
Saroja Devi: Doe-eyed beauty who held audience in thrall
In a career spanning seven decades and over 200 films, she ruled hearts across languages —Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi. While being active in multiple languages was quite normal in those days, the hallmark of her career was her stellar success in each of these industries.
She had an enviable number of superhits with repeated pairings opposite the legends of various industries, including MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and Gemini Ganesan in Tamil, Dr Rajkumar in Kannada, and N T Rama Rao in Telugu.
But it was in Tamil cinema that she shone the brightest, particularly alongside M G Ramachandran (MGR), the iconic superstar, former CM and founder of the AIADMK, who considered her his 'lucky mascot'. They acted in 48 films together and their very first film, Nadodi Mannan (1958), catapulted the 'Kannadathu Paingili' (Kannada's parrot) to superstardom overnight. Some of their other films like Anbe Vaa (1966) and Arasa Kattalai (1967) have been celebrated as cult classics. Her well-known films with legendary Sivaji Ganesan included Bhaaga Pirivinai (1959), Palum Pazhamum (1961), and Aalayamani (1962). She had starred with Sivaji Ganesan in 22 movies.
Her notable works in other languages included Amarashilpi Jakanachari, Bhagyavantharu, Babruvahana, and Katha Sangama in Kannada.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
40 minutes ago
- India.com
These 7 horror movies will shake your soul completely, second one will send chills down your spines, streaming on...
In the realm of Telugu horror cinema, certain films are so intense that they're not recommended for the faint-hearted. These stories delve deep into the supernatural, blending eerie atmospheres with compelling narratives. Available on Amazon Prime Video, these movies promise to send chills down your spine. Virupaksha This film, which was released in 2023, was directed by Karthik Varma Dandu. Starring Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha Menon, the story follows Surya, who visits his ancestral village, Rudravanam. There, he uncovers a deadly curse tied to dark rituals, leading to a series of unexplained deaths. The film received positive reviews for its engaging story and performances. Bhaagamathie In this gripping tale, an IAS officer sets out to solve a murder case and ends up in a mysterious mansion once ruled by Queen Bhaagamathi. As the investigation deepens, the spirit of the queen is awakened, turning the case into something far more terrifying. Anushka Shetty's powerful performance and the intense suspense make this film truly unforgettable. Masooda This horror thriller flick follows the story of Neelam, who lives a quiet life with her daughter Nazia. But everything changes when Nazia becomes possessed by a dark force. Desperate and scared, Neelam turns to her neighbor Gopi Krishna for help. What unfolds is a chilling and mysterious fight against the unknown. The film builds up to a jaw-dropping climax that leaves a lasting impact. Nishabdham This film tells the gripping tale of a cellist's sudden and mysterious death, with no clear explanation or evidence in sight. The investigation unfolds through the perspective of a girl who is both mute and deaf, adding a unique and emotional layer to the suspense. With powerful performances by Anushka Shetty, Anjali and R. Madhavan, the film delivers intense drama and unexpected twists that keep you on edge. Anando Brahma For those interested in horror-comedy, Anando Brahma (2017) offers a unique blend. Directed by Mahi V. Raghav and starring Taapsee Pannu, the film revolves around a haunted house and the individuals who become its inhabitants. It was well-received for its clever twists and witty dialogues. Avru This supernatural-thriller follows the story of a corrupt cop who is handed a case involving a woman accused of killing her rapist. What appears to be a straightforward investigation soon takes a chilling turn as eerie and supernatural elements begin to surface. With every step deeper into the case, shocking revelations emerge, and the plot keeps twisting in unexpected ways, making it a gripping watch. Tantiram This film tells the unsettling tale of Balachandran, whose life takes a dark turn after being possessed by a spirit. Though everything appears perfect after his marriage, shadows from his past begin to haunt him. Drawing inspiration from Indian folklore, the film blends eerie horror with intense emotional drama, making it a compelling and spine-chilling experience.


Indian Express
40 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Hari Hara Veera Mallu Review LIVE Updates: ‘Power Star' fever grips Telugu states as Pawan Kalyan's long-delayed actioner hits screens
Hari Hara Veera Mallu Review, Rating and Release LIVE Updates: Telugu star Pawan Kalyan's long-delayed period action-adventure Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 has finally hit the screens, and a festive spirit has gripped the Telugu states with fans of the 'Power Star' celebrating the return of their beloved action hero to the silver screen with full fervour. One of the most anticipated Telugu films of the year, it is expected that Hari Hara Veera Mallu will rescue the Tollywood box office from the rough patch it has been going through since the beginning of 2025. However, considering that the movie faced multiple postponements, with the premiere date being changed at least three times just this year and filming reportedly continuing until late 2024 — suggesting that the makers had limited time to complete post-production work, including VFX, it remains to be seen if the film can keep the promise it made to Pawan Kalyan 's fans. Nonetheless, the advance booking for the big- budget actioner, as per Sacnilk, has been strong so far. As of 9 pm on Wednesday, the movie's first day pre-sales gross had crossed Rs 30 crore worldwide. While Hari Hara Veera Mallu had grossed Rs 7 crore from the Telugu states alone, the total advance bookings for the first day across India had touched Rs 20 crore. The overseas advance collection currently stands at Rs 10 crore. Going by the current trends, Hari Hara Veera Mallu is showing potential to outperform the last three films of Pawan Kalyan in terms of opening collections. While 2023's Bro grossed Rs 35.2 crore domestically and recorded an India nett collection of Rs 30.05 crore on release day, 2022's Bheemla Nayak registered Rs 43.10 crore gross (Rs 37.15 crore nett) and 2021's Vakeel Saab minted Rs 40.10 crore nett. While addressing the media in Hyderabad on Monday, Pawan Kalyan talked about Hari Hara Veera Mallu. "Director Krish Jagarlamudi approached us with a high-concept story that we all liked. The film faced delays during the pandemic, and later I got busy with my political career. Though Krish stepped back due to varied reasons, Rathnam and (his son) Jyothi Krishna, who took up the task of direction, were relentless and ensured that the film was completed,' he pointed out, adding that the high-action climax episode was shot over 57 days." Also starring Bobby Deol, Nidhhi Agerwal, Nargis Fakhri and Nora Fatehi, the movie was partly directed by Krish Jagarlamudi and, after his exit, AM Jyothi Krishna. Bankrolled by AM Rathnam under the banner of Mega Surya Production, the film features music by MM Keeravani, cinematography by Gnana Shekar VS and Manoj Paramahamsa, and editing by Praveen KL.


NDTV
41 minutes ago
- NDTV
Japanese Vlogger Interacts With Indian Tourists In Fluent Hindi, Video Wins Internet
A heartwarming video of a Japanese vlogger speaking fluent Hindi while interacting with Indian tourists in Tokyo is winning hearts online. Content creator Namaste Kohei (@namaste_kohei) shared the clip on Instagram, capturing a wholesome exchange with a group of Indian tourists visiting from Delhi. In the video, Kohei approaches one of the men and politely asks, "Excuse me, Sir. Where are you from?" When the man replies "India", Kohei lights up with excitement and says, "Aapka hardik swagat hai Japan mein" (You are warmly welcome in Japan), leaving the tourists pleasantly surprised. The vlogger continues to speak in Hindi, asking the Indian tourist, "Aap Bharat mein kaha se hain, Sir? (Which part of India are you from?)" The man replies, "Delhi", before asking his family to join. The creator then says, "Mein inko thodi si Hindi bolke ascharyachakit kar raha tha (I was trying to surprise him with my Hindi)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Namaste Kohei (@namaste_kohei) The Japanese content creator continues to communicate in Hindi, telling the group that he is trying to learn the language. He reveals that he learnt Hindi from books and even lived in India for some time. He also praises India, saying, "Bharat itna vishal desh hai aur uss desh ki itni lambi itihaas hai or bohot gehri sanskreeti hai. Toh unn sabko samajne ke liye mein apki bhasha sikna chahta hu (India is a vast country and it has a very long history and deep culture, and to understand them, I wished to learn your language)." During his interaction, he further asks the Indian group if they like Japan. "Are you here for sightseeing?" he asks, to which the Indian tourists reply that they are here to understand Japan's culture. They also say that they love how polite people are in Japan. The group mention that they are struggling a little to find vegetarian food, but they add that it is manageable. The Indian tourists also compare the crowd of Tokyo with Delhi and advise that people in Delhi should learn how to relax. Since being shared, the video has gone viral on the internet. Social media users flooded the comments section with heartwarming reactions. "Wow! You speak such fluent Hindi," one user wrote. "Loved the interaction," expressed another. "He speaks Hindi better than me," wrote a third user.