Savitri (1937 film)

Did You Know?

• About thirty-four versions of the Savitri Satyavan films were made.
• One of the earliest was the 1913 film Savitri produced by Dadasaheb Phalke.
• The 1933 version of Savitri was the first film produced by East India Film Company and received an Honorary Certificate at the Venice Film Festival.

Plot

Savitri is born as a boon from the Sun God and shares a blood-relation with Karna as a sister, to Ashwapati, the King of Madra and his wife Malawi. She meets and falls in love with Satyavan, son of the blind King Dumatasena, whose minister has usurped the kingdom and exiled him to the forest. The sage Narada advises against the marriage, as planetary charts predict Satyavan will die a year after the wedding, but Savitri insists. A year later, when Yama carries Satyavan's soul away, Savitri follows and discourses with him. Yama grants her three boons except for Satyavan's life. She asks for sight for her father-in-law and restoration of his kingdom, a hundred sons for her father, and a hundred sons for herself. Yama concedes, restoring Satyavan's life; her father-in-law's sight returns and he learns of the usurper's death.