B Saroja Devi: Pan-India queen who ruled cinema for 3 decades with unmatched legacy

India Today

14-07-2025

'Nimageke Kodabeku Kappa?' – This powerful line remains iconic among the people of Karnataka to this day for two reasons: for showcasing the fierce opposition against British imperialism by Rani Chennamma, the queen of Kittur who refused to pay taxes to them, and for establishing the fierce acting prowess of one of Indian cinema's most celebrated female superstars, B Saroja Devi.advertisementB Saroja Devi was born in Bangalore, Mysore State (now Bengaluru, Karnataka) on January 7, 1938 to a Kannada-speaking family. Having been fond of dancing, singing and plays during her school days, it was during one such performance that she was spotted by Honnappa Bhagavatar, a pioneer of Kannada cinema, and offered the lead female role in his film 'Mahakavi Kalidasa' (1955).
A poster of Saroja Devi's debut film, 'Mahakavi Kalidasa' (PC: Wikipedia)
Having initially been reluctant to act in films, she accepted the offer only at her mother's insistence, as she could never refuse her mother's wishes. Saroja Devi's debut film was a major success, earning a National Award and opening several doors for the young actor to cement her legacy. Whether she wanted cinema or not, it seems destiny had decided that cinema wanted her.
Starting with one film at a time, Saroja Devi went on to star in over 200 films in her illustrious career, playing the lead role in 161 films consecutively and ruling as one of the top female stars for almost three decades. Having started her career at a very young age in the 1950s, this superstar withstood the test of time, facing several generations of actors without fading away, until she decided to take a step back.Saroja Devi shared screen space with the biggest names in Indian cinema. From Dr Rajkumar in Kannada to MG Ramachandran in Tamil, to NT Rama Rao in Telugu and Dilip Kumar in Hindi - and several other iconic names of Indian cinema - the young starlet, within her first 25 films, had already starred opposite many of them, making her one of the youngest 'pan-Indian' stars of Indian cinema.B Saroja Devi's portrayal of the fearless warrior queen in 'Kittur Chennamma' (1961) remains one of the most iconic performances in Kannada cinema. Directed by BR Panthulu, the film brought to life the story of Rani Chennamma, who led an armed rebellion against the British East India Company in the early 19th century.Saroja Devi's powerful dialogue delivery - especially the line 'Nimageke kodabeku kappa?' - resonated deeply with Kannada audiences and became emblematic of resistance and pride. With a performance so iconic, she became a cultural touchstone in Karnataka's cinematic and historical memory.
B Saroja Devi as Rani Chennamma (PC: Youtube/SRS Media Vision)
By the time shemarried Sri Harsha, an engineer at Bharat Electronics, on March 1, 1967. She had already acted in nearly 100 films as the female lead. Unlike many of her contemporaries who stepped away from the limelight after marriage, Saroja Devi continued to grace the silver screen with her husband's unwavering support.During an interview, when asked how she managed to balance her career post-marriage, Saroja fondly recalled a story that had travelled through legends of the industry. 'Dilip Kumar once said he had asked Saira Banu not to quit acting. That story was shared by Rajesh Khanna with my husband, Sri Harsha - urging him not to stop me from acting.'
Saroja Devi with husband Sri Harsha (PC: Facebook/B Saroja Devi)
Saroja Devi's life took a quiet turn after the loss of her husband, Sri Harsha, in 1986. She had signed up for the Kannada film 'Ladies Hostel' in 1985, but halted shooting midway to care for him during his illness. Following his passing, she stepped away completely from the limelight, not shooting or meeting anyone outside her family for nearly a year.advertisementIt was only in 1987 that she resumed work. 'Ladies Hostel' turned out to be a commercial success, but Saroja Devi chose not to take on any new roles. Instead, she honoured her earlier commitments, completing eight films she had signed before 1986. Once those projects were done, she took a conscious break from cinema. Though she did return to acting, her appearances became far less frequent, marking the end of an era defined by her dominance on screen.Over her illustrious career, B Saroja Devi garnered numerous honours celebrating her enduring impact on Indian cinema. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992 by the Government of India. She also received an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University, and various lifetime achievement awards.
Saroja Devi received Life Time Achievement from the then President of India, Pratibha Patil in 2008 (PC: Wikipedia).
B Saroja Devi delivered some of Indian cinema's most iconic performances across languages. With MG Ramachandran, she formed a hugely successful pairing of Tamil hits like 'Nadodi Mannan' (1958), 'Thaai Sollai Thattadhe' (1961), and 'Padagotti' (1964). In Telugu, her role in 'Seetharama Kalyanam' (1961) alongside NT Rama Rao remains memorable.advertisementShe also shared the screen with Hindi cinema legends like Dilip Kumar in 'Paigham' (1959) and Shammi Kapoor in 'Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya' (1963). In Kannada, her celebrated collaborations with Dr Rajkumar include 'Anna Thangi' (1958) and 'Mallammana Pavaada' (1969).Dr B Saroja Devi passed away during the early hours of July 14, 2025, at the age of 87. She was reportedly found unconscious at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed that she had passed away. Although the towering presence of the veteran superstar leaves behind a hollow, the legacy remains immortal.- Ends