A statue of veteran film actress, late Savitri, was unveiled by Vanisri, another veteran south Indian actress, on the premises of Tummalapalli Auditorium at Vijayawada on Wednesday.

The programme was jointly organized by Mahanati Savitri Kala Peetham, which installed the statue and the Andhra Arts Academy. Vanisri recalled her association with Savitri and said that Savitri was a role model for many erstwhile actors. She was a guiding lamp for a host of actors.

Vanisri lauded Savitri’s versatility saying the state actress acted in a number of Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films. She said installing the statue of a woman from the film industry was perhaps happening for the first time.

Peetham president Paruchuri Vijayalakshmi, Academy president Golla Narayana Rao, industrialists Gokaraju Gangaraju and Ambika Krishna, and Savitri's daughter V Vijayachamundeswari were present. BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu also attended the programme.