Savitri Kommareddy
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Savithri(b. 6 December 1936 - d. 26 December 1981), also known with married name Savithri Kommareddy and maiden name Savithri nissankaram, was a great 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.
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[edit] Biography
Savithri was born to Nissankaram Guraviah and Subhadramma in Chirravur in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 1936. 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 Ganesan in 1956 and was blessed with two children Vijaya Chamundeswari and Sathish. 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 McLain. She also 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 star cricket matches.
[edit] Awards
She was also a famous actress in Tamil film industry. She was given the rare title Nadigayar Thilakam (Great Actress) for her fine performances.
She was awarded with the title Kalai Mamani by the Tamilnadu State Government, Nati Siromani by the Andhra Yuvathi Mandali and with an apt title as Mahanati (Great Actress).
She also got national award for the magnum opus movie Chivarakumigiledi.
[edit] Stage artist
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 1948. 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 tense to act with popular actor Nageswara Rao. She performed a dance in Pathala Bhairavi in 1951 and acted in small roles in movies like Sankranthi and Palleturu in 1952. 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 Ada 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.
[edit] Tamil Films
Savithri was one of the leading actresses in tamil film industry. She has paired opposite leading actors like Shivaji Ganesan, M.G.R in many films. She married Gemini Ganeshan, while acting in ‘Manam Pola Mangalyam’(1956) 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'(meaning Crown among Actresses) in tamil film industry.
[edit] Hindi Films
She acted in few Hindi films like ‘Bahut Din Huyen’, ‘Ghar Basake Dekho’, ‘Balaram Sri Krishna’ and ‘Ganga ki Leharen’.
[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] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Andarikante Monagadu | ||
| 1978 | Ashwathama | ||
| 1971 | Vichithra Dampathyam | ||
| 1970 | Mathru Devatha | ||
| Maro Prapancham | |||
| Nirdoshi | |||
| Thalli Thandrulu | Kausalya | ||
| 1968 | Bandhavyalu | ||
| 1967 | Prana Mithrulu | ||
| 1966 | Bhakta Potana | Goddess Saraswathi | |
| Manase Mandiram | |||
| Navarathri | |||
| Sri Krishna Pandaviyam | Draupadi | ||
| 1965 | Manasulu Mamathalu | ||
| Naadi Ada Janme | |||
| Sumangali | |||
| Thiruvilayadal | Goddess Parvathi | ||
| 1964 | Devatha | ||
| Doctor Chakravarthy | Madhavi Devi | ||
| Ganga Ki Lahren | Seema | Hindi | |
| Kai Kodutha Deivam | |||
| Navarathri | |||
| Poojaphalam | Seeta | ||
| Velugu Needalu | Suguna | ||
| 1963 | Nartanasala | Draupadi | |
| Chaduvukunna Ammayilu | Sujatha | ||
| Ghar Basake Dekho | Hindi | ||
| Karna | Bhanumathi | ||
| Mooga Manasulu | Radha | ||
| Raktha Tilakam | Kamala | ||
| 1962 | Atma Bandhuvu | ||
| Raktha Sambandham | |||
| Gundamma Katha | Lakshmi | ||
| Aradhana | Anuradha | ||
| Manchi Manasulu | |||
| Manithan Maravillai | |||
| Pavithra Prema | |||
| Siri Sampadalu | Padma | ||
| 1961 | Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham | ||
| Pandava Vanavasam | Draupadi | ||
| Papapariharam | |||
| Pasamalar | Radha | ||
| 1960 | Abhimanam | ||
| Chivaraku Migiledi | Padma | ||
| Deepavali | Satyabhama | ||
| Kalathur Kannamma | Tamil | ||
| Shantinivasam | |||
| Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | Padmavathi | ||
| Vimala | |||
| 1959 | Nammina Bantu | ||
| 1958 | Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu | Manjari | |
| Intiguttu | |||
| Mangalya Balam | |||
| 1957 | Maya Bazaar | Sasirekha | |
| Karpurakarasi | Manjula | ||
| Kutumba Gauravam | |||
| M.L.A. | Nirmala | ||
| Todi Kodallu | Susheela | ||
| Vinayaka Chaviti | Satyabhama/Bhoodevi | ||
| 1956 | Amaradeepam | Aruna | |
| Bhale Ramudu | |||
| Charanadaasi | Lakshmi | ||
| 1955 | Donga Ramudu | Seeta | |
| Kanyasulkam | Madhuravani | ||
| Santanam | Sarada | ||
| Ardhangi | |||
| Missamma | Mary/Mahalakshmi | ||
| Vadina | |||
| 1954 | Parivartana | Sundaramma | |
| Chandraharam | Chanchala | ||
| Bahut Din Huye | Hindi | ||
| Menarikam | |||
| 1953 | Bratuku Theruvu | Zamindar's daughter | |
| Devadasu | Parvathi | ||
| Pratigna | |||
| 1952 | Palletooru | Suguna | |
| Pelli Chesi Choodu | Savitri | ||
| 1951 | Patala Bhairavi | Dancer | |
| Agni Pareeksha | |||
| 1950 | Samsaram |
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