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.
[edit] Telugu career
Portrait of Savitri
Artist Giridhar Pottepalem

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 Koodu (1959), Muripinche Muvvalu (1960), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (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 (1971) and Jagan Mohini (1978). These movies are testimony to her versatile action skills. She got national award for the magnum opus movie Chivaraku Migiledi.
[edit]

Tamil career

Savitri was a legendary actress in Tamil. She has paired opposite leading actors like Sivaji Ganesan and M.G.R. 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 the Tamil film industry.

Kalathur Kannamma, Kai Kodutha Deivam, Thiruvilaiyadal, Navarathiri, Pasa Malar, Yaar Paiyyan, Paarthal Pasi Theerum, Padithal Mattum Podhuma, Karpagam, Karnan and Paava Mannippu are some of her memorable classics in Tamil.
[edit]

Bollywood career

She acted in few Hindi films like Bahut Din Huwe, Ghar Basake Dekho, Balaram Sri Krishna and Ganga Ki Lahren.
[edit]

 Kannada Career

She acted in few Kannada films towards the end of her career. She played the role of mother of Dr.Rajkumar in superhit films Thaayige Thakka Maga and Ravichandra. It was her longtime wish to act with Rajkumar. She also acted in Chandanada Gombe.
[edit]

Director and Producer

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

Personal life

Savitri secretly married Gemini Ganesan in 1954 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. They had two children Vijaya Chamundeswari and Sathish Kumar. Savitri was a strict, disciplined and compassionate mother. 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 an early age of 44.
[edit]

Awards

She got National Award for Best Actress in 1960 for her performance in the movie Chivaraku Migiledi.[citation needed] The movie was the Telugu remake of Deep Jele Jai (1959), a Bengali classic starring Suchitra Sen. The movie 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, Nata Siromani by the Andhra Yuvathi Mandali and with an apt title as Mahanati.[citation needed]
[edit]

Movies

Andarikante Monagadu (1985)

Ashwathama (1978)

Vichithra Dampathyam (1971)

Maathru Devatha (1970)

Maro Prapancham (1970)

Nirdoshi (1970)

Thalli Thandrulu (1970)

Bandhavyalu (1968)

Prana Mithrulu (1967)

Bhakta Potana (1966)

Manase Mandiram (1966)

Navarathri (1966)

Shri Krishna Pandaviyam (1966)

Manashulu Mamatalu (1965)

Naadi Aada Janme (1965)

Sumangali (1965)

Devatha (1964)

Dr. Chakravarthy (1964)

Poojaphalam (1964)

Velugu Needalu (1964)

Narthanasala (1963) .... Draupadi

Chaduvukunna Ammayilu (1963)

Karna (1963)

Mooga Manasulu (1963)

Raktha Tilakam (1963)

Atma Bandhuvu (1962)

Raktha Sambandham (1962)

Gundamma Katha (1962)

Aradhana (1962)

Manchi Manasulu (1962)

Pavithra Prema (1962)

Siri Sampadalu (1962)

Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham (1961)

Pandava Vanavasam (1961)

Papa Pariharam (1961)

Abhimanam (1960)

Chivaraku Migiledi (1960)

Deepavali (1960)

Shantinivasam (1960)

Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam (1960)

Vimala (1960)

Nammina Bantu (1959)

Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1958)

Intiguttu (1958)

Mangalya Balam (1958)

Maya Bazaar (1957)

Karpurakarasi (1957)

Kutumba Gauravam (1957)

M.L.A. (1957)

Todi Kodallu (1957)

Vinayaka Chaviti (1957)

Amaradeepam (1956)

Bhale Ramudu (1956)

Charana Daasi (1956)

Donga Ramudu (1955)

Kanyasulkam (1955)

Santanam (1955)

Ardhangi (1955)

Missamma (1955)

Vadina (1955)

Parivartana (1954)

Chandraharam (1954)

Menarikam (1954)

Bratuku Theruvu (1953)

Devadasu (1953)

Pratigna (1953)

Palletooru (1952)

Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952)

Patala Bhairavi (1951)

Agni Pareeksha (1951)

Samsaram (1950)

Posted by ravi varma at 4:35 AM