Doctor Savithri is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language thriller film directed by R. M. Krishnaswamy and written by Acharya. A contemporary adaptation of the Hindu story of Savitri and Satyavan, the film stars Anjali Devi, S. Balachander, M. N. Nambiar and B. R. Panthulu. It revolves around the title character's (Anjali Devi) efforts to clear the name of her wrongfully convicted husband (Panthulu). The film was released on 25 November 1955 and became a success.
Plot
Savithri is a doctor who treats the poor for free. When she discovers that Vanaja, a young wealthy woman in their community is being harassed by Nagalingam, a crooked lawyer, she and her husband Somasundaram endeavour to help Vanaja. Later, Nagalingam is murdered by an unknown assailant and Somasundaram is wrongfully convicted of the crime. Savithri investigates the murder and identifies the true killer as Jagath Singh, a doctor who had been blackmailed by Nagalingam.
Cast
Female cast
Anjali Devi as Doctor Savithri
T. A. Mathuram as Aandal
M. N. Rajam as Vanaja
Chellam as the lawyer's wife
(Baby) Kanchana as Vimala
Male cast
S. Balachander Doctor Jagath Singh
M. N. Nambiar as Krishnamoorthi
B. R. Panthulu as Somasundaram
D. Balasubramaniam as Lawyer Nagalingam
Serukalathur Sama as Sambandam Pillai
N. S. Krishnan as Muniyan
S. D. R. Chandran as Judge
G. V. Sharma as Public Prosecutor
Ramaraj as Defense Lawyer
Ashokan as Commissioner
C. P. Kittan as Monkey Performer
Sethuraman as Paranoid and Greedy Person
Sobharaj as Inspector
A. Karunanidhi as Guest artist
Dance
Sayee, Subbulakshmi
Production
In 1941, a Tamil language film based on the Hindu story of Savitri and Satyavan, titled Savithri was released. More than a decade later, T. G. Raghavachari (Acharya) sought to create a new adaptation of the story but with a modern setting. Titled Doctor Savithri, the film's story and screenplay was written by Acharya and it was directed by R. M. Krishnaswamy and produced by M. Radhakrishnan under the banner Aruna Films. Krishnaswamy also served as the cinematographer, while Raghavan was the art director, and R. M. Venugopal was the editor. Acharya wrote the dialogues, along with A. K. Velan and Elangovan. Roy Chowdary, Muthuswamy Pillai (Sayee Subbulakshmi) and Gopalakrishnan were in charge of the choreography. The film was processed at AVM Studios.
Soundtrack
Music was composed by G. Ramanathan and lyrics by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, A. Maruthakasi and Mayavaram Vethanayagam Pillai.
Release and reception
Doctor Savithri was released on 25 November 1955, delayed from Diwali. On the same day The Indian Express wrote, "The atmosphere of mystery and suspense is well maintained to the last though the all-too-brief finale is a bit all-too-tame". The film emerged a commercial success; this assisted in establishing Aruna Films as a leading production company in the 1950s Tamil film industry.