Media365
The curtains fell on a golden era of South Indian cinema as legendary actress B Saroja Devi died at her Bengaluru residence on Sunday. She was 87.
Saroja Devi, whose film career spanned more than six decades and over 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, died due to age-related ailments. She was reportedly found unconscious at her home in Malleswaram and was rushed to hospital, where she was declared dead.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Veteran Kannada actor Saroja Devi passes away at 87 due to age-related illness
(Visuals from her residence in Bengaluru ) pic.twitter.com/jTBm1pTaMm
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2025
Revered for her grace, versatility and enduring popularity, she holds the rare honour of being the first Kannada actress bestowed with the title Chaturbhasha Taare, the ‘Four-language Star’, in recognition of her cross-linguistic success.
Affectionately called the ‘Multilingual Star,’ Saroja Devi left an indelible mark in Indian cinema, having acted opposite stalwarts such as M.G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, A. Nageswara Rao, N.T. Rama Rao, and Dilip Kumar.
Saroja Devi made her cinematic debut in 1953 with Shri Rama Pooja, but her breakthrough came with the film Mahakavi Kalidasa. Her pioneering role in Amarashilpi Jakanachari, the first colour film in Kannada, and her portrayal of Kittur Rani Chennamma remain etched in the annals of Indian film history. Her resounding dialogue “Kappa kodabekaa kappa…” continues to echo on the solo performance stage.
She shared unmatched on-screen chemistry with Tamil cinema icon M.G.R., acting in 26 films together, and became a household name in Tamil Nadu. In Telugu cinema, she worked with titans like A. Nageswara Rao and N.T.R., while her Hindi film appearances included leading roles opposite Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar and Sunil Dutt.
Her unparalleled contribution to Indian cinema earned her not just the affection of millions but also a string of honours and awards. Though she stepped back from mainstream acting later in life, her legacy endured through reruns of her classics and the reverence she continued to receive from film connoisseurs and fellow artistes alike.
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