Simply Savitri

The first biopic of Tollywood brings to life an iconic actress, who ruled Telugu cinema in the 50s and 60s. Savitri’s life and career is nothing less than education in Indian cinema, her stardom representing true feminism. Society spoke to Savitri’s daughter, Vijaya Chamundeswari on the occasion of the film’s release to get a firsthand account of the power of her mother’s indomitable talent in a male-dominated industry.

- CSS Latha

A fitting ode to a yesteryear diva, who is regarded as the ‘pride of Indian cinema’, is now on screen in the form of Tollywood’s first biopic, Mahanati. It is dedicated to its prima donna star, actress Savitri, and the film has garnered worldwide acclaim immediately after its release.

The period film has shaped up brilliantly and fetched a standing ovation for its director Nag Ashwin and more specifically, for the lead actress Keerthy Suresh, who incredibly reincarnates Savitri’s poise on celluloid. The opening week saw the film cross the two million dollar mark with the box-office collection overseas.

A Vijayashanthi Movies production,  Mahanati is an overwhelming experience for millions of Savitri’s fans worldwide. Watching her being cloned on the big screen and the story of her dizzying stardom and tempestuous personal life being recounted in all its rainbow shades, the film is a surreal experience.

Ironically, Savitri’s life turns out to be a perfect formula for a salacious film with elements like fame, glamour, romance, breach of trust, jilted love, treachery and tragic culmination. She lived like a queen and died young like a face in the crowd.

Savitri was the Queen Bee and a superstar in the true sense of the word. Her range and variation could not be perfected any further. She excelled in both, the mythological and social cinema, a dimension singularly her achievement, a referral point of acting. In short, Savitri was simply a classic and classics we know, are forever.

Her saga of glory to doom is encapsulated by filmmakers Priyanka Dutt, Swapna Dutt, Ashwin Dutt, director Nag Ashwin, lead actors Keerthy Suresh and Dulquer Salmaan in Mahanati.