Veteran actor B. Saroja Devi passed away in Bengaluru on July 14, 2025. She acted in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi movies and had acted in over 200 films in over seven decades. Popularly known as ‘ Abhinaya Saraswathi’, she is one of the most successful actresses in the history of Indian cinema.
Saroja Devi was also known as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema. She made her mark in Tamil filmdom in the film ‘ Nadodi Mannan’ with late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran.
Saroja Devi made her debut in films in Kannada movie Mahakavi Kalidas in 1955. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature film in Kannada. Her early successes in Kannada cinema included Chintamani (1957), School Master (1958) and Jagajyothi Basveshwara (1959). Her performance as a patriotic anti-British queen in the Kannada Kittooru Rani Chennamma (1961) was widely acclaimed. In 1964, she and Kalyan Kumar acted in the first full-fledged Kannada colour movie Amarashilpi Jakanachaari.
After her notable performance in Nadodi Mannan she was then signed up for the Hindi film Paigham in 1959, in which she starred with Dilip Kumar. She went on to work in other leading Hindi actors, including Rajendra Kumar in Sasural (1961), Sunil Dutt in Beti Bete (1964) and Shammi Kapoor in Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963).
She is one of the very few actresses who starred in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi in the 1950s.
Saroja Devi also achieved success in Telugu films, starring opposite N. T. Rama Rao in Seetarama Kalyanam (1961), Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961) and Daagudu Moothalu (1964). Amara Shilpi Jakkanna (1964). Her film Pelli Kaanuka (1960) with Akkineni Nageswara Rao, was also successful.
Photo:
The Hindu Archives
Sivaji Ganesan and Saroja Devi in ‘Pudiya Paravai’. She had paired with Sivaji Ganesan in 22 films.
Photo:
The Hindu Archives
M.G. Ramachandran and Saroja Devi in ‘Anbe Vaa’. Making a mark with MGR in ‘Nadodi Mannan’, she acted with the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in 26 films.
Rajendra Kumar and Saroja Devi in ‘Sasural’. She signed up for the Hindi films with Dilip Kumar, Sunil Dutt and also with Shammi Kapoor.
Photo:
The Hindu Archives
Saroja Devi continued to be among the highest-paid actresses in Kannada and Telugu films. She was cast opposite N. T. Rama Rao in films like Bhagyachakram (1968), Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha (1968), Vijayam Manade (1970), Mayani Mamatha (1970), Shakuntala and Daana Veera Soora Karna (1979).
Photo:
The Hindu
B. Saroja Devi was awarded Padma Sri in 1969 and Padma Bhushan in 1992. She was also awarded Kalaimamani by the Tamil Nadu Government.
Photo:
The Hindu Archives
After her marriage in 1967, Saroja Devi’s career in Tamil cinema gradually declined though she was active in Kannada movies. Despite starring opposite with late MGR in 22 films, her last film with him was ‘Arasa Kattalai’ in 1967.
Photo:
The Hindu Archives
In this 1957 photo, B. Saroja Devi is seen with S.V. Ranga Rao. She also dominated Telugu film industry acting with N.T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.
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Scanned in Chennai R.K. Sridhara
Saroja Devi was the only Indian actress to play lead heroine in 161 consecutive films in 29 years between 1955 and 1984
Photo:
The Hindu Archives
In this 1961, B. Saroja Devi is seen with M.R. Radha. in the film ‘Thai Sollai Thattathe.’ Her involvement in Tamil films also continued with superhits like ‘Palum Pazhamum’ (1961), ‘Vazhkai Vazhvatharke’ (1964), ‘Aalayamani’ (1962), ‘Periya Idathu Penn’ (1963), ‘Puthiya Paravai’ (1964), ‘Panakkara Kudumbam’ (1964), ‘Enga Veetu Pillai’ (1965) and ‘Anbe Vaa’ (1966).
Photo:
The Hindu Archives
In the 1960s, Saroja Devi became a fashion icon among the South Indian women, who mimicked her saris, blouses, jewellery, hairstyles and mannerisms. In particular, her saris and jewellery from the Tamil movies ‘Enga Veettu Pillai’ (1965) and ‘Anbe Vaa’ (1966) were popularised widely in magazines
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FILM NEWS
Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi in the Tamil film ‘Paalum Pazhamum’. Saroja Devi continued starring in Tamil movies opposite Sivaji Ganesan after her marriage: ‘En Thambi’ (1968), ‘Anbalippu’ (1969), ‘Anjal Petti 520’ (1969), ‘Arunodhayam’ (1971), ‘Thenum Paalum’ (1971), ‘Paarambariyam’ (1993) and ‘Once More’ (1997).
Photo:
The Hindu Archives
In her long career, Saroja Devi chiefly opted for romantic films only in the 1960s and later sentimental and socially relevant films right from the late 1960s to the 1980s.
Photo:
The Hindu
Twice in 1998 and 2005, Saroja Devi chaired film juries — the 45th National Film Awards and the 53rd National Film Awards jury. She served as the vice-president of Kannada Chalanchitra Sangha, and as a member of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’s local advisory committee.