Celebrating B Saroja Devi: Her Most Iconic Films from Mahakavi Kalidasa to Anbe Vaa
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At the age of 87, veteran actor B Saroja Devi passed away in Bengaluru on Monday. According to film industry sources quoted by the news agency PTI, she passed away at her home in Malleswaram due to age-related ailments. In Tamil, she was affectionately known as 'Kannadathu Paingili' (Kannada’s parrot), and in Kannada, she was referred to as 'Abhinaya Saraswathi'.
The actor made her debut at the age of 17 in the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955). Nadodi Mannan (1958), her Tamil film co-starring M G Ramachandran, another legendary actor and former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, established her as one of the leading actresses in Tamil cinema.
With a list of her greatest movies, we honor the famous actress:
Mahakavi Kalidasa
Saroja Devi made her debut in the 1955 Kannada film. It is based on the legends of the poet Kalidasa and is directed by KR Seetharama Sastry. Narasimharaju, B. Raghavendra Rao, and Honnappa Bhagavatar were among the performers alongside Saroja. For her performance, Saroja was praised. The movie took home the prize for Best Feature Film in Kannada at the third National Film Awards.
Nadodi Mannan
Saroja Devi established her reputation as a successful actress with the release of Nadodi Mannan in 1958, which was her first foray into Tamil film. He made his filmmaking debut under the direction of MG Ramachandran, playing two roles alongside P Bhanumathi, MN Rajam, PS Veerappa, MN Nambiar, and MG Chakrapani. After being kidnapped on the eve of his coronation, the movie centers on a king who is replaced by a doppelganger. The king's daughter was portrayed by Saroja Devi. The film was a financial triumph, earning a lifetime gross of ₹1.1 crore, despite its modest budget of ₹18 lakh.
Enga Veetu Pillai
She portrayed the daughter of a wealthy landlord in the popular movie of 1965. She was praised for her contribution. In addition to MG Ramachandran, SV Ranga Rao, MN Nambiar, Rathna, and Pandari Bai played supporting roles in the Tamil film, which Chanakya directed. Young Saroja became a fashion icon as the film became a huge commercial hit.
Anbe Vaa
In the 1966 movie, she portrayed a wealthy young lady who becomes enamored with an industrialist in disguise. The Tamil romantic comedy, which was directed by AC Tirulokchandar, also starred MG Ramachandran, SA Ashokan, Nagesh, and TR Ramachandran. Critics gave Anbe Vaa favorable feedback, and it was also a financial hit. The performance of Saroja Devi received high praise.
Kittur Chennamma
Devi portrayed a freedom fighter in the 1963 Kannada patriotic picture who led an armed insurrection against the British East India Company in 1824 and passed away while imprisoned in 1829. She gained widespread popularity and national acclaim. MV Rajamma and Leelavathi were also in the picture, which BR Panthulu directed. At the 9th National Film Awards, the film won the prize for best Kannada feature film.
Schoolmaster
In addition to receiving a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada, BR Panthulu's 1958 Kannada film also took home the prize. In addition to Panthulu, Dikki Madhava Rao, MV Rajamma, Udaykumar, Sivaji Ganesan, and Gemini Ganesan, the movie also starred them.
Padagotti
In the 1964 Tamil movie, which was directed by T Prakash Rao, MG Ramachandran, MN Nambiar, SV Ramadas, and Nagesh also starred. She portrayed the daughter of the head of the fishing community in it. With a theatrical run lasting more than 100 days, Padagotti was a financial hit.
Saroja Devi starred in more than 200 movies in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi. She is also known as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema.
