Was Savitri Set Up for Failure in ‘Chinnari Papalu’?

Like a ship burdened with too many captains, Savitri’s directorial debut 1968 movie, “Chinnari Papalu,” faced a rocky journey from the very beginning. The legendary actress, known for her captivating performances, decided to step behind the camera, but her vision was soon clouded by the complexities of multiple stakeholders involved in the production.

Despite a wise warning from renowned writer D.V. Narasaraju, who refused to collaborate due to the unwieldy partnership, Savitri forged ahead, only to face the truth of his words.

Narasaraju preached to Savitri that partnerships bring”headaches” and it proved tragically accurate. The film’s production became a financial quagmire, demanding a hefty price from Savitri. Despite her best efforts, including selling her own property to keep the project afloat, “Chinnari Papalu” failed to achieve commercial success.

The financial burden of this experience cast a long shadow, impacting her future ventures. Both the Telugu film “Vinta Samsaram” and the Tamil remake of “Praptham” titled “Moogamanasulu” continued to grapple with financial woes, adding to Savitri’s struggles.