Mahanati / Nadigayar Thilagam

Remembering a pristine smile

This review is for one of the greatest fans of Savitri, my aunt Rukmini Sundararajan, the mere mention of Savitri's name makes her eyes moist.

I also got to see the movie with another great fan of Savitiri, my mother, Hemalatha Ramaswamy

As a fan, I have shuddered every time "Praptham" or "Mooga Manusulu" has been aired on the TV. Never had the courage to see it. 

Mahanati had to be made.

If Saviitiri has to be remembered, it has be for her spontaneity and innocence. An innocence that gave her the confidence to cut loose and play her roles with a gay abandon. The spontaneity that helped her breeze through several roles and imbue the swagger in Mayabazaar. And the very same innocence in her personal life allowed her to foolishly believe others and led her to pursue endeavors which should not have pursued.

What an extraordinary effort, so much of heart and honesty.

The effort deserves our endorsement.

Whatever be the genre, Indian's have unmatched skill in narrating a love story and keeping it fresh.

While Keethi Suresh was very good, Dulquer had me gasping for breath and wanting him more on the screen.

I enjoyed the movie, thoroughly.

However I wished, the story bordering on a lament, should have been a celebration of Savitiri's rousing achievements as a artist. While her personal life is a clear checklist of what not to do, her achievements should serve as an inspiration for the current generation.

The life of Lincoln was tragic in many ways, but when Spielberg did make a biopic on Lincoln, he decided to focus on the most important achievements of Lincoln.

The narrative was predictably on the lines of Citizen Kane, in search for Rosebud. The narrative in Citizen Kane infused a sense of dynamism as the investigation intensified and the story unfolded over multiple interviews. The speed and the tension of a narrative 77 years ago(Citizen kane was made in 1941) is still fast and furious.

The Hunt for 'Sankarayya' in contrast was lacklustre. The flashback of Samantha and Vijay Devarakonda is probably the weakest link in the movie. And my god, the tonnes of dialogues that Samatha speaks could have been mercifully avoided in a film about Savitiri, who could just let her eyes do the talking.

I also felt that there was scope for more research and important films with Sivaji ganesan should found a place in the narrative.

I take the pleasure of attaching a Youtube link, of a song from Kai Kodutha Deivam which aptly sums up Savithiri's persona.

And finally thanks to Sridhar Sattiraju for sharing with crackling energy his recommendation of Mahanati.