‘Abhinaya Saraswathi’ B Saroja Devi passes away

Veteran actress B Saroja Devi, hailed as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema and popularly known as Abhinaya Saraswathi (Saraswathi of expressions), passed away on Monday at the age of 87. She died due to age-related ailments at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru. Saroja Devi got her first break at just 17 years old with the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955) – a film which won her a National Award. Introduced to Tamil cinema in 1957 by BR Panthulu, she went on to rule the industry. The Padma awardee acted in over 200 films across four languages — Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi — leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema. She also acted alongside leading stars such as Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, NT Rama Rao and Rajkumar. Her passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations.

I called her Sundaramoorthi: Bharathi Vishnuvardhan

I grew up watching B Saroja Devi and was always in awe of her on-screen brilliance. So when I finally got the chance to work with her and share screen space, it was nothing short of a fan girl moment. Up until then, I had only watched Saroja Devi on screen. So I was thrilled to meet her on the sets of our first film together called Nadodi in 1967, in which we acted alongside MGR. I remember being instantly struck by her beautiful face. By the time we finished the film, I got to witness firsthand the consummate artiste that she was. We went on to star in many more films after that. By then, we had also become close family friends. My bond with her continued, and to date, we would often meet at each other’s homes, social events or connect over the phone. Two months ago, I suddenly felt that I must visit Sarojamma and spend time with her. So my daughter Keerthi and I went to her home. She had intense pain in her hand and preferred spending time in her comfort space by then. We spoke for a long time and indulged in our usual banter. I would fondly call her Sundaramoorthi because Saroja Devi’s face was so…ethereal and beautiful. She was made for the screen. I’m glad she gave us her precious time before moving to the next realm.

A star across languages...

• B Saroja Devi’s fluency and captivating presence made her a true pan-Indian phenomenon, bridging regional film industries long before it became common. The veteran actress holds the distinction of having been a lead actress for 29 years and has starred along Kalyan Kumar in Amarashilpi Jakanachari (1964), the first colour film in Kannada cinema. Some of her notable Kannada films include Mallammana Pavada (1969), Nyayave Devaru (1971).
• Her Tamil film with another legendary actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MG Ramachandran, Nadodi Mannan (1958) made her one of the top actresses of Tamil cinema. She was fondly called Kannadathu Paingili (Kannada’s parrot) in Tamil. l Saroja Devi also found success in Telugu cinema, starring opposite NT Rama Rao in Seetarama Kalyanam (1961) and Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961), as well as Daagudu Moothalu (1964). Her collaborations with Akkineni Nageswara Rao include films like Amara Shilpi Jakkanna (1964), and Rahasyam (1967)
• In Hindi cinema, her hits included Paigham (1959), Sasural (1960), Opera House (1961), Hong Kong (1962), Pareeksha (1963) and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963), showcasing her versatility and reach across the diverse landscape of Indian cinema.