Savitri Kommareddy (Telugu: సావిత్రి కొమ్మారెడ్డి)

Smt. Savitri Kommareddy(Telugu: సావిత్రి కొమ్మారెడ్డి) (born Savitri Nissankara; 6th December, 1935 – 26th December, 1981) was a popular Indian film actress. She is also known as director and producer. She had appeared in versatile roles among Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi language films. She was known for her liveliness and captivating performance, She called as one of the best actresses in Indian film industry.

Early life:

Savithri was born on December 6th, 1935 to a telugu speaking couple Nissankara Guruviah and Subhadhramma in Chirravuru near Tenali in Guntur, Madras Presidency, now part of Andhra Pradesh. Savithri has only one sibling, a sister, who was one year older than her. Her name was Maruthi. She lost her father when she was just 6 months. With her maternal uncle KommaReddy Venkata Rammaiah Chowdary’s support, she studied till third form eighth standard in Kasturibai Memorial School at Vijayawada, Krishna District. She learned music and Indian classical dance under Sista Purnayya Sasthri started at age of 8 and she performed Stage plays with drama troupes of “Arunodaya Natya Mandali”, and helped to find her way into the film industry.

Career:

She gave some public performances as a child artist in Vijayawada. Later, 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.

In Telugu film Industry:

In 1950 Savithiri was introduced as a child artist in a telugu movie ‘Samsaram ‘. K.V. Chaudri helped her to enter the cinema industry and had a good positive response. She acted number of movie’s continuously in Tamil and Telugu. ‘Savithri’ turned South India’s Superstar after ‘Devadas’ which turned to be a mega hit movie.

She was bestowed into the film industry at a very young age (at the age of 12) as she got an offer in the film ‘Agni Pariksha’ in 1949. She merely missed the chance because she looked too young to play the role in that particular film. Soon after that, In 1950 Savithiri was introduced as a child artist in a telugu movie ‘Samsaram’, which was produced by the banner ‘Sadhana Chitra’ but again bad luck shoved off the role since she felt very abashed and tensed up to take through with Akkineni Nageswara Rao as he is a big star. As a result she was replaced by Pushpalatha but was offered a small role in that movie. When the film was released, the producers and directors recognized her inborn talent. She caught chances to act in films like ‘Sankranthi’, ‘Palleturu’ etc. She performed in a dance flick in the legendary film ‘Pathala Bhairavi’ in 1951. There was no looking back for Savithri, after she had performed as a second heroine in the film ‘Pelli Chesi Choodu’ in 1952 by L. V. Prasad.

She acted in memorable films like Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952), Palletooru (1952), Chandra Haram (1953), Devadasu (1953), Ardhangi (1955), Missamma(1955), Donga Ramudu (1955), Amara Deepam (1956), Mayabazaar (1957), Appu Chesi Pappu Kodu (1959), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), Aradhana (1962), Gundamma Katha (1962), Rakta Tilakam (1963), Mooga Manasulu (1963), Poojaphalam (1964), Pandava Vanavasam (1965), Prana Mitrulu (1967), Varakatnam (1968), Maro Prapancham (1970) and Jagan Mohini (1978).

Of all Savithri’s movies Chivarakumigiledi is considered to be a magnum opus.But the film was a total financial failure. Apart from those films that are already mentioned there are some more great movies such as DongaRamudu(1956), Todikodallu(1957), Mangalya Balam(1958), Abhimanam(1958), Muripinche muvvalu(1960), Manchi Manasulu(1961), Doctor Chakravarthi(1964) and Devatha(1965) etc. These movies stand as a shining testimony to her versatality as an actress. These movies will find a mention in a list of all time great telugu movies.

In Tamil film Industry:

Savitri was a legendary actress in Tamil. She has paired opposite leading actors like Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran. Savithri acted her 100th film ‘Konjum Salangai’ happened to be paired with Gemini Ganesan. She was fondly called Nadigaiyar Thilagam (நடிகையர் திலகம்) in the Tamil film industry.

In Paasa Malar movie which she was paired opposite Gemini Ganesan and as a sister of Sivaji Ganesan and Navarathiri (நவராத்திரி) brought her accolades from all over pushing her to the top slot in the Tamil Film Industry. Kalathur Kannamma (1959), Missiyamma, Pasamalar (1961), Pava Mannippu (1961) etc. are some of her memorable classics in Tamil cinema.

In Hindi film Industry:

Savitri acted in few Hindi films like Bahut Din Huwe (1954), Ghar Basake Dekho (1963), Ganga Ki Lahren (1964), Balram Shri Krishna (1968).

In Kannada film Industry:

Savitri acted in few Kannada films towards the end of her career. She played the role of mother of Dr.Rajkumar in superhit films like Thaayige Thakka Maga (1978) and Ravichandra (1980). It was her longtime wish to act with Rajkumar. She also acted in Chandanada Gombe and Devaru Kottavara (1975).

In Malayalam film Industry:

Savithri acted in the following Malayalam films Nava Dhaara Chuli (1973), Anthony Punnyavalan (1978) and Ashwathama (1978) in her entire professional career.

As a Director and Producer:

Savithri was not only a distinguished actress but also a refined film director. She had directed films like Chinnari Papalu (1968), Chiranjeevi, Maathru Devatha and Vintha Samsaram in Telugu and a few films in Tamil. Her misfortune started with the film ‘Praptam’ (Mooga Manasulu in Telugu) the Tamil film, which was made under her own production and direction. The film took nearly five years to be completed and that pushed Savithri into debts. She would watch all the Hollywood movies and analyze them in an amazing manner. She loved Sophia Loren and Shirley McLain.

Personal life:

Savithri was married to the Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan in 1955, while she was acting in a movie called “Manampol Mangalyam” with Gemini during that time. She declared it publicly three years after the wedding.It was revealed subsequently when Savithri gave her photo for the Lux soap advertisement, as it was signed as ‘Savithri Ganesh’ at the backside of the photograph. They were blessed with two children Vijaya Chamundeswari and Sathish Kumar.

Savitri was a strict, disciplined and compassionate mother. Because of her work pressure she hardly found some time to spend with her kids. Even then she used to capture some time out of her hectic schedule and spent a good quality of time with her kids. She gave her children complete liberty while insuring certain restrictions on them. She never raised hands at her children. She loved her kids immeasurably. Since there was no availability of televisions at that time, she arranged a 16mm projector, to show the films that she had acted to her kids.

Death:

On the course of her travel to Mysore for a shooting she broke down, went into coma, and was hurried back to Chennai where her children admitted her in a hospital. There she lost her speech and left this world on 26th, December 1981 at Madras. She left her screen life as an eternal model.

Awards and honours:

In 1960, She has received the President’s Rashtrapati Award for her performance in the film Chivaraku Migiledi(1960).

State Awards:

• Kalaimamani from the Government of Tamil Nadu
• Nata Siromani by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Other honors:

• Maha Nati (Supreme Actress) from Yuvathi Mandali of Andhra Pradesh
• Nadigayar Thilakam (Greatest Actress) from Tamil Film Industry

Filmfare Awards:

Savithri was recepient of the first Best Actress “Fimfare Award South” for “Devadasu“. She also won the most Filmfare Best Actress Awards, five for the films Devadasu (1953), Maya Bazar (1957), Gundamma Katha (1962), Doctor Chakravarthy (1964), Maro Prapancham (1970).