Bengaluru: Legendary South Indian actress B Saroja Devi, revered as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema, passed away on Monday at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru. She was 87 years old and had reportedly been suffering from age-related ailments, film industry sources confirmed.
Saroja Devi, who earned the title ‘Kannadathu Paingili’ (Kannada’s Parrot) in Tamil Nadu, made her acting debut at the age of 17 in the acclaimed Kannada film ‘Mahakavi Kalidasa’ (1955). Her performance in the film earned her a National Award, launching a remarkable film career that spanned multiple South Indian languages.
She rose to prominence across the South, particularly in Tamil cinema, with the blockbuster ‘Nadodi Mannan’ (1958) alongside M G Ramachandran (MGR) — a film that cemented her status as one of the top actresses of her time. Even after her marriage in 1967, she continued to be a leading face in Tamil films, earning the honorific ‘Abhinaya Saraswathi’ for her expressive performances.
With a career that bridged linguistic boundaries and decades, Saroja Devi’s contribution to Indian cinema remains unmatched. Tributes have begun pouring in from across the film fraternity and political circles, hailing her as a pioneer and cultural icon.
