When Keerthy Suresh forgot herself to become Savitri from 'Mahanati' won the National Award

Mumbai, October 16 (IANS). Often called the ‘Lady Superstar’, Keerthy Suresh is a versatile actress across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and now Bollywood. Born on 17 October 1992 in Chennai, Keerthi is the daughter of famous Malayalam film actress Maneka and producer Suresh Kumar. He debuted as a child artist at the age of just 8, but his real breakthrough came in 2013 with the Malayalam film ‘Geethanjali’, where he played the lead role. In 2018, she won the National Award for Best Actress for her biopic role of legendary actress Savitri in the Tamil film ‘Mahanati’. This film was a super hit and brought pan India fame to Kirti. Romantic chemistry with actor Nithin in ‘Rang De’ and intense drama opposite Nani in ‘Dasara’, in every role, Kirti has proved that she is not just a master of glamor but a master of emotions. In 2024, she made her Hindi debut with Varun Dhawan in ‘Baby John’, which is a remake of the Tamil super hit ‘Theri’. Here, Kirti played the character of a strong woman, who had a perfect blend of action, dance and emotions. Her dancing skills, be it classical Bharatnatyam or modern moves, drives fans crazy. Keerthy Suresh even forgot herself for the role of the film ‘Mahanati’. For this he separated himself from others. This was mentioned by Keerthi Suresh in an interview. ‘Mahanati’ was a biopic based on the turbulent life of legendary Telugu film actress Savitri. Director Nag Ashwin directed this film and young actress Keerthy Suresh was chosen for the lead role. Playing the role of Savitri, whose acting had a sense of spontaneity, depth and tragedy, was not just a role for any actor, but a mental and emotional ordeal. Keerthy Suresh portrayed this character with such intensity that she received the National Film Award for Best Actress, but behind this success lies a deep emotional journey. The film ‘Mahanati’ was not only a story of fame and stardom but it also depicted the tragedy of Savitri’s life, love, betrayal, alcohol addiction and a tragic end. The biggest emotional pressure for Keerthy Suresh was to play the final stages of her character. Kirti said in the interview that she spent weeks watching footage of Savitri to understand her expressions, the tone of her voice and the way she smiled. But when the character entered his tragic life, this preparation became more mental and emotional than physical. The part of the film, where Savitri struggles with depression and becomes dependent on alcohol, was the most difficult for Keerthi. She said that during the shooting she really started to feel that pain. He often had to set himself up or calm down after a fight, as the character’s negative emotions would overwhelm him. Actress Savitri’s last days were spent in loneliness and financial crisis. Kirti told that she had to isolate herself emotionally to bring that pain alive on screen. For him, as an artist, it was like surrendering himself completely to someone else’s tragedy. Keerthy Suresh used this emotional pressure creatively. The emptiness in his eyes, the tiredness in his voice and the brokenness in his expressions were clearly visible, which shocked the audience. When the film released, both critics and audiences praised Keerthy Suresh’s performance as an extraordinary achievement. He not only imitated Savitri, but her feeling. It was the emotional pressure of filming ‘Mahanati’ that transformed a young actress into a national award-winning artist and proved that some characters don’t just require acting, they demand dedication from the artist’s soul. –IANS JP/ABM