Savitri Biography
Nadigaiyar Thilakam, Mahanati, Savitri Gemini Ganesanwas born on 6th December 1937 in Chirravur a small town near Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. She was the only daughter of Nissankaram - Subhadram couple. She lost her father when she was six years old. She studied till 3rd form (VIII standard) in Kasthuri Bai Memorial School, Vijayawada with her uncle’s support. She learnt dance and music from Sista Purnayya Sastri during her school days. She discontinued her studies and worked in a theatre company run by Nandamni Taraka Rao. She gave stage performances as a child in Vijayawada. She also acted in a play at Mavanchana by Buchi Babu. Later she started her own troupe called Nava Bharata Natya Mandali. She married actor late ShriGemini Ganesan in 1956. He married her as his third wife. She has two children, daughter Vijaya Chamundeswari and a son Sathishkumar.
She got an offer in the Telugu filmAgni Pariksha when she was 12 years old. She merely missed the chance because she looked too young to play the role in that particular film. She did a small role with Actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the Telugu film Samsaram through Producer L.V.Prasad. Her inborn talents were recognized through this film. Soon she caught her chances to act in her subsequent Telugu filmsSankranthi , Pallethru , etc. She performed a dance number in the legendary film Pathala Bhairavi in 1951. Her big break came through Pelli Chesi Choodu in 1958 in which she played her first lead role. She established her acting credentials in film Ardhangi . She acted along with Akkineni Nageswara Rao in Devadas , which gave her an unreachable star image. Her versatile acting won her the Title Mahanati (Great Actress) in Tollywood film Industry.
She gave memorable performances in Telugu filmsPalletooru , Chandra Haaram , Devadasu , Donga Ramudu ,Maaya Baazar , Appu Chesi Pappu Kodu , Sri Venkateswara Mahanatyam , Aradhana , Gundamma Katha , Raktha Thilakam , Moonga Manasulu , Pooja Phalam , Panda Vanavasam , Prana Mitrulu , Varakatnam , Maro Prapancham , and Jagan Mohini . Apart from her memorable performances, she gave great super hit films like Todikallu , Mangalya Balam , Abhimanam , Muri Pinche , Muvvalu Manchi , Manasulu ,Doctor Chakravarthi , Devatha Manase , and Mandram . These movies stand as a Shining testimony to her versatility as an actress.
She made her Tamil film entry throughDevadas with actorAkkineni Nageswara Rao . But it was the film Missiamma with actor Gemini Ganesan which took her to great heights. She established her Tamil film career through hit films Kalathur Kannama , Karpagam , Karnan , Yaar Paiyyan , Vananga Mudi ,Amara Deepam , etc. She acted with the great thespian actor Nadigar Thilakam Shivaji Ganesan in films Thiruvillaiyadal ,Paasamalar , Navarathri , Kai Kodutha Deivam , Padithal Mattum Poduma , etc.
She displayed an excellent acting in filmPaasamalar asShivaji Ganesan ’s affectionate sister. She exhibited her versatile dancing style in a Theru Koothu song “Rajathe Rajan Vandaen…†in Navarathri with actor Shivaji Ganesan . She paired with her future husband actor Gemini Ganesan in films Kalathur Kannamma , Missiamma , Manam Pol Mangalyam , etc. She acted along with M.G.R. in filmsParisu and Vettaikaran . Her notable character in Paava Mannipu still sways in the mind of the audience. She made her 100th film Konjum Salangai with actor Gemini Ganesan . She acted with Top stars Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan in Tamil film Alauddinum Arputha Vilakkum . Her Beautiful expressive eyes and Charming smile won the heart of audience. Through her breath taking performances, she was crowned the title Nadigaiyar Thilakam in Tamil Industry. She acted with almost all top stars of Tamil and Telugu film Industry.
With her immeasurable versatility, she made her entry into Bollywood film Industry. She became a popular South Indian actress through her Hindi filmsBahut Din Huyen , Ghar Basaka , Dekho Balaram , Shri Krishna , Ganga Ki Leharen , etc. For this enchanting beauty language was never a barrier and was rated as one of the top heroines of India. She had acted in more than 300 films in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.
This beautiful actress turned into a Producer and Director in Telugu and Tamil filmsChinnari Papalu , Chiranjeevi , Maathru Devatha , Vintha Samsaram , and Kuzhanthai Ullam . She directed and produced Tamil film Praptam . The film took nearly five years to get completed and that pushed her into non-recoverable debts.
Some interesting facts about her,
• She was a left hander.
• She arranged a 16 mm projector to show the films that she had acted to her kids.
• She had a great enthrallment towards sports like Cricket and Chess.
• She even possessed an attractive chess table made of Ivory.
• Even in those days she participated in the Star-Cricket withShivaji Ganesan .
• She never missed a cricket match that was played in Chennai.
• She was very free hearted and free handed while extending helping hands to others.
• Once she went entirely bejeweled with gold and diamonds to meet the late Prime Minister Sri Lal Bahadur Sastri and gave away all the adornment for the Prime Minister’s relief fund.
• Above all these facts, she had a perfect proficiency in mimicking others especiallyGemini Ganesan , Shivaji Ganesan , Saroja Devi , S.V.Ranga Rao , Kabir Bedi and many others.
Unfortunately marriage was not a good occurrence in Savitri’s life. She lost trust in people and adopted dangerous habits like Alcohol, Sleeping Pills, and Drugs. She got addicted to them and was hospitalized many times. On her travel to Mysore for a shooting, she collapsed and went into coma stage. She was hurried back to Chennai, where she breathed her last on 26th December 1981. This evergreen beauty of the silver screen created an ever lasting history in the Indian Cinema.
She received National Award -Best Actress Award for Chivaraku Migiledi in 1960. She received Nati Sironmani Award from Andhra Yuvathi Mandali. She was bestowed the prestigious Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu Government.
Nadigaiyar Thilakam, Mahanati, Savitri Gemini Ganesanwas born on 6th December 1937 in Chirravur a small town near Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. She was the only daughter of Nissankaram - Subhadram couple. She lost her father when she was six years old. She studied till 3rd form (VIII standard) in Kasthuri Bai Memorial School, Vijayawada with her uncle’s support. She learnt dance and music from Sista Purnayya Sastri during her school days. She discontinued her studies and worked in a theatre company run by Nandamni Taraka Rao. She gave stage performances as a child in Vijayawada. She also acted in a play at Mavanchana by Buchi Babu. Later she started her own troupe called Nava Bharata Natya Mandali. She married actor late Shri
She got an offer in the Telugu film
She gave memorable performances in Telugu films
She made her Tamil film entry through
She displayed an excellent acting in film
With her immeasurable versatility, she made her entry into Bollywood film Industry. She became a popular South Indian actress through her Hindi films
This beautiful actress turned into a Producer and Director in Telugu and Tamil films
Some interesting facts about her,
• She was a left hander.
• She arranged a 16 mm projector to show the films that she had acted to her kids.
• She had a great enthrallment towards sports like Cricket and Chess.
• She even possessed an attractive chess table made of Ivory.
• Even in those days she participated in the Star-Cricket with
• She never missed a cricket match that was played in Chennai.
• She was very free hearted and free handed while extending helping hands to others.
• Once she went entirely bejeweled with gold and diamonds to meet the late Prime Minister Sri Lal Bahadur Sastri and gave away all the adornment for the Prime Minister’s relief fund.
• Above all these facts, she had a perfect proficiency in mimicking others especially
Unfortunately marriage was not a good occurrence in Savitri’s life. She lost trust in people and adopted dangerous habits like Alcohol, Sleeping Pills, and Drugs. She got addicted to them and was hospitalized many times. On her travel to Mysore for a shooting, she collapsed and went into coma stage. She was hurried back to Chennai, where she breathed her last on 26th December 1981. This evergreen beauty of the silver screen created an ever lasting history in the Indian Cinema.
She received National Award -
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Savitri teaching Music to ANR - Missamma [Old] - Telugu Old Classics
Savitri legendary actress on Telugu film - 03
