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Mahanati () is a 2018 Indian Telugu cinema-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 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 its dubbed versions in Tamil language released on 11 May 2018, with the title Nadigaiyar Thilagam and in Malayalam on the same day as Mahanadi.
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.
In Vijayawada, 1942, a widowed Subadramma and her daughter, Savitri, are taken in by Subadramma's sister, Durgamba, and her husband, K. V. Chowdary, much to Chowdary's displeasure. Savitri grows up to be a talented dancer and performs in plays alongside her friend Susheela, earning profits for Chowdary. As cinema gains popularity, attendance to plays declines, resulting in significant financial losses for Chowdary. He attempts to introduce Savitri to the film industry in Chennai, but her young age and inability to speak Tamil language hinder her prospects. Nevertheless, she meets Gemini Ganesan, a studio employee who helps her get a photograph taken for a casting director. A year later, Savitri secures a role in L. V. Prasad's Samsaram (1950 film), but is fired after she becomes too excited to act with Akkineni Nageswara Rao, the male lead, and necessitates numerous takes. However, she lands a minor role in Pathala Bhairavi, marking the beginning of her cinematic career.
Savitri is eventually cast in a Tamil movie opposite Ganesan, who teachers her the language to prepare for acting. Both rise to stardom, and Savitri falls in love with Ganesan, who is already married. Their secret marriage leads to familial tensions after which Chowdary disowns her. Though initially reluctant to continue acting after marriage, Savitri is persuaded by producer Aluri Chakrapani and Ganesan to remain active in the industry, eventually achieving widespread acclaim due to her performance in Mayabazar. The couple has two children, a daughter and a son. While Ganesan initially supports Savitri's career, jealousy over her greater fame leads him to alcoholism, which Savitri attempts to curb by sharing in his drinking.
Encouraged by several women, Savitri directs all-female-crew film Chinnari Papalu. On the day of its release, she discovers Ganesan with another woman, prompting her to separate from him. Subsequently, Savitri struggles with alcoholism, weight gain, and financial difficulties following her mother's death and an Income tax raid. An altercation with her daughter over drinking culminates in an accidental fire, during which Savitri faints. She is later diagnosed with diabetes.
Chowdary visits Savitri, who seeks forgiveness from both her daughter and uncle. She arranges her daughter's marriage, ceases drinking, loses weight, and relocates with her son to a smaller home while accepting low-budget film work. She also sets aside funds for establishing a rehabilitation center. Despite owing additional taxes, Savitri refuses to part with any more money. She travels to Bangalore with her son, feeling disoriented and frustrated, attempts to contact Ganesan, but abruptly ends the call before speaking. Succumbing to despair, she resumes drinking and collapses into a coma.
Meanwhile, Madhuravani realizes her feelings for Anthony through her engagement with Savitri's story. She disrupts what she believes to be Anthony's engagement, speaking fluently without her stutter, only to discover it his sister's ceremony. Anthony reciprocates her feelings. Madhuravani ultimately completes Savitri's memoir, visits her, placing in her hands a photograph of her father, whom Savitri had never met. Savitri dies in December 1981.
It is ultimately revealed that "Shankarayya" is a statue that Savitri regarded as her father.
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.
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.
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 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.
In an interview with The Hindu, Sanchez-Lopez talked about the choice of colour palettes in the film. The colours represent the tone and mood of the film as it explores Savitri's life. The use of mirrors in the film also serves as visual metaphors to her life.
Shrikrishna of Cinema Express stated that the film is not just a biopic but a "visual retelling of the history of South Indian cinema", adding, "Ashwin, in crafting this love letter to Savithri, encloses a post-script to cinema of a bygone era and the people at the centre of that early movement." The film also touches upon Andhra movement of Andhra Pradesh which took place in that period.
The overseas distribution rights of Mahanati were acquired by Nirvana Cinemas, reportedly at an amount of million. N. Chandrababu Naidu, the then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, was impressed with the film and offered to exempt Mahanati from taxes in Andhra Pradesh, but the studio owner Ashwini Dutt politely declined it. From the third week, makers announced that the film would be screened at the old age homes.
After the film's release, Ganesan's first daughter Kamala Selvaraj alleged that Ganesan's characterisation was distorted and the film was biased in favour of Savitri. Ashwin responded by stating that Selvaraj was made aware of the plot during its development. Savitri's daughter Vijaya Chamundeswari also defended the film, suggesting that Selvaraj may have watched the film from a different perspective.
The film became the fourth-best Telugu opener in the United States in 2018, grossing over .It completed its 50-day theatrical run with a gross of crore. With over million (₹17.4 crore), Mahanati stood as the sixth-highest grossing Telugu film in the United States.
Writing for The Times of India, Neeshita Nyayapati gave the film four stars out of five and commented, "To call Mahanati a celebration of Savitri's life would be an understatement, because the film breathes her life in a span of almost 3 hours." A review carried by Sify opined that Ashwin narrated the story in an emotional and poignant manner. They found Keerthy's portrayal of Savitri "pitch perfect" and felt Salmaan gave his "best performance." Sub-editor of India Today, Janani K called Mahanati "one of the best biopics of all time."
The Indian Express critic Manoj Kumar R gave the film four stars out of five and praised the performances. He called Salmaan, Keerthy, Akkineni, and the costume designers as the four best things to happen to the film. "These three actors are in top form and equally shoulder this film," Kumar stated. Priyanka Sundar of Hindustan Times applauded Salmaan's performance and wrote, "whether it is a frustrated and rude Ganesan when Savitri succumbs to coma or his cheesy Romeo avatar wooing Savitri ... Dulquer has nailed it." Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu said that the film belonged to Keerthy and Salmaan. "They imbibe the mannerisms of the legendary actors they're portraying but don't end up as caricatures," she wrote.
Suresh Kavirayani of Deccan Chronicle gave a positive review and praised the aspects of production and writing. He wrote: "The director has also successfully captured the essence of Gemini Ganeshan and Savitri's romance. He takes the audience on an emotional journey along with the actress." Krishna Sripada of The News Minute felt that Ashwin had pulled off a stunner by making Savitri's story a "once-in-a-lifetime epic." He said that the film would make the audience "smile through the tears". A review from The Free Press Journal gave 4 stars stated the performances are "compelling." "Director Nag Ashwin demonstrates a surprising level of maturity in apportioning flamboyance to the real-life tale," the reviewer wrote. Rahul Devalapalli of The Week observed that Keerthy shared a striking resemblance with Savitri. "In some of the scenes, shot in black and white, it is tough to tell if it is Savitri or Keerthy," Devulapalli added.
In his review for Firstpost, Hemnath Kumar gave Mahanati three stars out of five; he felt that the film does not have enough drama and wrote, "It is like reading a Wikipedia page of a famous person. You might get all that you are looking for but it is not the same as reading an in-depth book about the same person". Mathrubhumi's Akshara K. V. who also gave the film three stars out of five opined that the film's runtime could have been shorter as the latter half of the film lagged. Writing for Film Companion, Baradwaj Rangan said, " Mahanati, despite its numerous failings, cannot be easily dismissed – because it remembers a forgotten era, whose clips are lovingly recreated via scratchy prints and computerised colour". Among the overseas reviewers, Mythily Ramachandran in her review for Gulf News wrote that "Suresh completely owns her character and delivers a powerful performance. Dulquer Salmaan as Gemini Ganesan plays the perfect tango. Samantha, Vijay Devarkonda and Rajendra Prasad in supporting roles are brilliant." She also appreciated Meyer's "melodious compositions" and Sanchez-Lopez's frames that "juggle between sepia tones and colour."
Film Companion listed Mahanati among the "25 Greatest Telugu Films of the Decade" while Keerthy's portrayal of Savitri was featured in their "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade." Mahanati
The film has also garnered the Equality in Cinema award at the 2018 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Mahanati was selected in the Indian Panorama section at the 49th International Film Festival of India and was also screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
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