Veteran Actress B Saroja Devi Passes Away at 87
Saroja Devi, a legendary Indian actress, died on Monday at 87 years of age in Malleswaram residence in Bengaluru due to age-related health issues. Her death has brought an end to an era of glory in Indian cinema, as her death was mourned by political leaders and personalities in the film industry all over India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was deeply saddened by the demise of the veteran actress. He paid tribute to her in a moving post on X (previously Twitter).
"Deeply saddened by the passing away of the renowned film personality, B. Saroja Devi Ji. She will be remembered as a shining exemplar of Indian cinema and culture," PM Modi said.
He further said, "Her varied performances left an unforgettable impression across generations. Her films, cutting across languages and subjects, reflected her adaptability. My condolences to her family and fans. Om Shanti."
Nostalgically called Kannadathu Paingili (Parrot of Kannada), B Saroja Devi was renowned for her elegance, beauty, and strong performances. Her incredible presence illuminated the screens of Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi movies. Popularly called Abhinaya Saraswathi (Acting Goddess) in Kannada cinema, she enthrallingly acted and portrayed with elaborateness.
During her glorious seven-decade career, she acted in almost 200 films, alongside titans like M.G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, N.T. Rama Rao, Rajkumar, and Shammi Kapoor. Her early success in classics like Kalyana Parisu, Sasural, Anuradha, and Sri Krishnadevaraya established her as one of the most powerful and popular actresses in the history of Indian cinema.
B Saroja Devi’s death has left the film fraternity and fans in mourning. Celebrities including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Khushbu Sundar paid emotional tributes on social media, reflecting on her remarkable contribution to Indian culture and cinema.
Actor Rajinikanth penned, "A gem of our film industry is no more. Her talent and grace will live on forever." Kamal Haasan referred to her as a "pioneer who set the stage for several generations of women in cinema," while Khushbu Sundar shared on Twitter, "End of an era. Thank you for the memories, timeless, Saroja Devi ma'am."
Aside from her work on the screen, Saroja Devi was also a cultural diplomat for Indian cinema and art. Her character work emphasized love, sacrifice, strength, and tradition, garnering numerous state and national awards, such as the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
Her legacy continues to inspire young actors and directors, and her movies remain eternally precious in Indian film history.
