B. Saroja Devi, Icon of South Indian Cinema, Dies at 87

B. Saroja Devi, one of the most celebrated leading ladies of South Indian cinema whose cross-industry stardom spanned Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi-language films, died on Monday at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru. She was 87. The veteran actor had been suffering from age-related ailments for some time.

Saroja Devi began her screen career in the mid-1950s and rose to become one of the most prolific and bankable actors of her era. She was best known for her extensive collaborations with superstar actors M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), Sivaji Ganesan, and N.T. Rama Rao, appearing opposite each in more than 20 films.

Her early interest in dance led to film auditions. Following her debut in the Kannada-language film “Mahakavi Kalidasa” (1955), she transitioned quickly into Tamil and Telugu-language cinema. Her breakout role came in 1958 with the Tamil blockbuster “Nadodi Mannan,” opposite MGR. That film cemented her reputation as a top-tier heroine in the Tamil film industry. She remained a dominant screen presence through the 1960s and ’70s, delivering a string of hits including “Puthiya Paravai,” “Anbe Vaa,” “Kalyana Parisu,” and “Paigham,” the latter marking one of her early forays into Hindi-language cinema.

Saroja Devi was among the few stars of her generation to command marquee status in thee of the four major South Indian languages. She headlined more than 160 consecutive films as a lead actress between 1955 and 1984 — an unmatched feat in Indian cinema.

She received the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992, among the highest civilian honors in India. Other accolades included the Kalaimamani from Tamil Nadu, the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award from Karnataka, and the NTR National Award from Andhra Pradesh.

In 1967, Saroja Devi married Sri Harsha, an engineering contractor. The couple remained together until his death in 1986. She gradually stepped away from leading roles in the 1980s and took up occasional character parts, while also serving on several government and film advisory panels. She was chair of the Karnataka Film Development Corporation and a jury member of the Indian National Film Awards.

Her final film appearance was in the 2019 Kannada film “Natasaarvabhowma,” in a cameo.

Tributes poured in from across the Indian film industry and political spectrum. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted: “Saddened by the passing of the noted film personality, B. Saroja Devi Ji. She will be remembered as an exemplary icon of Indian cinema and culture. Her diverse performances left an indelible mark across generations. Her works, spanning different languages and covering diverse themes highlighted her versatile nature. My condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

Superstar Rajinikanth added: “The great actress Saroja Devi, who won the hearts of millions of fans, is no longer with us. May her soul rest in peace.”

Actor and politician Kamal Haasan posted: “Wherever she saw me – at any age of mine – with fingers pinching my cheeks, with a voice calling me ‘dear son,’ she was another mother to me, Saroja Devi Amma. An artist who lived beyond the boundaries of language and region. She has passed away. From the moments of the shooting of my second film ‘Parthal Pasi Theerum’ to countless unforgettable memories that ripple through my heart. My eyes well up. A mother’s heart that always wished to see me as the foremost. I bow and bid farewell.”