Mahanati () is a 2018 Indian Telugu-language biographical drama film based on the life of actress Savitri. It is written and directed by Nag Ashwin, and produced by Priyanka Dutt under Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema. The film features Keerthy Suresh as Savitri while Dulquer Salmaan (in his Telugu debut) plays Savitri's husband Gemini Ganesan. The film also stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Vijay Deverakonda, while Rajendra Prasad, Bhanupriya, Divyavani, Mohan Babu, Naga Chaitanya and Prakash Raj appear in supporting roles. The plot follows Savitri's life, depicting her turbulent rise to prominence, marriage with Ganesan, and subsequent fall from grace, which is viewed from the perspective of a journalist and a photographer, played by Samantha and Deverakonda respectively.
Ashwin began working on the biopic of Savitri following the release of his directorial debut Yevade Subramanyam (2015). Its principal photography began in May 2017 and ended in March 2018 with filming taking place in Hyderabad, Palakollu, Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, and Delhi. Dani Sanchez-Lopez performed the cinematography while Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao edited the film. The film features the score and soundtrack composed by Mickey J. Meyer. Mahanati released theatrically on 9 May 2018 while dubbed versions in Tamil and Malayalam were released on 11 May 2018 with the titles Nadigaiyar Thilagam and Mahanadi, respectively.
Mahanati received positive reviews for Keerthy's performance as Savitri and mixed reviews for Ashwin's screenplay and direction. The film won three awards at the 66th National Film Awards, namely, Best Feature Film in Telugu, Best Actress for Keerthy and Best Costume Design. The film also won four Filmfare Awards South including Best Film and Best Actress in Telugu category. Mahanati was screened at the International Film Festival of India, the Shanghai International Film Festival, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It also fetched the state Telangana Gaddar Film Award for Best Feature Film.
Plot In 1980 Bangalore, celebrated actress Savitri is discovered unconscious by her son and hospitalized, slipping into a prolonged coma. The incident draws intense media attention, though her personal circumstances remains an enigma to the public. Madhuravani, a newspaper journalist struggling with a stutter, and Vijay Anthony, a photojournalist, are assigned to cover her story. During her investigation, Madhuravani uncovers a poignant letter written by Savitri expressing a final wish to take her son to meet someone named "Shankarayya." Although her editor eventually cancels the memoir assignment, an intrigued Madhuravani continues her research independently. She sneaks into Savitri's abandoned residence and overhears her maternal aunt recounting details of the actress's turbulent upbringing.
In 1942 Vijayawada, a widowed Subadramma and her young daughter, Savitri, are taken in by Subadramma's sister, Durgamba, and her husband, K. V. Chowdary, much to Chowdary's displeasure. Savitri grows into a gifted dancer, performing in local plays alongside her childhood friend Susheela under Chowdary's strict management. As cinema eclipses live theater and causes significant financial losses, Chowdary attempts to push Savitri into the film industry in Madras. Initially rejected due to her young age and lack of fluency in Tamil, she crosses paths with Ramasamy "Gemini" Ganesan, a charismatic studio employee who facilitates her first professional casting photograph. Savitri eventually secures a role in L. V. Prasad's Samsaram (1950), but is dismissed after becoming starstruck by leading actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, requiring numerous takes. Undeterred, she secures a minor part in Pathala Bhairavi, initiating her rapid cinematic ascent.
Savitri is subsequently cast as the lead opposite Ganesan, who personally coaches her in Tamil. The two become massive stars and fall deeply in love, despite Ganesan already being married. Their secret marriage sparks a bitter familial fallout, leading Chowdary to publicly disown her. Though Savitri initially intends to retire, Ganesan and legendary producer Aluri Chakrapani convince her to continue acting. Her performance in Mayabazar catapults her to unprecedented stardom, earning her widespread acclaim. The couple later welcomes two children, a daughter and a son. However, as Savitri's fame and financial earnings begin to eclipse Ganesan's, his growing professional jealousy drives him to severe alcoholism. In a misguided attempt to curb his habit and keep him company, Savitri begins drinking alongside him.
In 1968, Savitri directs Chinnari Papalu, a groundbreaking film featuring an all-female crew. On the day of its release, she discovers Ganesan with another woman, prompting an immediate separation. Deprived of his emotional support, Savitri struggles with escalating alcoholism and weight gain. Her vulnerability is exploited by fraudulent associates, leading to a massive Income tax raid that decimates her wealth. Following her mother's death and a heated altercation with her estranged daughter over her drinking, an accidental fire breaks out in her mansion, during which Savitri faints and is later diagnosed with severe diabetes.
A frail Chowdary visits Savitri on his deathbed, facilitating an emotional reconciliation between Savitri, her daughter, and her uncle. Resolved to reform, Savitri stops drinking, loses weight, moves to a modest home with her son, and takes low-budget acting roles to systematically clear her debts. She even sets aside an untouchable fund to construct a rehabilitation center. Facing additional tax penalties, she refuses to surrender the center's funds. She travels to Bangalore with her son, where, overwhelmed by isolation and financial desperation, she attempts to phone Ganesan, but hangs up in tears before speaking. Succumbing to despair, she drinks heavily in her hotel room and collapses into her terminal coma.
Concurrently, Madhuravani's immersion into Savitri's life inspires her to find her own voice. Realizing her love for Anthony, she courageously disrupts what she believes to be his engagement ceremony, speaking fluently without her stutter for the first time, only to learn it is actually his sister's wedding. Anthony happily reciprocates her feelings. Madhuravani publishes her definitive biography of Savitri, honoring her legacy. She visits the comatose actress, placing in her hand a rare childhood photograph of Savitri's biological father, whom she had spent her life yearning to know. Savitri passes away in December 1981. The framing narrative concludes by revealing that "Shankarayya" was not a person, but a roadside statue that a fatherless, young Savitri had affectionately adopted as her father.
Cast
Production Development In May 2016, director Nag Ashwin, who made his debut with Yevade Subramanyam (2015), announced that his next film would be a biopic of the Indian actress Savitri, who was active during the 1950s and 60s, predominantly in Telugu and Tamil films. The film was titled Mahanati, and Ashwin had finished the script work and began casting actors for the project. He spent six months researching the actress by reading articles and books, in addition to meeting old journalists and actors associated with her. In an interview with Indo-Asian News Service, Ashwin talked about his intention to adapt Savitri's life into a film. "From a penniless origin to the first female superstar, her life is quite a story," he stated. Ashwin felt that the time had come to revisit the "legends" and understand why they were legends." In another interview to India Today, Ashwin told that choosing to make Mahanati was more of a subconscious decision, as he grew up watching her films and songs.
The film's production is handled by Ashwin's wife Priyanka Dutt and her sister Swapna Dutt. They are the daughters of veteran film producer Ashwini Dutt, the founder of Vyjayanthi Movies. The film was originally intended to be shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages, however, the Tamil version was later dropped in favour of a dub.
Cast and crew In August 2016, Ashwin announced his intention to cast the lead actress with an audience poll. In December, Nithya Menen entered the talks to play Savitri but it did not materialise. Subsequently, Keerthy Suresh was signed for the role in early January 2017. Post the film's release in May 2018, Ashwin in a video interview with Indiaglitz Tamil, stated that Anushka Shetty and Vidya Balan were his first choices to play the role of Savitri. However he was convinced that Keerthy was the right choice after watching her in Thodari (2016). Keerthy was initially apprehensive to play Savitri but her mother, who is a fan of Savitri's work prompted her to take up the role. While preparing for the character, she watched Savitri's films, read her biography A Legendary Actress: Mahanati Savitri, and consulted her daughter Vijaya Chamundeswari to know about her personality.
Samantha Akkineni was confirmed to be a part of the project who would be portraying Madhuravani, a journalist from whose perspective the story is narrated. For the role of Savitri's husband Gemini Ganesan, Ashwin has considered Suriya and Madhavan, before finalising Dulquer Salmaan for the character. The film marked Salmaan's debut in Telugu cinema. Vijay Deverakonda, who had earlier been considered for Ganesan's role, was selected to pair opposite Samantha as Vijay Antony. Ashwin told Indo-Asian News Service that Salmaan's portrayal of Ganesan would go beyond the physical resemblance, to better depict the character's emotional side.
The cast also includes Rajendra Prasad who plays Savitri's uncle KV Chowdary and Bhanupriya who plays Savitri's aunt. Shalini Pandey plays Suseela, Savitri's friend. Naga Chaitanya plays his grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao while Mohan Babu plays S. V. Ranga Rao. Other appearances include Prakash Raj as Aluri Chakrapani, Krish as K. V. Reddy, and Srinivas Avasarala as L. V. Prasad among others. Sai Madhav Burra who gave the dialogue for the film, makes a cameo appearance as writer Pingali. N. T. Rama Rao Jr. was offered to play his grandfather N. T. Rama Rao but he declined, saying that he would not be able to do justice for that role.
Mickey J Meyer and Dani Sanchez-Lopez were confirmed as music composer and cinematographer respectively.
Filming
Principal photography began on 29 May 2017 in Hyderabad and ended on 22 March 2018. Filming also took place in Palakollu of West Godavari district to picturise Savitri's childhood, in addition to Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, and Delhi. The song "Aha Na Peliyanta" from Mayabazar (1957) was shot as a part of the first schedule and a 25-day long second schedule took place in June. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao who worked as an assistant director for Mayabazar visited the sets when they were shooting scenes related to that film. Keerthy gained some weight to play crucial scenes featuring Savitri after her childbirth.
Madhuravani's storyline which takes place in the 1980s was shot on film stock, using a super 16mm camera to achieve a grainy texture. Cinematographer Sanchez-Lopez explained that the decision was consciously made to match the Technicolor format used in the Indian films of that period. Salmaan shot his portions by January 2018. He completed his dubbing later in March, followed by Akkineni and Keerthy in April.
The production team is said to have put extensive effort into Savitri's costumes and jewellery. To give a vintage look for the jewellery, designer Naveen Sangli used old methods such as gold wire wrapping and dainty stone setting. Sangli worked with Ashwin and the costume designer Gaurang Shah to get the right match between the saris and jewellery. Shah revealed that they did months of research for costumes. He along with a team of 100 artisans worked over a year to make them.
Music