Mahanati (2018)

Biography of Savitri, an actress from South India movie industry, who ruled the industry for two decades during 50s and 60s.

Director:

Nag Ashwin

Writers:

Nag Ashwin (screenplay), Sai Madhav Burra (dialogue)

Stars:

Keerthi Suresh, Dulquer Salmaan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu

Top Rated Indian Movies #55 | 5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keerthi Suresh	...	Savitri
Dulquer Salmaan	...	Gemini Ganesan
Samantha Ruth Prabhu	...	Madhuravani (as Samantha Akkineni)
Vijay Deverakonda	...	Vijay Anthony
Rajendra Prasad	...	K.V. Chowdary (as Dr. Rajendra Prasad)
Bhanupriya	...	Durgamba (as Bhanu Priya)
Divyavani	...	Subadrama
Mohan Babu	...	S.V. Ranga Rao
Prakash Raj	...	Chakrapani
Srinivas Avasarala	...	L.V. Prasad
Irfan Ahmed Syed	...	Prithivirajkapoor (as Irfan)
Naga Chaitanya Akkineni	...	ANR (as Naga Chaitanya)
Manobala	...	Pulliah
Malavika Nair	...	Alimelu
Shalini Pandey	...	Susheela

Storyline

Mahanati depicts the personal and professional life of first Indian female superstar, Savitri. After actress Savitri is admitted in a hospital in Bangalore and she goes into coma, a young investigative journalist, Madhuravani, seizes the opportunity to write an article on her life. The young Savitri meets Gemini Ganesan, who works in casting department, after her failed attempts to get a role in cinema. They both start a career in acting and eventually rise to stardom. Savitri falls in love with him despite the fact that he is married. Their marriage results in a rift with her family but Savitri never gives up on her love. Her dreams are shattered when she learns that Gemini Ganesan is a womanizer and has been continuing his illicit relationships even after their marriage. The rest of the story is about how she stood up against all odds and the result of her wrong choices in life.

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Plot Keywords:

actress | biopic | south india | film industry | tragedy | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

India

Language:

Telugu Tamil

Release Date:

8 May 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Great Actress

Box Office

Budget:

$3,650,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$279,078

Company Credits

Production Co:

Swapna Cinema, Vyjayanthi Movies

Technical Specs

Runtime:

177 min

Color:

Color Black and White (some sequences) Black and White (film in film sequences)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The lead actress keerthy Suresh had more than 120 dress changes for the movie. Generally, a heroine goes about 30-40 changes for a movie.

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Goofs

When Savithri was approached by Chakrapani for convincing her to accept role in Mayabazar, she was shown hearing the song "aduthu paduthu pani chestunte" in radio. That song was from the film Thodikodallu which was signed and filmed much later to Mayabazar, though released two months earlier.

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Connections

Spoofed in Tamizh Padam 2.0 (2018)

User Reviews

A movie to be remembered as historic film in TFI

#MAHANATI has all the fine elements of a great cinema in making like it is biopic, also a parallel plot running in 1980 (Vijay Antony and madhura vani portrayed by vijay and samantha) to tell the story of savitri amma since childhood to her death bed.

Film director Nag Ashwin had taken time to research every detailed aspect of the film be it talking to savitri's family members to know about her in detailed and to study the sets for recreating 1950s era.( lot of story-boarding work was done ).

Initially it takes us some time to adjust to era's of 1950s and 1980s then as we slowly encounter and adjust to characters especially little cute child savitra amma with song aagipo balyamma there is no looking back. Costumes are designed picture perfect just to mesmerize as if we are looking exactly 1950s era.

Thanks to cinematographer Dani Sanchez Lopez for making us visualize resplendent montage of golden era. There is huge star cast enacted with main leads Keerthy Suresh brilliant portrayal as cute innocent #Mahanati and Dulquer salmaan as loverboy with grey shades (Gemini ganeshan) well supported by others like Rajendra prasad(chowdary garu), Mohanbabu (as Late SV Rangarao garu), Prakash raj, Krishh (legendary KV Reddy garu), Naga chaitanya (Late ANR garu ),Naresh(in a key role).

One important aspect of the film is it has recreated the grandeur of small bits and pieces of famous films like mayabazaar and Devadasu (1953) to name a few which are exquisitely shot in vintage black and white. A film which tells the tale of savitri as great human being(philanthropist), vintage car enthusiast besides great acting(300 films), singing and directing across multiple languages.

Music and BGM by Mickey J meyer has soothing effect which matches the golden era. This film is a honest tribute to Legendary MAHANATI Savithri Garu. Take a bow to all the cast and crew for their wonderful performances.

# This film will be remembered in history of TFI as the first BIOPIC with reverences of stalwarts like NTR garu, ANR garu, K V reddy garu, SV Rangarao garu, Savitri amma, LV prasad garu, etc. , NOTE: the above are just my views and understanding ...and don't treat this as review. EPICs cannot be reviewed just see and enjoy.