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B. Saroja Devi | |
|---|---|
 Devi in 2008 | |
| Born | B. Saroja Devi (1938-01-07)7 January 1938 (age 87) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1954–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Honours |
|
Bangalore Saroja Devi (born 7 January 1938) is an Indian actress who has acted inTamil,Kannada,Telugu andHindi films.[1][2][3] She acted in around 200 films over seven decades.[4][5] She is known by the epithets "Abhinaya Saraswathi" (Saraswathi of acting) inKannada and "Kannadathu Paingili" (Kannada's Parrot) inTamil.[6][5] She is one of the most successful actresses in the history of Indian cinema.[7]
She is also known as first female superstar of Kannada cinema. At the age of 17, Saroja Devi got her big break with her movie, the Kannada filmMahakavi Kalidasa (1955). In Telugu cinema, she made her debut withPanduranga Mahatyam (1957), and starred in a number of successful films until the late 1970s. The Tamil filmNadodi Mannan (1958) made her one of the top actresses in Tamil cinema. After her marriage in 1967, she continued to be the second in demand actress in Tamil films till 1974, but she continued to be one of the top actresses in Telugu and Kannada cinema from 1958 until the 1980s, she also starred in Hindi films until the mid-1960s, starting withPaigham (1959).
She is the only Indian actress to play lead heroine in 161 consecutive films in 29 years between 1955 and 1984.[8] Saroja Devi received thePadma Sri, the fourth-highest civilian honour, in 1969 andPadma Bhushan, third highest civilian award, in 1992 from the Government of India, honorary doctorate fromBangalore University andKalaimamani award from Tamil Nadu.
B. Saroja Devi was born inBangalore,Mysore State (nowBengaluru,Karnataka) on 7 January 1938 in a Vokkaliga family.[9][10] Her father Bhairappa was a police officer in Mysore, and her mother Rudramma was a homemaker. She was their fourth daughter, Bhairappa asked her to learn dancing, and encouraged her to take up acting as a career. A young Saroja Devi was accompanied often by her father to studios and he would patiently tie on her salangais and massage her swollen feet after her dancing stints.[11] Her mother gave her a strict dress code: no swimsuits and no sleeveless blouses, which she followed for the rest of her career.[12] She was first spotted by B.R Krishnamurthy when she was singing at a function at the age of 13, but she declined the film offer.[13]
Saroja Devi's debut movie and also her first major success wasHonnappa Bhagavatar's Kannada filmMahakavi Kalidasa (1955), in which she played a supporting role. The film won theNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada. Next, she acted in B. R. Panthulu's Tamil filmThangamalai Ragasiyam (1957), in which she performed a dance sequence.[14] She is one of the very few actresses who starred in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi in the 1950s.
Subsequently, she was noted byM. G. Ramachandran (MGR), who cast her as thefemale lead inNadodi Mannan (1958), the movie that made her one of the most popular actresses inTamil Nadu. She was then signed up for the Hindi filmPaigham (1959), in which her co-stars includedDilip Kumar. She went on to work in other leading Hindi actors, includingRajendra Kumar inSasural (1961),Sunil Dutt inBeti Bete (1964) andShammi Kapoor inPyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963). She also shot a few scenes withRaj Kapoor forNazrana (1961), but was replaced byVyjayanthimala after a conflict with the directorC. V. Sridhar.[15]
Following the success ofNadodi Mannan, she was also cast opposite the leading Tamil actors of that time: withGemini Ganesan inKalyana Parisu (1959), withSivaji Ganesan inBhaaga Pirivinai (1959) and again with MGR inThirudadhe (1961).[6] Her involvement in Tamil films also continued with superhits likePalum Pazhamum (1961),Vazhkai Vazhvatharke (1964),Aalayamani (1962),Periya Idathu Penn (1963),Puthiya Paravai (1964),Panakkara Kudumbam (1964),Enga Veetu Pillai (1965) andAnbe Vaa (1966). She came to be known as a "lucky mascot" for MGR films and acted with him in 26 films.[16]
Her early successes in Kannada cinema includedChintamani (1957),School Master (1958) andJagajyothi Basveshwara (1959). Her performance as a patriotic anti-British queen in the KannadaKittooru Rani Chennamma (1961) was widely acclaimed. In 1964, she andKalyan Kumar acted in the first full-fledged Kannada colour movieAmarashilpi Jakanachaari.
Saroja Devi also achieved success in Telugu films, starring oppositeN. T. Rama Rao inSeetarama Kalyanam (1961),Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961) andDaagudu Moothalu (1964).Amara Shilpi Jakkanna (1964, remake of Kannada film) andRahasyam, her filmPelli Kaanuka (1960) withAkkineni Nageswara Rao, were also successful. The first Telugu film featured dubbing; wherein,Krishna Kumari dubbed her voice inPanduranga Mahatyam (1957). But in the subsequent years, Saroja Devi learnt Telugu language. Her Hindi films includedSasural (1960),Opera House (1961),Pareeksha,Hong Kong (1962) andPyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963), which became successful. In 1962 she was crowned "Chaturbhaasha Taare", because of her popularity in these four languages.[17]
The pair of MGR-Saroja Devi gave 26 back-to-back hit films together,[18] which included 1:Nadodi Mannan (1958), 2:Thirudathe (1961), 3:Thaai Sollai Thattadhe (1961), 4:Paasam (1962), 5:Kudumba Thalaivan (1962), 6:Maadappura (1962), 7:Thayai Katha Thanayan (1963), 8:Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum (1963), 9:Needhikkuppin Paasam (1963), 10:Dheiva Thaai (1964), 11:Padagotti (1964), 12:Aasai Mugam (1965), 13:Nadodi (1966), 14:Thali Bhagyam (1966), 15:Naan Aanaiyittal (1966), 16:Petralthan Pillaiya (1966) and 17:Arasa Kattalai (1967). Her best performances opposite MGR were the "rich girl" roles: 18:Panathottam (1963), 19:Periya Idathu Penn (1963), 20:Panakkara Kudumbam (1964), 21:En Kadamai (1964), 22:Thaayin Madiyil (1964), 23:Enga Veettu Pillai (1965), 24:Kalangarai Vilakkam (1965), 25:Anbe Vaa (1966) and 26:Parakkum Paavai (1966).[citation needed] The women adored her dressing sense and her saris and blouses, ornaments, hairstyles were copied by girls and women.[19]
In 1958 Saroja Devi was booked byM. G. Ramachandran for his second directorial venturePonniyin Selvan.[20] One of the first screen adaptations ofKalki Krishnamurthy'sPonniyin Selvan, the film had a hugeensemble cast consisting ofVyjayanthimala,Savitri,Gemini Ganesan,Padmini,M. N. Rajam andNagesh. .[21] In the film, she was given the role ofManimekalai princess of Kadamboor and the sister ofKandanmaaran and daughter of Sambuvaraiyar.[21] However, in mid-1958 the film was shelved for unknown reasons.[20]
In the 1960s, Saroja Devi became a fashion icon among the South Indian women, who mimicked hersaris, blouses, jewellery, hairstyles and mannerisms. In particular, her saris and jewellery from the Tamil moviesEnga Veettu Pillai (1965) andAnbe Vaa (1966) were popularized widely in magazines.[22]
The pairing of Sivaji Ganesan and Saroja Devi gave 22 back-to-back hit movies: 1:Thangamalai Ragasiyam (1957), 2:Sabaash Meena (1958), 3:Engal Kudumbam Perisu (1958), 4:Bhaaga Pirivinai (1959), 5:School Master (Hindi) (1959), 6:Irumbu Thirai (1960), 7:Vidivelli (1960), 8:Palum Pazhamum (1961), 9:Paarthaal Pasi Theerum (1962), 10:Valar Pirai (1962), 11:Aalayamani (1962), 12:Kulamagal Radhai (1963), 13:Iruvar Ullam (1963), 14:Kalyaniyin Kanavan (1963) and 15:Puthiya Paravai (1964)
She also paired withGemini Ganesan in 17 movies: 1.Kalyana Parisu (1959), 2.Vaazha Vaitha Deivam 1959, 3.Ellorum Innaattu Mannar (1960), 4.Kairasi (1960), 5.Panithirai (1961), 6.Aadi Perukku (1962), 7.Vazhkai Vazhvatharke (1964), 8.Pasamum Nesamum (1964), with guest appearances inThirumanam (1956),Illarame Nallaram (1958), andParthiban Kanavu (1960).
After 1968, Saroja Devi's career in Tamil cinema gradually declined, and she became more active in Kannada movies.[23] With her marriage in 1967 and the rise of younger heroines likeK. R. Vijaya andJayalalithaa producers stopped pairing her opposite MGR. Her last film with MGR wasArasa Kattalai (1967), which also starred Jayalalithaa. She continued starring in Tamil movies oppositeSivaji Ganesan after her marriage: 16:En Thambi (1968), 17:Anbalippu (1969), 18:Anjal Petti 520 (1969), 19:Arunodhayam (1971), 20:Thenum Paalum (1971), 21:Paarambariyam (1993) and 22:Once More (1997).[citation needed]
She also continued to work withGemini Ganesan in: 9.Pen Endral Pen (1967), 10.Panama Pasama (1968), 11.Thamarai Nenjam (1968), 12.Aindhu Laksham (1969), 13.Thanga Malar (1969), 14.Kula Vilakku (1969), 15.Malathi (1970) and 16.Kann Malar (1970), 17.Ponmana Selvan (1989).[citation needed]
WithRavichandran she acted in the successful filmsOdum Nadhi (1969),Snegithi (1970),Malathi (1970), andPathu Matha Bandham (1974).
WithR. Muthuraman, she starred inArunodhayam (1971),Uyir (1971) andPathu Matha Bandham (1974), which was her last Tamil film as a lead actor until 1985.
She continued to be among the highest-paid actresses in Kannada and Telugu films. She was cast opposite the leading actorDr. Rajkumar in several Kannada films, includingMallammana Pavada (1969),Nyayave Devaru (1971),Sri Srinivasa Kalyana (1974),Babruvahana (1977) andBhagyavantharu (1977). Her other successful films from this period includeThande Makkalu (1971),Papa Punya (1971),Gunavanthudu (1975),Katha Sangama (1976),Sri Renukadevi Mahathme (1977), with Chiranjeevi, then with Vishnuvardhan inShani Prabhava (1977) andRudranaga (1984).
In Telugu cinema, she was cast opposite N. T. Rama Rao in films likeBhagyachakram (1968),Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha (1968),Vijayam Manade (1970),Mayani Mamatha (1970), Shakuntala andDaana Veera Soora Karna (1979).
In her long career she chiefly opted for romantic films only in the 1960s and later sentimental and socially relevant films right from the late 1960s to the 1980s.Sri Renukadevi Mahathme, a Kannada film released in 1977 was Saroja Devi's 150th film in her career and by 1984, she had completed 161 films as the main lead heroine, without ever playing supporting roles. Yarivanu, in Kannada, was the 161st film, in which she played the main lead heroine.
Saroja Devi signed up for the Kannada filmLadies Hostel in 1985, but stopped shooting after her husband fell ill. He subsequently died in 1986, and she did not shoot or even meet non-family people for one year after his demise. She resumed shooting only in 1987.Ladies Hostel proved a successful film, but Saroja Devi refused to sign up for any more films. She completed the eight films that she had accepted before 1986, and these were released during 1987–1990. These includedThaimel Aanai (1988) andDharma Devan (1989).
After completing her pending projects, Saroja Devi took a break of about five years from films. She returned to acting on the insistence by film producers and her fans, but, contrary to her previous record, she no longer accepted romantic roles. She starred opposite Sivaji Ganesan inParambariyam (1993) in a lead role as a matron, and then performed a few roles as a supporting actress. In Kannada films, her notable supporting performances included her roles inAnuraga Sangama (1995) andAgni IPS (1997). She and Sivaji Ganesan acted in the Tamil filmOnce More (1997), which also includes scenes from their 1963 filmIruvar Ullam. Her latest film in Tamil was the filmAadhavan (2009), in which she played a judge's mother.[24]
Twice in 1998 and 2005, Saroja Devi chaired film juries: the45th National Film Awards and the53rd National Film Awards jury.[25][26] She served as the vice-president of Kannada Chalanchitra Sangha, and as a member ofTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams's local advisory committee. She runs a successful business.[4] She also served as the Chairperson of the Karnataka Film Development Corporation,[27] which had been set up as a private limited company by her and a few other film personalities in 1972.[28]
Saroja Devi is now settled in Bangalore, where she is involved in social work. She has organized many donation camps in the name of her husband and her mother. She is also involved with charitable trusts, rehabilitation centers and health programs.
Her most recent work isNatasaarvabhowma, which released in 2019.
On 1 March 1967, Saroja married Sri Harsha, an engineer.[12][29] Sri Harsha, an engineer, worked forBharat Electronics, a Public Sector company. At that time, Saroja was facing a financial crisis and income tax troubles. Her husband helped her overcome these problems, and taught her how to manage her finances.[4]
Sri Harsha supported Saroja Devi's acting career after marriage. When Saroja was asked in an interview as to how she did not discontinue acting due to her mother's insistence after 1967, she said: "Dilip Kumar once said he has askedSaira Banu to not to stop acting profession. The story was mentioned byRajesh Khanna to my husband Sri Harsha, not to stop me from acting.".[30] Sri Harsha died in 1986 due to various health problems.
Saroja Devi's children included her daughter Bhuvaneshwari and two grandchildren Indira and Gautam. Bhuvaneshwari was her niece, and had been adopted by her.[citation needed] Bhuvaneshwari died young,[4] and Saroja Devi sponsors theBhuvaneshwari Award for literature in her memory.[31]
| This section of abiography of a living personneeds additionalcitations forverification. Please help by addingreliable sources.Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced orpoorly sourcedmust be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentiallylibelous. Find sources: "B. Saroja Devi" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(January 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
National awards
State awards
Other awards
In 2010,Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan instituted "Padma Bhushan B. Saroja Devi National Award", a lifetime achievement award to honour artists in the field of performing arts, annually. The recipients of the award includingK. J. Yesudas,Vyjayantimala,Anjali Devi,Ambareesh,Jayanthi and others.[34]
In the 2021 Hindi-Tamil bilingual filmThalaivii, actressRegina Cassandra portrayed B. Saroja Devi.[35]
