An ode to Savitribai

Tara plays the titular role in the film, based on the first woman teacher in India

Tara, who played the role of an uneducated woman and mesmerised her fans with her acting in Hebbettu Ramakka , now plays a contrasting role. She plays the titular role in Savitribai Phule, a biopic on the woman who dedicated her life to starting schools for girls in Maharashtra.

Riding high on the success of Hebbettu Ramakka a political drama, which won the National Award in the Best Feature Film category, Tara believes Savitribai... will also do well. “Films like these have done well in the past. Kanooru Heggadati ran for 50 days. So, I know and believe we have an audience for such films too,” says Tara, adding that she was first introduced to Savitribai “in school. We had a lesson on her husband Jyotiba Phule. There were just four lines about Savitribai in our books. Only when I was given Katkar’s book on her that a whole new world opened up for me,” explains Tara about Savitribai, who fought for improving women’s rights, abolish Sati and promoted education for girls during the British rule in India in the 19th Century.

Revealing how she landed landed the role, Tara says, “I was shooting for

Bharajari with Suchendra Prasad. Suddenly during the break, Suchendra asked me to drape my sari in a particular manner and took some pictures of me on his mobile. I was amused. The next day, I got a call from Vishal, who said he wanted me to play the role of Savitribai. He said Suchendra had sent him my images and insisted I would suit the character. I am honoured to portray the role of such a great lady, who went through much to fight for women and has paved way for our progress.”

Tara will next be seen in a couple of commercial ventures, including

Kirataka 2 with Yash. “There are also talks for a film with Kishore where there will be just two characters throughout the film,” she smiles.