Mahanati makers said that they researched about the life of Savitri garu and also about the each and every character, they are going to show on screen by reading books and mostly discussing with family members of Savitri garu. But Gemini Ganeshan’s daughter from first wife, Kamala Ganeshan, raised up issues with the film and said that the makers have implied a bad name to her deceased father, Kadhal Mannan, Ramaswamy alias Gemini Ganeshan.
She said, “My father is not an alcoholic or an egotistic like the film portrayed him to be. He encouraged women in our family to be independent and completely modern. He helped Savitri amma with that outlook only and he always called her Ammadi. I was the person who drove his car when he wanted to meet Savitri amma very desperately and on that day, her relatives released dogs behind him and me. Maybe Savitri amma’s children don’t know, but I know about it.”
She continued, “He did not force her to drink. She used to have a social drink but when that turned into an addiction, my father wanted to make her get rid of it. He and my mother, stood beside her when she was in a coma and my father fought for her assets that have been illegally encroached by her relatives to help Vijaya and Satish. When he did not attend Vijaya’s wedding, my mother Alamelu, helped Savitri amma to complete the wedding. He wanted Vijaya, to get educated like us but Savitri amma thought another way. She got addicted to alcohol so much that she did not care for my father, but he never left her side like the film implied. I will be bringing out a documentary to honor Gemini Ganeshan and his memory soon. You will know him much better with that film.”
Vijayachamundeswari, daughter of Savitri garu and Gemini Ganeshan said that she understands Kamala Ganeshan’s anger and will sort out the family issue between them in private. Nag Ashwin, Priyanka and Swapna Dutt, the makers of the film remained silent on the issue.
