Nissankara Savitri (6 December 1934 – 26 December 1981), also known as Savitri Ganesan, was an Indian actress and filmmaker who worked predominantly in Telugu and Tamil films. Regarded as one of the most accomplished actresses in the history of Indian cinema, she was popularly addressed by the epithets Mahanati ("The great actress") in Telugu and Nadigaiyar Thilagam ("The pride of all actresses") in Tamil. She was among the highest-paid performers in South Indian cinema during the 1950s and 1960s and is often described as the "Queen of Telugu cinema".
| Full name | Nissankara Savitri |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Savitri Ganesan |
| Born | 6 December 1934 |
| Died | 26 December 1981 |
| Occupation | Actress, filmmaker |
| Primary languages | Telugu, Tamil |
| Epithets | Mahanati (Telugu); Nadigaiyar Thilagam (Tamil) |
| Career span | Approximately three decades |
| Films | More than 250 |
Savitri's first significant role came in the 1952 Telugu film Pelli Chesi Choodu. Over the following years she became one of the foremost leading actresses of South Indian cinema, appearing in a long list of critically acclaimed and commercially successful productions across Telugu and Tamil.
Across this body of work, she portrayed a wide range of characters in mythological, social and family-drama genres, and also worked behind the camera as a filmmaker.
Beyond her screen career, Savitri was known for her philanthropic activities and her generosity towards the poor.
In recognition of her contributions to Indian cinema, Savitri was conferred the "A Moon Among Stars" honour at the 30th International Film Festival of India in 1999. Her life and career were later dramatised in the biographical film Mahanati (2018), which won the "Equality in Cinema Award" at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.