Veteran Kannada actress B. Saroja Devi, aged 87, passed away at her Malleswaram residence in Bengaluru due to age-related illnesses. Widely regarded as Kannada cinema’s first female superstar, B. Saroja Devi debuted in Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955) and soared to fame alongside M.G. Ramachandran in Nadodi Mannan (1958). Over her illustrious six-decade career, B. Saroja Devi starred in a record 161 consecutive lead roles from 1955 to 1984. She performed in five languages- Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Sinhalese, and Kannada- captivating audiences with iconic pairings alongside legends like Sivaji Ganesan, N.T. Rama Rao and Rajkumar.
She was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992- two of India’s highest civilian awards. She was born on January 7, 1938. She was lovingly called “Kannadathu Paingili” and “Abhinaya Saraswathi.” People admired her for her elegance, stylishness, and respectful nature.
Even after she retired, she guided younger artists and was part of film judging panels. She was a versatile actress with a large fan base across South India.
“Mahakavi Kalidasa”
B. Saroja Devi debuted in the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa and delivered powerful performances in several classic Kannada films, including Kittur Chennamma, Anna Thamma, Bhakta Kanakadasa, Bale Bangara, Nagakannike, Bettada Hoovu, and the iconic Kasturi Nivasa.
Her final rites are expected to be performed in Bengaluru, with tributes pouring in from across the country to honour her unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema.
