''Sati Savitri'' is a 1978

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...

-language

Hindu mythological film This is a list of genres of literature and entertainment (film, television, music, and video games), excluding genres in the visual arts. ''Genre'' is the term for any category of creative work, which includes literature and other forms of art ...

directed by

B. A. Subba Rao B. A. Subba Rao was an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who primarily worked in Telugu cinema. He played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of several prominent actors, including N. T. Rama Rao. Subba Rao made his directorial ...

. It stars

N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, film editor, philanthropist, and politician who served as the Chief Minister o ...

Krishnam Raju Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju (20 January 1940 – 11 September 2022) was an Indian actor and politician. He was known for his works in Telugu cinema and was widely known as "''Rebel Star''" for his rebellious acting style. He was also th ...

Vanisri Vanisri (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian actress known for her works predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films. In a film career spanning 40 years, she has received three Filmfare Awards South, the Nandi Awards and the Tamil Nadu St ...

and music composed by Ghantasala &

Pendyala Nageswara Rao Pendyala Nageswara Rao (6 March 1917 – 31 August 1984), known mononymously by his surname Pendyala, was an Indian composer, multi-instrumentalist, conductor, music producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with Tam ...

. It is produced by A. Sankar Reddy under the Lalitha Siva Jyothi Studios. The film is based on the story of

Savitri and Satyavan ''Savitri and Satyavan'', also called ''Sāvitrī-Upākhyāna'' and ''Pativrata-mahatmya Parva'', is an episode from the Indian epic '' Mahabharata'', appearing in the ''Vana Parva'' (The Book of the Forest). It tells the story of Princess Savitr ...

Plot

The film begins with nature questioning the universe and saying death is inevitable, for which

Yama Yama (), also known as Kāla and Dharmarāja, is the Hindu god of death and justice, responsible for the dispensation of law and punishment of sinners in his abode, Naraka. He is often identified with Dharmadeva, the personification of ''Dharm ...

God of Death protests vigorously. Just in,

Narada Narada (, ), or Narada Muni, is a sage-divinity, famous in Hinduism, Hindu traditions as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is one of the Manasputra, mind-created children of Brahma, the creator ...

lands where Yama affirms that no soul can escape from the eternal cycle of life. Narada walks on

Trimurti The Trimurti ( /t̪ɾimʊɾt̪iː/) is the triple deity of supreme divinity in Hinduism, in which the cosmic functions of creation, preservation, and destruction are personified as a triad of deities. Typically, the designations are that ...

but in vain to make sure. So, he prays to Aadi Parashakti, who spectacles that triumphs death, is Savitri, the daughter of Aswapathi of

Madra Kingdom Madra kingdom (; ) was a kingdom grouped among the western kingdoms in the Indian epic poetry, ancient Indian epic ''Mahabharata''. Its capital was Sagala in the Madra region. The Kuru (kingdom), Kuru king Pandu's (''Pāṇḍu'') second wife w ...

. Narada notifies Yama, which he dismisses since Savitri has a total life expectancy. Besides, Satyavantha, the son of Dyumatsena of

Salwa Kingdom Salwa (also written as Śalva halva is a kingdom grouped among the western kingdoms in the epic Mahabharata. It was close to Madra kingdom as both are mentioned together in many places. Saubha was its capital. Martikavati (alias Matika, Matrika, ...

, has the destiny to die soon, one year after the wedding. On the eve of

Navaratri Navaratri () is an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. It spans over nine nights, first in the month of Chaitra (March/April of the Gregorian calendar), and aga ...

, Aswapathi reaches Salwa with family as a guest of honor, where Savitri & Satyavantha crushes. Consequently, Narada gets an answer and affirms to Yama that Satyavantha is the rig of Savitri, which he challenges to make beyond reach. Meanwhile, Rudrasena, the king of Bhudyala, itches to knit his daughter Chandraprabha with Satyavantha, which Dyumatsena denies because of his son's fate. Hence, Rudrasena conquers them by backstabbing and exiling Dyumatsena's couple by plucking their eyes. Satyavantha is outraged here, but

Gautama Maharishi Gautama (, ), was a sage in Hinduism and son of Brahmin sage Dirghatamas who is also mentioned in Jainism and Buddhism. Gautama is mentioned in the Yajurveda, Ramayana, and Ganesha Purana, Gaṇeśa Pūrana and is known for cursing his wife Ahal ...

tranquilizes him, and they live as forest dwellers. Despite this, Savitri emphasized that she had decided, so Aswapathi headed to Dyumatsena. Whereat, Yama, in the Brahmin's guise, asserts Satyavantha's birth secret, but Savitri holds steady and announces to face the fact. Soon after the nuptial, Savitri proceeds to her in-laws and hermitage, relinquishing the luxury and serving them with adoration. Following this, Narada guides Savitri in her first step, which is performing a ritual. Yama conducts breakdowns to it and mandates Trinity & Ashtadikpakulu not to aid her. However, Savitri carries it out with her idolatry. The day arises when Satyavantha moves in to cut wood from the forest, and Savitri follows him. Yama also sets foot to claim the soul when Satyavantha suddenly gets dizzy and collapses. Now, Savitri is behind Yama, depriving her lord's soul with big talk & reasoning of piety. Plus, with her grit, she makes the grade of ''Megha Mandalam,'' ''Sunyam,'' ''Surya Mandalam,'' ''Nakshatra Mandalam'' till '' Vaitarani.'' Across scales, Yama bestows Savitri with three boons, excluding her husband's life, and seeks to recoup the vision & kingdom of her in-laws, & the male progeny of her parents. Yet, she does not get out when Yama infuriates her. Thus, Savitri solicits & glorifies Aadi Parashakti before her Yama bows down. Currently, Savitri compels Yama to retrieve her husband as she earns the 3rd boon of a child, which is unfeasible without a husband. At last, the universe acclaims Savitri, who arrives on Earth with Satyavantha. Finally, the movie ends with the proclamation: ''Humans can attain divinity by perfecting their soul power.''

Cast

as Yama Dharma Raju *

as Satyavanta *

as Savitri *

Kanta Rao Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao (16 November 1923 – 22 March 2009) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Regarded as one of the finest method actors, Rao appeared in more than 400 feature films, ...

as Narada Maharshi * Gummadi as Aswapathi Maharaju * Mikkilineni as

Lord Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...

Dhulipala Dhulipala Sitarama Sastry (24 September 1921 – 13 April 2007), known mononymously by the surname Dhulipala, was an Indian actor and thespian, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He was noted for playing mythological roles, p ...

as Dyumatsena Maharaju *

Prabhakar Reddy Mandadi Prabhakar Reddy (1935–1997) was an Indian film character actor known for his works in Telugu cinema. He acted in over 472 films over three decades. He wrote stories for several acclaimed films, including '' Karthika Deepam''. Dr. M ...

as Rudrasena Maharaju *

Allu Ramalingaiah Allu Ramalingaiah (1 October 1922 – 31 July 2004) was an Indian character actor, comedian, and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. In 1990, he was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. In 1998, he rec ...

as Chitra Gupta * Raja Babu as Sharadudu *K.V.Chalam as Astrologer *

P. J. Sarma Pudipeddi Jogeswara Sarma was an Indian film dubbing artist, turned actor and writer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has worked for over 500 films as an actor and dubbing artist. He is the father of actors P. Sai Kumar ...

Lord Siva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Shiva is known as ''The Destroyer' ...

*Nagaraju as

Lord Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation (sattva). Vish ...

* Jamuna as Vijaya *

K. R. Vijaya Deivanayaki, better known by her stage name K. R. Vijaya, is an Indian actress who has featured in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada films. She started her career in 1963 and has been acting for more than six decades in South Indian cinema. ...

Adi Parashakti Mahadevi (, , IPA: / mɐɦɑd̪eʋiː/), also referred to as Adi Parashakti, and Mahamaya, is the supreme goddess in Hinduism. According to the goddess-centric sect Shaktism, all Hindu gods and goddesses are considered to be manifestations of t ...

Anjali Devi Anjali Devi (; 24 August 1927 – 13 January 2014) was an Indian actress, model and producer in Telugu and Tamil films. She was well known for her role as the Devi Sita in '' Lava Kusa'' as well as for the title roles in movies like Chenchu ...

as Aswapathi Maharaju's wife *

Pandari Bai Pandari Bai (18 September 1928 – 29 January 2003) was an Indian actress who worked in South Indian cinema, mostly in Kannada cinema during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. She is considered Kannada cinema's first successful heroine. She has acted ...

as Dyumatsena Maharaju's wife *

Rama Prabha Rama Prabha is an Indian actress who performs in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. She has acted in more than 1,400 films and is credited as a character artist who shared screen space with superstars across most generations of South Indian Cin ...

as Chitra * Madhavi as Chandra Prabha *Mamata as

Goddess Saraswati Saraswati (, ), also spelled as Sarasvati, is one of the principal Devi, goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of knowledge, education, learning, arts, speech, poetry, music, purification, language and culture. Together with the godde ...

*Halam as Dancer *

Jaya Malini Jayamalini (or Jaya Malini) is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 500 Telugu, Tamil films, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi movies. Personal life She married Parthiban, a police inspector on 19 July 1994 and settled in Chennai wi ...

as Dancer *Pushpa Kumari

Music

Music was composed by Ghantasala and Pendyala. Music released by EMI Columbia Audio Company.

References

External links

{{Savitri and Satyavan 1978 films 1970s Telugu-language films 1970s Indian films Films about Savitri and Satyavan Indian fantasy films 1978 fantasy films Films scored by Ghantasala (musician) Films scored by Pendyala (composer) Films based on Indian folklore Films based on the Mahabharata Films directed by B. A. Subba Rao