‘Saroja Devi’s performances left an indelible mark across generations’: PM Modi pays tribute to ‘Abhinaya Saraswathi’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on Monday for the passing of veteran actor B Saroja Devi. On X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi mentioned her legacy that stretches across more than sixty years in Indian cinema. PM Narendra Modi remarked that she will be remembered as a “model figure” of Indian cinema and culture. She passed away in Bengaluru on Monday at the age of 87.

PM Modi talked about Saroja Devi’s work in films that spanned different languages and covered different themes. “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,” PM Modi wrote on X.

“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”, he added.

Renowned for her adaptability and breadth, she appeared in more than 200 films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Sinhalese languages. Saroja Devi started her acting journey at 17 with the Kannada movie Mahakavi Kalidasa in 1955. She swiftly gained recognition for her roles in multiple languages, performing alongside iconic actors such as MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and NT Rama Rao.

Her debut in Telugu cinema was with Pandurang Mahathyam (1957), and she starred in numerous successful films until the late 1970s. The Tamil movie Nadodi Mannan (1958) solidified her status as one of the leading actresses in Tamil cinema.

Following her marriage in 1967, she continued to be the second most in-demand female actor in Tamil cinema until 1974. She remained a leading female actress in Telugu and Kannada films from 1958 to 1980. She began her career in Hindi films with Paigham (1959) and continued until the mid-1960s.

From 1955 to 1984, she starred as the female lead in 161 consecutive films. Saroja Devi received the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bangalore University and honored with the Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu. In 2008, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.