Mahanati - Movie Based on Savitri's Life

Savitri was a big heroine of Telugu and Tamil films, from a time when Telugu films were entirely shot in Madras. She acted with NTR, ANR, Sivaji Ganesan, and other big heroes, one of whom she also married-Gemini Ganesan, also the father of Rekha through another relationship.

Mahanati is a well-made film, sympathetic to the life and times of Savitri, who came up solely based on her talent, and made a name and lots of money. Her meteoric rise was partly due to her being spotted by Gemini Ganesan, then a production executive at Gemini studios. They married, and then, the story took a turn like Abhimaan (the Hindi film), with her becoming more successful. He could not handle it, and they grew apart, never to reunite.

She was a good soul, and helped everyone she could. Was taken advantage of financially, and died of a drink-induced diabetic coma-probably suicidal, after income tax raids made her penniless. Tragic story, involving many big names of that time, and glimpses of scenes from Maya Bazaar (Mohan Babu plays the SV Ranga Rao part), and a couple of other classics.

Keerthy Suresh and Dulquer Salman play the main roles well. Also, the kid who plays her childhood part. Her uncle played by Rajendra Prasad is also good. A bit long, but worth a watch for many reasons-history of cinema, for one.

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