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{{short description|1955 film by R. M. Krishnaswamy}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Doctor Savithri
| image = Doctor Savithri.jpg
| border = no
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = R. M. Krishnaswamy
| screenplay = [[T. G. Raghavachari|Acharya]] A. K. Velan Elangovan
| story = Acharya
| based_on = [[Savitri and Satyavan]]
| producer = M. Radhakrishnan
| starring = [[Anjali Devi]] [[S. Balachander]] [[M. N. Nambiar]] [[B. R. Panthulu]]
| cinematography = R. M. Krishnaswamy
| editing = R. M. Venugopal
| music = [[G. Ramanathan]]
| studio = Aruna Films
| released = {{film date|df=yes|1955|11|25}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Doctor Savithri''''' is a 1955 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[thriller film]]<ref name="hindu" /> directed by R. M. Krishnaswamy and written by Acharya. A contemporary adaptation of the [[Hindus|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 ==
{{more plot|date=October 2021}}
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 ==
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=45%}}
;Female cast<ref name="songbook" />
* [[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
{{col-break|width=60%}}
;Male cast<ref name="songbook" />
* [[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
* [[S. A. Ashokan|Ashokan]] as Commissioner
* C. P. Kittan as Monkey Performer
* Sethuraman as Paranoid and Greedy Person
* Sobharaj as Inspector
* [[A. Karunanidhi]] as Guest artist
{{col-break|width=60%}}
;Dance<ref name="songbook" />
* [[Sayee–Subbulakshmi|Sayee, Subbulakshmi]]
{{col-end}}

== Production ==
In 1941, a Tamil language film based on the [[Hindus|Hindu]] story of [[Savitri and Satyavan]], titled ''[[Savithiri (1941 film)|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.<ref name="hindu" /> 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.<ref name="hindu" /> The film was processed at [[AVM Productions|AVM Studios]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1955 – டாக்டர் சாவித்திரி – அருணா பிலிம்ஸ் |trans-title=1955 – Doctor Savithri – Aruna Films |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1955-cinedetails17.asp |website=lakshmansruthi.com |language=ta |access-date=11 September 2016 |archive-date=27 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227051049/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1955-cinedetails17.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
Music was composed by [[G. Ramanathan]] and lyrics by [[Udumalai Narayana Kavi]], [[A. Maruthakasi]] and [[Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai|Mayavaram Vethanayagam Pillai]].<ref name="songbook" />

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Song !! Singer !! Lyrics !! Duration
|-
| 1 || "Thensuvai Mevum Sendhamizh" || P. Leela || A. Maruthakasi || 03:09
|-
| 2 || "Naayagar Pakshamadi" || P. A. Periyanayaki & A. P. Komala || Mayavaram Vethanayagam Pillai || 02:54
|-
| 3 || "Kasikku Pona Karu Undaagum" || N. S. Krishnan & T. A. Mathuram || rowspan=5|Udumalai Narayana Kavi || 02:33
|-
| 4 || "Vaadham Vambu Panna Koodadhu" || N. S. Krishnan || 02:25
|-
| 5 || "Moolai Veettukulle Mudangi Kidakkira Muniyappa" || P. Leela || 02:57
|-
| 6 || "Jegamengum Pugalongum Veera Dheera Singam" || N. S. Krishnan & Thiruchi Loganathan || 06:03
|-
| 7 || "Maayi Mahamaayi.... Aadhi Parameswariye" || T. M. Soundararajan & A. G. Rathnamala || 06:24
|-
| 8 || "Thenpazhani Malai Mel" || T. M. Soundararajan || || 03:24
|-
| 9 || "Nilavodu Neelavanam Uravada" || Thiruchi Loganathan & Jikki || A. Maruthakasi ||
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Doctor Savithri'' was released on 25 November 1955.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 November 1955 |title=Dr. Savitri |pages=1 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19551125&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=10 May 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 November 1955 |title=Dr. Savitri |pages=8 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19551125&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=16 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film emerged a commercial success; this assisted in establishing Aruna Films as a leading production company in the 1950s Tamil film industry.<ref name="hindu" />

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="hindu">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=4 August 2012 |title=Blast From The Past — Doctor Savithri: 1955 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/doctor-savithri-1955/article3726984.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=27 December 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130926155530/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/doctor-savithri-1955/article3726984.ece |archive-date=26 September 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="songbook">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sok.DoctorSavithri_R.M.Krishnaswamy_1955 |title=டாக்டர் சாவித்ரி |publisher=Aruna Films |year=1955 |language=Tamil |type=[[song book]]}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}

{{Savitri and Satyavan}}

[[Category:1950s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1950s thriller films]]
[[Category:1955 films]]
[[Category:Films about miscarriage of justice]]
[[Category:Films about Savitri and Satyavan]]
[[Category:Films set in 1955]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian legal films]]
[[Category:Indian thriller films]]
[[Category:Legal thriller films]]

Doctor Savithri - Revision history

UpdateBot at 16:52, 1 July 2022