Early career
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
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 inArdhangi 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 movieChivarakumigiledi.
[edit]Tamil career
Savitri was a legendary actress in Telugu and Tamil film industries. She has paired opposite leading actors like Sivaji Ganesan and 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 the Tamil film industry.
Kalathur Kannamma, Kai Kodutha Deivam, Thiruvilaiyadal, Navarathiri, Pasa Malar, Yaar Paiyyan, Paarthal Pasi Theerum, Padithal Mattum Podhuma, Karpagam, Karnan, Paava Mannippu and Saraswathi Sabatham 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]Biography
Pallavi has written a biography of Savithri titled Mahanati Savithri Venditera Samragni in August 2007, which had reprints in November 2007 and August 2008.
[edit]Personal life
Savitri secretly married Gemini Ganesan in 1954 and she declared it publicly a good three years after the wedding happened. Gemini Ganesanand 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 were blessed with 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 her films to kids. She would watch all the Hollywoodmovies and analyze them in an amazing manner. She loved Sophia Loren and Shirley MacLaine.
[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 withWaheeda 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.[citation needed]
