Mahanati Savithri born on 11th January 1937 to the parents Smt.Subhadramma and Sri Guravaiah in Chirravuru village in Guntur District. Her father died when she was six years old. Thereafter, she was brought up by his uncle (father's brother), Shri Kommareddi Venkataramaiah Chowdary at Vijayawada. She studied upto 8th class. Venkatramaiah observed the taste and talent of Savithri towards dance and arranged coaching in dance. The first dance programme was given at Bejawada Ramamohana Grandhalayam. She gave programmes at Rajahmundry, Palakollu, Kothagudem, Machilipatnam, Kakinada, Tenali, Guntur and some other places. The important events taken place in her life are abridged below.
1949: Completed learning Dance in Arunodaya Naatyamandali, Vijayawada while playing roles in Stage Dramas.
1950: Played a small role in Sadhanavari "Samsaram"(a super hit film) with a single dialogue.
1951: Played a dance role in Vijayavari "Pathalabhairavi".
1952: Played a second heroin role in Vijayavari 'Pellichesi Choodu'. The director L.V.Prasad appreciated her, who earlier commented that she was unfit. She played the role of Urvashi in a dream scene in the same film and got appreciations from one and all and people dreamt that she was the real Urvashi.
1953: Played heroine role in the film Bhaskar Productions 'Brathukutheruvu' with Akkineni Nageswara Rao. This film was a Super Hit, directed by Bharani Ramakrishna and one and the only film without Bhanumathi.
Savithri played a tremendous role in Vinodavari 'Devadasu' directed by Vedantham Raghavayya which brought enormous fame to Savathri and she became popular in entire South India. She got this role since Shavukaru Janaki missed this role due to some misunderstanding with the Producer D.L.
1954: She played a vamp role in Vijayavari Chandraharam, released in 100 Centres became an utter flap. Navayugavari 'Jyothi' also an utter flap.
1955: Raginivari 'ARDHANGI' directed by P.Pullaiah (based on a Bengali Novel 'Swayamsiddha') which was released on 26th January 1955 brought fame to Savithri The role in the film 'Ardhangi' was a remarkable role in her carrier as an actress. The film Vijayavari 'Missamma' which was released a bit earlier was also a super hit, and brought fame to Savithri. The film Annapoornavari 'Dongaramudu' directed by K.V.Reddy released on 1st October 1955 and Vinodavari Kanyashulkam, directed by P.Pullaiah released on 26th August 1955 brought good fame to Savithri. Savithri played a tremendous role as Madhuravani in 'Kanyashulkam'. In the same year Sadhanavari 'Santhanam' and A.V.M. vari 'Vadina' released.
1956: Sarasuvari 'Bhaleramudu' released on 6th April 1956, Lalitha films 'Charanadasi' released on 21st December 1956 (film based on the Novel 'THE WRECK' written by Rabindranath Tagore).
1957: Annapoornavari 'Thodikodallu' released on 11th January 1957(achieved Rashtrapathi Award) Vijayavari 'Mayabazaar', released on 27th March 1957 also brought fame to Savithri. The action as Maya Shashirekha in the film Mayabazaar is marvelous. Similarly Sarasuvari 'Bhale Ammailu' released on 6th Sep. 1957, Anupamavari M.L.A. released on 19th Sep 1957 also brought fame to Savithri.
1958: Vikramvari 'Kutumba Gouravam', R.R.picturesvari 'Karthavarayani Katha' released on 18th October 1958 also brought fame to Savithri.
1959: Vijayavari 'Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu' released in 1959. Sri Venkateswara Mahathmyam directed by P.Pullaiah. She played a good role as Padmavathi in this film.
1960: Sambhu films 'Nammina Bantu' released on 7th Jan.1960, Pakshirajavari 'Vimala'.
1962: Jagapathivari 'Aradhana' released on 16th February 1962, Vijayavari 'Gundamma Katha' on July 1962, Padmasrivari Sirisampadalu, Saradhivari Athma Bandhuvu
1963: Rajyam Pictures, Narthanashala
1964: Sambhu films Pooja Phalamu, released on 1st January 1964, Babu movies vari Mooga Manasulu released on 26th January 1964
1965: Ashokavari Sumangali released on January 1965, S.V.Rangarao's own film Naadi Aadajanme released on 8th January 1965, Madhavivari Pandavavanavasam released on 14th January 1965, Padmanabham own film DEVATHA (1965). Thereafter she acted in so many hit films and acquired so many awards.
Mahanati Savithri was the one and only marvelous actress, who was able to express the feelings of both agony and ecstasy through her eyes. In those days 21 films acted by Savithri released in one year, against normal release of 50 films a year.
She was cheated by the people, whom she considered as her own people. She donated to poor and needy very lavishly. She was addicted to alcohol, that too mixing with compose tablets. Though she lived a luxurious life just like a Queen/Maharani in her earlier days, she was tormented by poverty in her last days. She was in such a miserable condition that she was unable to pay Medical expenses in her last days. She was in coma for one and half year in the Hospital in a pathetic condition. On 26th December 1981 she expired. Next day Gemini Ganeshan has taken her body to his house. The Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Sri M.G. Ramachandran attended along with his wife and expressed condolences. Entire Tamil and Telugu film world expressed their condolences. The Cine world lost a worthy Star.
