Savithri

Savitri Kommareddy was born on December 6, 1937 in Chirravur village in Guntur district. She was known as Mahanati (Great Actress) of Telugu, Tamil and Hindi Cinema. Her father's name is Nissankara Guraviah and mother's name is Subhadramma. She lost her father when she was six years old. She studied till third form (eighth standard) in Kasturi Bai Memorial School at Vijayawada. She learnt dancing while she was studying. She learnt music and classical dance under Sista Purnayya Sasthri and gave some public performances as a child in Vijayawada. She worked in a theater company run by Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao and Kongara Jaggayya. Later, she started her own group, the Navabharata Natya Mandali.

She made her debut in Telugu Cinema with LV Prasad's Samsaram. She acted in minor films till she turned a star with Pelli Chesi Choodu. She acted about 318 films in Telugu, Tamil and a few films in Hindi like ‘Bahut Din Huyen’, ‘Ghar Basake Dekho’, ‘Balaram Sri Krishna’, ‘Ganga ki Leharen’ etc.

Savithri was not only a distinguished actress but also a refined film director. She had directed films like ‘Chinnari Papalu’, ‘Chiranjeevi’, ‘Maathru Devatha’ and ‘Vintha Samsaram’ in Telugu and a few films in Tamil.

She was awarded with the title Kalai Mamani by the Tamilnadu State Government, Nati Siromani by the Andhra Yuvathi Mandali. She passed away on December 26, 1981.