Savitri (actress)

Nissankara Savitri (also known as Savitri Ganesan; 6 December 1934 – 26 December 1981) was an Indian actress, singer, and filmmaker known for her works primarily in Telugu and Tamil films. Known by the epithets ''Mahanati'' () and ''Nadigaiyar Thilagam'' (), Savitri was one of the highest-paid and most popular Indian actresses in the 1950s and '60s. She is regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected actresses of all time in South India.

In a career spanning three decades, Savitri starred in more than 250 films. Her first significant role was in the 1952 film ''Pelli Chesi Choodu''. Later, she starred in successful and award-winning films such as ''Devadasu'' (1953), ''Donga Ramudu'' (1955), ''Mayabazar'' (1957) and ''Nartanasala'' (1963), featured at the Afro-Asian Film Festival in Jakarta. She 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 was also noted for her kindness, charity, and generosity towards the poor. She 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 won the "Equality in Cinema Award" at the 2018 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Provided by Wikipedia