Saroja Devi no more: ‘Abhinaya Saraswathi' broke language barriers
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
However, it was another Kannada film, Mahakavi Kalidasa, featuring Honnappa Bhagavatar, a superstar in both Kannada and Tamil, which became her first release.
The third daughter of Bhairappa, a police officer, and Rudramma, this Channapatna (then in Bangalore district) girl would go on to dominate the southern film industries for decades to come.
Unlike male stars, female stars found it easy to transcend language barriers.
Within a few years of her debut, Saroja Devi starred opposite MG Ramachandran and Shivaji Ganesan in Tamil; Dilip Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shammi Kapoor in Hindi; and NT Rama Rao in Telugu, in addition to her Kannada films.
She became a mainstay in Tamil cinema, acting as the leading lady in 26 films with MGR, 22 films with Shivaji Ganesan and 17 films with Gemini Ganesan between 1957 and 1967. Tamil film fans affectionately called Saroja 'Kannadathu Paingili' (Kannada Parrot).
Her popularity in Tamil endured even after she stopped playing lead roles and focused on Kannada films after 1968, following her marriage to Sriharsha, an engineer. On one occasion, the chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, recalled the stampede-like situation that occurred when fans mobbed her in Chennai as she accompanied him for the funeral of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
One film that particularly enshrines Saroja Devi's legacy in Kannada is Kitturu Chennamma (1961), directed by legendary BR Panthulu.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
She played the role of the queen, who resisted the British in the early 19th century, to artistic perfection. The film and her role remain popular to date. In 1964, she starred in the simultaneously made Amarashilpi Jakanachari (Kannada, alongside Kalyan Kumar) and Amarashilpi Jakkanna (Telugu, alongside Akkineni Nageswara Rao), which were the first full-length colour films in both languages.
Mallammana Pavaada (1969) was another of her early Kannada classics.
Her popular Kannada films with Rajkumar came in the 1970s, including Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama, Sri Srinivasa Kalyana, Babruvahana, and Bhagyavantharu. By the late 1970s, she acted as the female lead in over 150 films across four languages, a record.
Her versatility wasn't limited to the number of languages she acted in. The Chaturbhasha Taare (Star of Four Languages) was equally at ease in varied roles ranging from historical, mythological, and social to glamorous.
Not surprisingly, she was considered a fashion icon in the 1960s and 1970s. After the passing of her husband in 1986, Saroja Devi significantly reduced her film appearances. The death of her adopted daughter, Bhuvaneshwari, was another personal blow.
Her guest appearance in Puneeth Rajkumar's 2019 film Natasaarvabhowma was her last silver-screen appearance.
Accolades from the govt, film industry and fans poured in throughout her career, including the Padma Shri (1969), Padma Bhushan (1992), and Special Lifetime Achievement Award (54th National Film Awards, 2006).
She chaired the National Film Award Jury twice (45th and 53rd).
Saroja Devi established two awards: Bhuvaneshwari Award for literature by women and B Saroja Devi Sahitya Prashasthi under the aegis of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat. It was her attempt to take her legacy beyond films. With the passing of the Abhinaya Saraswati, one of the greatest legacies of the
has passed into history.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
8 minutes ago
- Hans India
Exclusive: Jitin Gulati on Working with Kajol, Jungle Laughs, and Playing a Cop in Maa
Jitin Gulati, who has carved a niche for himself in the entertainment industry with a mix of charm, intensity, and grounded performances, recently opened up about his experience working on Maa, a film that blends mythology and fantasy with horror. From sharing the screen with Kajol to navigating through dense jungles in uniform, Jitin offers a behind-the-scenes look into a shoot that was hilariously memorable. Kajol: The Fireball On and Off Camera 'She's a fireball,' Jitin says with a grin, when asked about working with Kajol. 'She has two personalities. When she's on the camera, she remains the character. But when she's not on the camera and she's behind the scenes, she's literally laughing out loud. And making us laugh out she's full of energy.' Recalling the most funny moments while shooting with Kajol, Jitin added, 'The funniest would be all our scenes.' Becoming the Cop: A Story Beyond the Uniform In Maa, Jitin plays a police officer, a role that required more than just wearing a uniform. For him, the character-building process was about finding the man beneath the badge. 'I mean, one part of it was understanding the basics of what a cop is like. The other is, who is this cop? I mean, there's a human being, in uniform. So, the backstory where he comes from. And the rest of the preparation, honestly, it was in the writing. We had rehearsals and we had our readings with the writers and the director, Mr. Vishal. So, while talking, you start forming the character. And of course, everything comes into place once you're with the other actors on the set.' More Cop Roles and Stepping into Telugu Films Laughing about the types of roles that keep coming his way, Jitin quips, 'There have been so many cop and army parts coming my way. I think I'm going to be in uniform for a while now.' Jitin also has two Telugu projects in his kitty, the details of which he has kept under wraps for now. 'One, I've shot a bit of it. And the second one, I have started (shooting).' For the unversed, directed by Vishal Furia, Maa stars Kajol in the lead role and is produced by Ajay Devgn and Jyoti Deshpande.
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
Make more brain rots: Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath has a '3M' idea for Bollywood to vasool its paisa
As Bollywood struggles to bring audiences back to theatres in the post-pandemic era, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has stirred debate with a sharp analogy—suggesting the industry must start delivering films that are as comforting and crowd-pleasing as comfort food. Kamath's tweet brought renewed attention to a 12-slide research thread by @FinFloww, which argues that Bollywood's comeback doesn't lie in global recognition or sleek productions, but in reviving relatable, masala-packed stories that connect with India's heartland. The data reveals a sobering trend: Bollywood's theatrical footfall in 2024 stood at 883 million—still below the pre-COVID benchmark of over 1 billion. Big-budget, star-driven films have largely underperformed, while regional industries—especially Malayalam and Kannada cinema—have seen remarkable growth, with Malayalam films alone registering over 100% growth last year. Check Kamath's post here: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [식약처인증] 성장기 아이 '이것' 먹고 3개월만에 12cm나 컸습니다! 할인이벤트 문의폭주 중! 키큰아이들의비법 더 알아보기 Undo — nikhilkamathcio (@nikhilkamathcio) How 'brain rot' movies could help Bollywood? The numbers reveal a clear pattern: 8 of the top 10 Bollywood hits in 2024—including Munjya, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, and Stree 2—were low to mid-budget entertainers. Rooted in quirky folklore, supernatural twists, and unfiltered drama, these films revived the chaotic, crowd-pleasing essence that once defined Bollywood's golden age. While critics may write them off as 'brainrot,' Kamath views their success as a clear market signal—showing that audiences are drawn more to emotional connection than polished artistry. How did people react? "Totally agree—context beats credentials. What's 'quality' if it doesn't connect with people? And live events? Feels like the human counterbalance we'll all crave in an AI-heavy world," said one user. Live Events "Audiences aren't rejecting cinema, they're rejecting mediocre cinema! The numbers don't lie, low-budget masala films out earn bloated spectacles, and live events are thriving because they deliver what screens can't—raw, collective energy!" said another user. "All said and done the licences, protocols, the sheer ticket bookings scams eg: recent cold play scam, civic sense, timing and sound restrictions, drug/alcohol menace too many loopholes make the complete experience redundant if these issues are countered effectively then probably," said another user.
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Salaar' duo spotted: Prabhas and Prashanth Neel captured enjoying Brad Pitt's 'F1' at Hyderabad theatre
Picture Credit: X The 'Salaar' duo, Rebel Star Prabhas and Prashanth Neel , were recently spotted enjoying a movie night out in Hyderabad. The two were seen catching a screening of Brad Pitt's 'F1,' the much-talked-about Hollywood sports drama. Fan-clicked pictures of Prabhas and Prashanth Neel at the screening have gone viral on the internet. The images appear to have been taken inside the Prasads Multiplex, where the actor-director pair also posed with the theater staff following the screening. Although neither of them shared official photos on their social media handles. About 'F1' 'F1,' directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick fame, is an adrenaline-pumping sports action drama based on the high-octane world of Formula One racing. The film stars Brad Pitt as a retired F1 driver making a comeback, with Damson Idris playing his teammate at a fictional racing team, APXGP. The film also includes Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, and even real-life F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, who also co-produced the movie in collaboration with Formula One's governing body, the FIA. The film has received overwhelmingly positive reviews and is currently playing in theaters globally. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2 & 3 BHK Homes in Keshav Nagar, from ₹ 83 Lacs* Purva Emerald Bay Enquire Now Undo Fans are awaiting 'Salaar: Part 2' Meanwhile, fans have been waiting for the sequel to Prabhas and Prashanth Neel's successful 'Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire,' which was released in December 2023. The Telugu action saga starring Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran was a blockbuster at the box office, minting over Rs 617 crore globally, as per trade analyst Sacnilk. Occupied with other projects The sequel of 'Salaar' is named 'Salaar Part 2: Shouryanga Parvam.' The shooting of the film is expected to resume after a while, as both the actor and director are currently occupied with their other projects. Prabhas is gearing up for the release of 'The Raja Saab,' directed by Maruthi, which will hit the screens on December 5, and has multiple projects, including a movie with Hanu Raghavapudi and 'Spirit' with Sandeep Reddy Vanga, which he expected to shoot first and later focus on other projects. Meanwhile, the 'KGF' director will be working with Jr NTR on the tentatively titled film, 'Dragon.'
