I waited for the kind of visibility that only films can bring: Anusha Rai
, actor
is ready to turn a new page with her upcoming film Sangeetha Bar and Restaurant, where she stars opposite Komal. Directed by Sandesh Shetty Ajri, the film marks her first project post the reality show.
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'I heard many scripts after being a part of the reality show, but I didn't want to repeat roles. This film felt fresh as it offers me two contrasting characters, Sangeetha and Sahithya, and that complexity drew me in. The historical touch in the narrative also intrigued me,' says Anusha, who is now eight films old in the Kannada industry.
Reflecting on how far she's come without any industry backing, she says, 'I never imagined I'd be here this long. In the beginning, newcomers take whatever comes their way. But now, I feel it's time to be more intentional. People recognise me, and that gives me the confidence to choose roles that elevate my career.' She then shares that despite several offers in Television, she decided to stay focused on cinema. 'I wanted to be seen on the big screen, and I'm glad that's happening.
Television gave me options, but I held out for the kind of visibility that only films can bring,' she tells us.
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Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Remembering Saroja Devi: Legendary Actress Who Captivated Indian Cinema
Saroja Devi in the 1965 Tamil film Kalangarai Vilakkam Vamanan Reflecting in later times on his directorial debut 'Kalyana Parisu' (1959), in which Saroja Devi played the younger sister who sacrifices her love for her elder sibling, director Sridhar would remark that one of the greatest challenges in remaking the film was finding a young actress who could match that performance. What a tribute to Saroja Devi — that even in the early years of her long career, she delivered a portrayal so memorable that an auteur such as Sridhar would recall it with such admiration! You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai This underlines the fact that Saroja Devi had acting talent, which, added to an expressive and photogenic face and good temperament to match, made for an eventful career as a lead actor in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. No wonder the Kannadigas, of whom she was one, hailed her 'Abhinaya Saraswathi', the goddess of acting. The Tamils, in keeping with their large-hearted appreciation of artistes from other states, called her 'Kannadathu Paingili', the lovely parrot from the Kannada region, perhaps referring to her child-like articulation of Tamil dialogues. Saroja Devi revealed in an interview that Sivaji Ganesan would comment adversely on her Tamil accent, though the duo went on to deliver hits together. Songs such as 'Thangathile Oru Kurai Irunthalum' from 'Bagappirivinai' (1959) and 'Aalayamaniyin osaiyai' from 'Paalum Pazhamum' (1961) , picturised on Saroja Devi and Sivaji to excellent effect, however, represent the pinnacle of the best Tamil diction and the benchmark of the best of Tamil film song. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Little-Known RMD Strategy Approved by the IRS Undo Saroja Devi's Chennai visits unleashed a series of providential incidents which finally found her playing the heroine in MGR's ambitiously mounted make-or-break film 'Nadodi Mannan' (1958). MGR had initially cast Bhanumathi as the heroine, but creative differences led to her walking out mid-shoot. To salvage the film, MGR phased out her character and introduced Saroja Devi in the second half, a spectacular debut for a newcomer. The film became a milestone, establishing MGR as not just a star but also a successful producer-director. While Bhanumathi had questioned his directorial skills, Saroja Devi praised him. In later years, especially after MGR's passing, she would describe him as 'En anbu deivam' (My loving god). The MGR-Saroja Devi pairing seemed to viewers an ideal one, though there was a 20-year age gap between the two. Eastman colour films such as 'Padagotti' (1964), 'Enga Veettu Pillai' (1965) and 'Anbe Vaa' (1966), despite all their formula frills, clicked in many ways. In the first half of the 1960s, when MGR and Saroja Devi were gallivanting to scores of hit songs, the latter was as busy with MGR's film world rival, Sivaji Ganesan, with whom she paired in 15 films up to the early 1970s. Saroja Devi revealed that it was possible only because MGR adjusted his dates to enable her to make the most of all the other opportunities she got. With Sivaji, Saroja Devi matched the great thespian's acting skills with her own. Films such as 'Aalayamani', which presents a love triangle darkly told, and 'Pudhiya Paravai', in which Saroja Devi is a detective who feigns love only to expose the hero's murderous past, are memorable. When the hero Gopal asks her finally whether all the love she showed him was only playacting, she says 'Aamaam Gopal'; but goes on to add that while her intention at first was to deceive him, she had fallen in love with him. This climactic dialogue was spoofed by comedians Vivek and Baskar in 'Guru En Aalu' in 2009. But their spoofing only adds to the original's appeal! Saroja Devi's life and career had been guided by her astute mother Rudramma, with friendly patrons such as MGR also steering her course. She married Sri Harsha in 1967, and he encouraged her to continue acting. Around this time, directors such as K Balachander ('Thaamarai Nenjam', 1968) and K S Gopalakrishnan ('Panama Pasama', 1968) cast her opposite Gemini Ganesan , with whom she had first worked in 1959. She shared an easy rapport with Gemini, both on and off screen, and he stood by her in moments of grief, rushing to console her when her husband died in 1986. As one of the few stars who played a major part in the MGR era and was still alive, she was invited to events that gave fans the opportunity to revisit the past. She was also part of the circuit of the actresses of yesteryear who met up to share memories. With her passing at the age of 87, many of those who hearken to the remembrances of things past are bound to think that another glowing star of a glamorous past has disappeared from ever. Life and times The 1950s marked a shift in Indian cinema, with industries moving beyond theatre to discover fresh faces. Among them was 17-year-old B Saroja Devi (born Jan 7, 1938, the third daughter of Bhairappa, a police officer, and Rudramma) Her first release was 'Mahakavi Kalidasa' (1955) opposite Kannada-Tamil star Honnappa Bhagavatar Within a few years of her debut, Saroja Devi starred opposite MGR and Sivaji Ganesan in Tamil; Dilip Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shammi Kapoor in Hindi; and N T Rama Rao in Telugu, in addition to her Kannada films Between 1957 and 1967, she starred in 26 films with MGR, 22 with Sivaji Ganesan and 17 with Gemini Ganesan By the late 1970s, she acted as the female lead in more than 150 films across four languages After the passing of her husband in 1986, Saroja Devi reduced her film appearances. The death of her adopted daughter, Bhuvaneshwari, was another personal blow. Her cameo in Puneeth Rajkumar's 2019 film 'Natasaarvabhowma' was her last screen appearance Her awards: Padma Shri (1969), Padma Bhushan (1992) (The writer is a journalist and author)
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After a 17-year hiatus, actress Nandita Swetha is set to make her return to Kannada cinema in the upcoming revenge drama, Benny. Directed by Shreelesh S Nair , the film features Swetha in the titular role. Expressing his enthusiasm for the project, filmmaker Ramenahalli Jagannatha said, 'We aimed to create a film driven by a powerful female lead. While Kannada cinema is increasingly showcasing prominent female roles, we're elevating this with this father-daughter story, which includes intense action sequences.' Elaborating on Nandita casting, Jagannatha said, 'We conducted a test shoot with Nandita and immediately felt she was the perfect fit for this character. The film is expected to feature an ensemble cast from neighbouring film industries.'
Time of India
an hour ago
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‘Abhinaya Saraswathi' B Saroja Devi passes away
Veteran actress B Saroja Devi, hailed as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema and popularly known as Abhinaya Saraswathi (Saraswathi of expressions), passed away on Monday at the age of 87. She died due to age-related ailments at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru. Saroja Devi got her first break at just 17 years old with the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955) – a film which won her a National Award. Introduced to Tamil cinema in 1957 by BR Panthulu, she went on to rule the industry. The Padma awardee acted in over 200 films across four languages — Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi — leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema . She also acted alongside leading stars such as Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, NT Rama Rao and Rajkumar. Her passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations. I called her Sundaramoorthi: Bharathi Vishnuvardhan I grew up watching B Saroja Devi and was always in awe of her on-screen brilliance. So when I finally got the chance to work with her and share screen space, it was nothing short of a fan girl moment. Up until then, I had only watched Saroja Devi on screen. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Các chỉ số toàn cầu đang biến động — Đã đến lúc giao dịch! IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo So I was thrilled to meet her on the sets of our first film together called Nadodi in 1967, in which we acted alongside MGR. I remember being instantly struck by her beautiful face. By the time we finished the film, I got to witness firsthand the consummate artiste that she was. We went on to star in many more films after that. By then, we had also become close family friends. My bond with her continued, and to date, we would often meet at each other's homes, social events or connect over the phone. Two months ago, I suddenly felt that I must visit Sarojamma and spend time with her. So my daughter Keerthi and I went to her home. She had intense pain in her hand and preferred spending time in her comfort space by then. We spoke for a long time and indulged in our usual banter. I would fondly call her Sundaramoorthi because Saroja Devi's face was so…ethereal and beautiful. She was made for the screen. I'm glad she gave us her precious time before moving to the next realm. A star across languages... B Saroja Devi's fluency and captivating presence made her a true pan-Indian phenomenon, bridging regional film industries long before it became common. The veteran actress holds the distinction of having been a lead actress for 29 years and has starred along Kalyan Kumar in Amarashilpi Jakanachari (1964), the first colour film in Kannada cinema. Some of her notable Kannada films include Mallammana Pavada (1969), Nyayave Devaru (1971). Her Tamil film with another legendary actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MG Ramachandran, Nadodi Mannan (1958) made her one of the top actresses of Tamil cinema. She was fondly called Kannadathu Paingili (Kannada's parrot) in Tamil. l Saroja Devi also found success in Telugu cinema, starring opposite NT Rama Rao in Seetarama Kalyanam (1961) and Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961), as well as Daagudu Moothalu (1964). Her collaborations with Akkineni Nageswara Rao include films like Amara Shilpi Jakkanna (1964), and Rahasyam (1967) In Hindi cinema, her hits included Paigham (1959), Sasural (1960), Opera House (1961), Hong Kong (1962), Pareeksha (1963) and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963), showcasing her versatility and reach across the diverse landscape of Indian cinema.
