Savitri

Savitri Biography

Savitri was a legendary actress of south Indian cinema who mostly concentrated on Tamil and Telugu cinema. She is the wife of another legendary and popular Tamil actor of silver screen, Gemini Ganesan. They got married in the year 1955 and held it secret for 3 years. Together they have acted in many movies. In 1960, she received the Rashtrapati Award for her performance in the Telugu movie - Chivaraku Migiledi, years before ‘Best actor award’ to actors was initiated.  She has been honoured with Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu and Nata Siromani by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Maha Nati from Yuvathi Mandali of Andhra Pradesh and Nadigayar Thilakam from Tamil Film Industry are the other major honours received by Savitri. She died at a comparatively young age of 45 in the year 1981. She had already completed 318 movies belonging to different languages including Hindi.

Savitri was born to a Telugu speaking couple, Nissankara Guruviah and Subhadhramma in Chirravuru in Guntur of present day Andhra Pradesh. She lost her father when she was only 6 months old. Later, her family moved to Chirravuru. She studied in Kasturbhai High School. Later her maternal uncle played a significant role in grooming her as an actress.  She learned music and Indian classical dance from Sistla Purnayya Sasthri since eight years old and entered movies as a child artist. She also performed in stage shows as a child artist in Vijayawada.

In 1949, she appeared for the screen test for the movie, ‘Agni Pariksha’. She was 14 then. But she was dropped for being too young for the role. One year later, she was offered a lead role with the Telugu movie, Samsaram. However she lost the role to Pushpavalli. She performed a dance in Pathala Bhairavi in 1951. In 1952, she played supporting role in Pelli Chesi Choodu. Later she has done numerous memorable Telugu roles including -  Chandra Haram, Devadasu, Ardhangi, Missamma, Donga Ramudu, Amara Deepam, Todikodallu, Mayabazaar, Abhimanam, Mangalya Balam, Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu, Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam, Chivaraku Migiledi, Manchi Manasulu, Aradhana, Gundamma Katha, Rakta Tilakam, Mooga Manasulu, Doctor Chakravarthy, Poojaphalam, Devatha, Pandava Vanavasam, Kanya Sulkam, Naadi Aada Janme, Prana Mitrulu, Varakatnam, Maro Prapancham, Manase Mandiram and Jagan Mohini.  

In Tamil, she was most popular with Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran. She married Gemini Ganesan, while acting in Manam Pola Mangalyam. Kalathur Kannamma, Missiamma, Pasamalar, Pava Mannippu, Paarthal Pasi Theerum, Karpagam, Karnan, Kai Kodutha Deivam, Navarathri, Thiruvilaiyadal, Saraswathi Sabadham, Antharangam, Pennin Perumai, Konjum Salangai, Yaar Paiyyan and Padithal Mattum Podhuma are her memorable Tamil movies. She has also done a few Hindi movies - Bahut Din Huwe, Ghar Basake Dekho, Balaram Sri Krishna and Ganga Ki Lahren. She has also directed a few films.

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Updated: January 17, 2014