Savitri

Director & actor · born 6 December 1935 · Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India

Savitri Kommareddy (January 4, 1936 – December 26, 1981), known mononymously as Savitri, was an Indian actress, film director, and producer who worked predominantly in Telugu and Tamil cinema, alongside appearances in Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam films. After early stage work and brief appearances in *Pathala Bhairavi* (1951) and *Pelli Chesi Choodu* (1952), she achieved her breakthrough as a leading actress in the tragic romance *Devadasu* (1953) and the social drama *Ardhangi* (1955). Over the 1950s and 1960s, she established herself as a central figure in South Indian cinema, headlining comedies such as *Missamma* (1955) and *Gundamma Katha* (1962), alongside dramatic roles in *Mayabazar* (1957), the family drama *Pasamalar* (1961), *Kalathur Kannamma* (1960), and *Mooga Manasulu* (1964).

In 1968, Savitri made her feature directorial debut with the Telugu drama *Chinnari Papalu*, which won the Nandi Award for Second Best Feature Film, and subsequently directed *Kuzhandai Ullam* (1969) and *Maathru Devatha* (1970). Throughout the 1970s, she transitioned into supporting and character roles across regional industries, appearing in features including *Puguntha Veedu* (1972), *Andharangam* (1975), *Jaganmohini* (1978), the Kannada drama *Chandanada Gombe* (1979), and *Gorintaku* (1979). Her final screen appearances included the action drama *Circus Ramudu* (1980).

Where to start: Maathru Devatha (1970).