Indian cinema has lost one of its brightest lights. Legendary actress B. Saroja Devi, often celebrated as “Abhinaya Saraswathi”, passed away at the age of 87 on July 14, 2025, in her Bengaluru home. Renowned for her emotive artistry and enduring screen presence, Saroja Devi acted in over 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi over a career spanning seven decades
🎬 Early Beginnings & Meteoric Rise
- Born: January 7, 1938, in Channapatna (then Mysore State)
- Debut: At just 17, she impressed audiences in the Kannada classic Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955), a role that earned her a National Award
- Tamil Triumph: Her pairing with M.G. Ramachandran in Nadodi Mannan (1958) catapulted her to superstardom in Tamil cinema
🏆 A Legacy of Firsts & Records
- Trailblazer: Widely regarded as Kannada cinema’s first female superstar, earning enduring epithets like Kannadathu Paingili and Chaturbhasha Taare
- Unmatched Streak: She held the record for 161 consecutive lead roles (1955–1984), with 147 of them becoming box‑office hits
- Inspirational Pairings: Legendary collaborations include 26 films with MGR and 22 with Sivaji Ganesan, spanning mythological and dramatic roles
🎨 Awards & Honors
Saroja Devi’s contributions were recognized with India’s highest civilian awards:
| Award | Year |
| Padma Shri | 1969 |
| Padma Bhushan | 1992 |
| Kalaimamani (Tamil Nadu) | — |
| Honorary doctorate (Bangalore University) | — |
| National Lifetime Achievement Award | — Maharashtra Times+15Wikipedia+15The Times of India+15 |
💐 Public Mourning & Tributes
Her death due to age‑related illness has invoked an outpouring of grief:
- Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah: Called her passing a “deep sorrow,” praising her timeless roles in films like Kittur Chennamma and Babruvahana
- PM Narendra Modi: Described her as an “exemplary icon of Indian cinema and culture”
- Rajinikanth & Kamal Haasan: Both shared heartfelt condolences through social media
🕊️ End of an Era, Echoes of Excellence
Saroja Devi’s versatility—flawlessly embodying royalty, mythic heroines, historical icons, and contemporary characters—made her a cinematic icon in multiple languages. With her passing, India’s golden age of cinema has lost one of its most radiant stars .
But her legacy endures—in every frame she illuminated, every role she gave life to, and every barrier she broke. The world remembers B. Saroja Devi not only as an actress but as an institution in Indian cultural history.
📝 In Memoriam
Let us honor her by revisiting classic performances across her diverse filmography—from Mahakavi Kalidasa to Nadodi Mannan, Kittur Chennamma, and beyond. Her journey reminds us that artistry, when breathed into characters, transcends time and language..
