| B. Saroja Devi | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 7, 1938 Karnataka, India |
| Occupation | actress |
| Years active | 1955–present |
B. Saroja Devi (Kannada: ಬೀ. ಸರೋಜಾ ದೇವಿ) is an Indian actress. She has acted in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies. She is referred to as Abhinaya Saraswathi by the Kannada film industry and as Kannadathu Paingili (English: Kannada's Parrot) by Tamil film industry. She has acted in nearly 200 films in a period of more than three decades.[1]
Contents |
Saroja Devi was born in Karnataka on 7 January 1938 to Bhairappa and Rudramma. Her father worked for the police department. Saroja Devi was their fourth daughter. But this wasn't a happy occasion for her family, especially her grandfather, Mayanna Gowda. Bhairappa managed to overrule him and insist on raising the child.[2] Her father asked her to learn dance and encouraged her to venture into films when film offers started coming to her. A young Saroja Devi was often chaperoned to studios by him. He would patiently tie on her salangais, often massaging swollen feet after her dancing stints.
Saroja Devi was first spotted by B.R. Krishnamurthy singing at a function at the age of 13.[3] Initially, she declined his offer to act in movies. She debuted with the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa in 1955
Saroja Devi's first big break came in the Honnappa Bhagavatar's Kannada film, Mahakavi Kalidasa, in 1955, for which she won a National Award. It was followed by B R Panthulu's Thanga Malai Ragasiyam, where her eyes enacted a magical drama, in a dance sequence.Her debut movie in Telugu was Panduranga Mahathmyam (1957) in which she acted opposite N.T. Rama Rao.After this she came under the notice of the MGR for the very first time, on K Subramaniam's sets and MGR casted her in Nadodi Manan(1958).
People doubted her ability to speak Tamil, but MGR had faith in her and encouraged her to learn and speak Tamil and casted her in his home production Nadodi Mannan in 1958 as well.It was the Tamil film Nadodi Mannan opposite MGR in 1958 that catapulted Saroja Devi to superstar status in Tamil Film industry.After this she immediately received offer to make her Hindi debut opposite Dilip Kumar in Paigam(1959). She never allowed any one to dub for her and insisted that she would speak by herself as a result none of her Tamil movies her voice was dubbed by any other artiste since the beginning of her career.Then she gave hits opposite Gemini Ganesan in Manalane Mangayin Bhagyam, Kalyana Parisu, Ode Velaiyadu papa, Kairasi and opposite Sivaji Ganeshan in Baga Pirivinai,Vidi Velli,Palum Pazhamum, Iruvar Ullam(1958 till 1960).After this she started getting offers from Tamil,Kannada, and Telugu films. She was working more than 20 hours a day in this peak period of her career(1960–69).[4]
She was cast always opposite the much high in demand stars of respective film industries :NTR, ANR in Telugu, MGR, Sivaji Ganeshan, Gemini Ganesan in Tamil and Rajkumar in Kannada.Saroja chose to do more films in Tamil in the period 1958-1969 and after her mairrage she was more active in Kannada and Telugu films from (1970–1984).
Saroja Devi's energetic performance as a patriotic queen raging against the British in Kannada flick Kittooru Rani Chennamma, which won the national award for Best Film in 1963, brought her much acclaim.[5] Her Telugu hits were Seetha Rama Kalyanam and Jagadeka Veeranukatha in 1961 with NTR, while her hits in Hindi films included Paigham (1959), Sasural (1960), Opera House (1961), Pareeksha, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya(1963) and Beti Bete (1964) and in addition Kannada hits like Chintamani(1957), School Master(1958), Jagajyothi Basaveshwara (1959), Kitturu Chennamma (1962).It was at this time in 1962 that she was crowned Chaturbhaasha Taare, because of her popularity in these four languages. She had mincing accent, smart and perky attitude and this made her popular among the audience of all the four languages.She concentrated more in Tamil films as a result though she had all her films as hits in Hindi, after Preet Na Jane Reet opposite Shammi Kapoor she did not do more Hindi films.
Another leading Telugu actress Krishna Kumari had dubbed her voice in Panduranga Mahathmyam for Saroja devi and few more films in the initial part of her career in Telugu Films. But in subsequent years, without any external source of dubbing, Saroja Devi acted in her Telugu films.For her films in Hindi, Kannada and Tamil she always dubbed for herself since the beginning of her career.
MGR Saroja Devi established a popular on screen pair and had back to back superhits from 1958-1967.The pair who began with Naadodi Mannan, went on to give back to back 27 blockbusters[6] the most popular being Thirudathey, Thai Sollai Thattathey, Paasam,Thaayaikaatha Thanayan, Asai Mugam, Periya Idathu Penn, Dharmam Thalaikkakkum, Neethikku Pin Pasam, Pannakkara Kudumbam,Padakoti, Nadodi, Thalibahakiyam, Naan Anayittaal, Petralthaan Pillaiya and Parrakkum Pavai.
Her best performances opposite MGR were the 'rich girl' roles in Anbe Vaa, Enga Veettu Pillai, En Kadamai, Pana Thottam and Thayin Madiyil.She made a fashion statement too as women adored her dressing sense and her saris and blouses, ornaments, hairstyles were copied by girls and women.[7]
After Jayalalitha become a star and her pair with MGR was appreciated and after Saroja got married in 1967, Sarojadevi did not get the opportunity to work opposite MGR. Saroja Devi's last film oppsoite MGR was Arasa Katalai, which also starred Jayalalithaa. However Saroja continued having hits opposite Sivaji like En Thambi, Anjal Petti 520, Thenum Palum, Arunothayam and with Gemini in Panamaa Paasama, Thamarai Nenjam, Malathy, Kann Malar etc. She was cast with younger heroes like Ravichandran in Odum Nadhi(1969) and R.Muthuraman in 1974 in Paththu Matha Bandham(her last film in Tamil) which were successful too.
From 1970,she started to get few offers in Tamil Cinema.But this only resulted in she becoming the highest paid actress in Kannada films and was more active in Kannada films in seventies.She acted in films such as Sri Renukadevi Mahathme, Gunavanthudu, Shani Prabhava and Katha Sangama.She won accolades from critics in films opposite Dr. Raj Kumar in Kannada for her performances in MalamaPavada (1969), Nyayave Devaru(1971), Sri Srinivasa Kalyana(1974), Babruvahana(1977), Bhagyavantharu(1977) and with Vishnuvardhan in Shani Prabhava, Rudra Naga, Ugra Naagu (1985) and in other films like Thande Makkalu, Papa Punya, Chiranjeevi etc.(from 1971–1984).She accepted in an interview that she excelled in roles that challenged her with tremendous range. In her long career she chiefly opted for sentimental films.
She mesmerized audience of all sections with her lively action, eye-catching looks and sweet articulation and got critical acclaims for her roles in the few Telugu films she did like Rahasiyam and in Aathma Balam and Amarashilpi Jakanna, both with A Nageshwara Rao. From the late sixties till mid 70's she formed popular on screen pair with NTR in Telugu films with Dagudu moothulu,Shakuntala,Bahakiyachakaram, Mayani Mamata and Daana Veera Shoora Karna.
Saroja Devi accepted supporting roles in very few films.She took up very few assignments and even those films turned out to be popular.The most notable being Anuragasangama, Agni I P S, Mangala Suitra in Kannada and in title role in the Tamil film Thaimel Aanai and again opposite Sivaji Ganeshan in Parambhariyam and Once More (where Saroja was paired opposite Sivaji Ganesan in with her scenes in Iruvar Ullam too infused in the movie).
She said in an interview 'I have four homes in Chennai: the residences of MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, and MR Radha,' she had once said. 'But now, they have all gone—and I remain alone, with only their memories in my heart, and tears in my eyes.'[8]
B. Saroja Devi was Chairperson of the Karnataka Film Development Corporation. She was also the chairperson of Kantheerava Studios, Bangalore.[9][10]
Saroja Devi was married to Sri Harsha, an engineer by profession who worked with Bharat Electronics Limited, on 1 March 1967.Her husband had reportedly no qualms about her star status, and was a 'complete gentleman'. She was careful not to involve herself in too many controversies and scandals obviously helped.[11] Their marriage lasted till her husband's death in 1986.The couple have three children, daughters Bhuveneshwary, Indira and son Gautam.
Saroja Devi has organized many donation camps in the name of her late husband Sri Harsha, daughter Bhuvaneshwari and her mother and has organized Charitable Trusts, Rehabilitation centers and health programs.[12]