B Saroja Devi, fondly known as Abhinaya Saraswathi, has passed away at the age of 87, leaving behind a void in Indian cinema. One of the brightest stars in the industry, Saroja started her career at the age of 17 and marked a niche for herself in the industry at a time when male domination didn’t even allow them the space. She became the first Kannada female superstar and went on to make a mark in four leading industries—Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi. As she leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire, let us have a look at her early life, notable work, and her connection with Bollywood.
Who Was B Saroja Devi? Early Life And Education
Born to father, Bhairappa, a police officer and mother, Rudramma, a homemaker in Mysore, Saroja was the youngest of the four children. She did her schooling at St. Theresa School, Chamarajpet, Bangalore. She initially aspired to become a teacher, but destiny had different plans. Veteran actor and filmmaker Honnappa Bhagavathar first spotted her during a school performance and approached her with the offer. Reluctant at first, Saroja’s mother persuaded her to accept the film offer, which would change her life forever.
Credits: IMDb
B Saroja Devi’s Notable Work And Bollywood Connection
Saroja started her career at the age of 17 with her debut Kannada movie Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955–56), which earned her widespread acclaim and the National Award. She rose to fame with the Tamil movie ‘Thedi Vantha Selvam’ and legendary M.G. Ramachandran’s (MGR) movie Nadodi Mannan. She also gave an iconic dance number “Manai Thedi Machan Vara Poran…”.
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Saroja was a versatile actress across multiple film industries, including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi. Some of her notable works include:
- Kannada: Amarashilpi Jakanachari, Mallammana Pavada, Nyayave Devaru, Kittur Rani Chennamma
- Tamil: Anbe Vaa, Puthiya Paravai, Palum Pazhamum, Aalayamani, Periya Idathu Penn
- Telugu: Seetha Rama Kalyanam, Panduranga Mahatyam, Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham
- Hindi: Paigham, Sasural, Beti Bete, Dooj Ka Chand, Dil Diya Dard Liya
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Saroja had a notable connection with Bollywood, debuting opposite Dilip Kumar in the 1959 film ‘Paigham’. She has worked with other Bollywood stars as well, including Rajendra Kumar, Sunil Dutt, and Shammi Kapoor.
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