Legends Fight Over Best Actress

It is quite common that controversies erupt during selection of award winners in various film festivals. Even in the olden days such controversies erupted. During those days, Madras Film Fans Association used to have good reputation. It used to announce best films awards. In 1953 films which completed censor in Tamil and Telugu applied for the awards. They included Devadasu, Chandirani and others. Same jury witnessed all those films.

ANR and Bhanumati were selected for the best actor and best actress award in Telugu. However in Tamil, Savitri won the best actress award for her performance in Devadas. Controversy erupted why Savitri who also starred in Telugu version Devadas was not selected for the award. Bhanumati too starred in Chandirani Tamil and Telugu version. So why didn't she get the best actress award in Tamil. Or the jury tried to please both of them by dividing the best actress award.

Jury however did not respond to these allegations or speculations which appeared in the print media and the Association presented the awards as per the jury decision. Though Savitri received the best actress award when the awards for the best performances in Tamil were given, Bhanumati however did not receive the award when they were given in Telugu. Sources say Bhanumati did not come to the function due to this controversy.