtrapati Award Nandi Award Kalaimamani |
Savitri Ganesan (born Nissankara Savitri; December 6, 1936 – December 26, 1981) was a famous Indian actress. She was also a singer, dancer, director, and producer. Savitri worked mainly in Telugu and Tamil films. She also appeared in movies made in Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam languages.
Savitri was known as the "First Female Superstar of South Indian cinema." She acted in over 250 films during her career, which lasted more than 30 years. She was one of the highest-paid and most popular Indian actresses from the 1950s to the early 1970s. People often called her "Mahanati," which means "Great Actress." She was also known as "Nadigaiyar Thilagam," meaning "Doyen of all actresses."
Her first important role was in the 1952 Telugu film Pelli Chesi Choodu. Savitri starred in many successful movies. These include Devadasu (1953), Donga Ramudu (1955), and Mayabazar (1957). She also appeared in Nartanasala (1963). Other notable films include Missamma (1955) and Gundamma Katha (1962). Savitri was also known for her kindness and helping people in need.
The 2018 film Mahanati was made about Savitri's life. It won an award for "Equality in Cinema" at the 2018 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
Savitri's Early Life
Nissankara Savitri was born on December 6, 1936. Her family spoke Telugu and lived in Chirravuru, which is in the Guntur district of present-day Andhra Pradesh. Her father passed away when she was only six months old. After this, Savitri and her older brother, Maruti, went to live with their aunt and uncle. Her uncle, Kommareddy Venkataramaiah Chowdary, saw her talent for dance. He enrolled her in dance classes.
Savitri was named for the way her eyes expressed feelings during plays. She took part in many dramas. In one play, a famous actor named Prithviraj Kapoor gave her a garland as a reward. Savitri and her uncle went to a studio in Chennai to try and get her a movie role. They were told she was too young. They tried again at another studio, where she got a small role. However, she was too nervous to say her lines when talking to the hero.
It was during this time that she met Ramaswamy Ganesan, also known as Gemini Ganesan. He took pictures of Savitri and told them to come back later. Savitri returned to her village and continued acting in plays. One day, a man came to her home and asked her to act in his movie. This is how Savitri's amazing film career began.
Savitri married Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan in 1952. They had first met in 1948. Her marriage became public when she signed a photo as Savitri Ganesh.
Savitri's Film Career
As a child, Savitri performed in dance dramas. She even worked with a theater company run by Jaggayya. At 14, she tried to find film work in Madras. She was considered too young for lead roles at that time. In 1950, she was cast as the main female character in Samsaram. But she became too excited, and they had to reshoot scenes many times. Eventually, another actress took her place.
She was given a small speaking role in Samsaram. The next year, she had two more small roles in Roopavati and Patala Bhairavi. Her big break came when she got the role of the second heroine in Pelli Chesi Choodu. After that, she became a huge star with popular roles in films like Devadasu and Missamma.
Savitri also acted in Bollywood films, but she did not become as famous there. Her only Malayalam film was Chuzhi (1973). Her performance in the 1957 film Mayabazaar made her a superstar. She became the highest-paid and most sought-after actress in South India during her time.
Savitri was known for her kindness and generosity. She loved buying property and jewelry. In 1960, she received the Rashtrapati Award for her role in the Telugu film Chivaraku Migiledi. This award later became the "National Award for the Best Actress." In 1968, she directed and produced the Telugu film Chinnari Papalu. For this film, she received the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.
Her career started to slow down in the late 1960s. In the 1970s, her properties were taken by tax officials. She then acted in any film she could find. Some people encouraged her to direct and produce films, but these were not successful and cost her a lot of money. Among those who supported her during tough times was Dasari Narayana Rao. He cast her in most of his films, like Gorintaku (1979). He even made Devadasu Malli Puttadu (1978) especially for her.
Savitri was also one of the top Tamil actresses of her time. She acted with major stars like M.G.R and Sivaji Ganesan. She also often worked with her husband, Gemini Ganesan. Some of her famous Tamil films include Kalathur Kannamma (1959), Pasamalar (1961), Pava Mannippu (1961), and Thiruvilaiyadal (1965).
Savitri's Passing
Savitri passed away on December 26, 1981. She was 45 years old. She had been in a coma for 19 months before her death. She had health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Awards and Honors
Savitri received many awards for her acting.
- Filmfare Awards South
- Best Actress – Telugu: Devadasu (1953)
- Best Actress – Telugu: Mayabazar (1957)
- Best Actress – Telugu: Chivaraku Migiledi (1960)
- Best Actress – Telugu: Aradhana (1962)
- Best Actress – Telugu: Maro Prapancham (1970)
- Rashtrapati Award
- Chivaraku Migiledi (1960)
- Nandi Awards
- Best Feature Film: Chinnari Papalu (1968)
