Savitri

Savitri

Savitri Ganesan (born Nissankara Sarasavanidevi) was an Indian film actress, playback singer, dancer, director and producer known for her works primarily in Telugu cinema and Tamil cinema. She is also known for her works in Kannada, Malayalam, and Bollywood films. Savitri's first significant role was in the 1952 Telugu film Pelli Chesi Choodu. In 1960, she received the Rashtrapati Award for her performance in the Telugu film Chivaraku Migiledi. In 1968, she produced and directed the Telugu film Chinnari Papalu, for which she received the state Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (Silver). She is often referred as "Mahanati" and "Nadigaiyar Thilagam". Savitri was starred in enduring classics such as Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Devadasu (1953) which received special mentions at India International Film Festival, Donga Ramudu (1955), Mayabazar (1957), and Nartanasala (1963), featured at Afro Asian film festival in Jakarta. She was also starred in works such as Missamma (1955), Ardhangi (1955), Thodi Kodallu (1957), Mangalya Balam (1959), Aradhana (1962), Gundamma Katha (1962), Doctor Chakravarty (1964), Sumangali (1965), and Devata (1965). Savitri received "A Moon Among Stars" honor at the 30th International Film Festival of India, "Woman in Cinema" section in 1999. The 2018 biographical film Mahanati based on the life of Savitri has garnered the "Equality in Cinema Award" at the 2018 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

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