How Saroja Devi captivated Tamil Nadu for two decades

Chennai: Earning the sobriquet Kannadathu Payinkili (Kannada Parrot) and Abinaya Saraswathi, B Saroja Devi was renowned for her commanding presence in Tamil cinema for two decades starting in the late 1950s. She remains a household name in Tamil Nadu through her memorable characters that embodied grace, dignity, and emotional depth, inspiring and entertaining generations.

Blessed with a photogenic face, Saroja Devi’s magical expressions and her native look captivated Tamil audiences, prompting male actors to line up for the chance to star opposite her.

Of the approximately 200 films in her illustrious and multilingual career, about 80 were in Tamil, most of which were runaway successes at the box office. In fact, Saroja Devi was one of the few heroines to star in consecutive films with the legends of Tamil cinema – M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and Gemini Ganesan -- with 65 of her roughly 80 Tamil films featuring these iconic actors.

Introduced to Tamil cinema by director-producer B R Panthulu in the 1957 movie Thangamalai Ragasiyam when she was just 20, Saroja Devi’s breakthrough came the following year when she was cast alongside MGR in his super-hit film Nadodi Mannan. There was no looking back since then.

Whether in Anbe Vaa (1966) with MGR or Pudhiya Paravai (1964) with Sivaji, Saroja Devi’s expressions and elegance are still remembered by millions of cinema lovers and fans. She excelled in every role she undertook -- traditional, family-oriented characters, glamorous, and emotionally complex ones.

Her performances in films like Kalyana Parisu (1959), Padakotti (1964), and Aalayamani (1962) showcased her ability to portray both strength and vulnerability. Saroja Devi’s acting in Pudhiya Paravai and her addressing Sivaji as Gopal (his character) are considered iconic and still remain popular for meme creators.

As one of the highest-paid actresses of her time, Saroja Devi made a concerted effort to learn Tamil, despite not being born in Tamil Nadu, and her command of the language was notably sweet. She was also a style icon in the 1960s, with Tamil women eager to emulate her wardrobe and earrings seen in her films.

Above all, she was a great human being. Every actor who condoled her death mentioned that their Bengaluru trips never ended without a visit to Saroja Devi’s residence.

“She would always insist I have at least one meal at her place whenever I was in Bengaluru. She was much more than a superstar. She was a wonderful host and a genuine person. Seven months ago, I had the honour of hosting her in my house in Chennai,” said yesteryear actor Latha, who had acted with MGR.

Kamal Haasan fondly remembered how Saroja Devi would lovingly pinch his cheeks, while many others spoke of her affable nature. Veteran Tamil film director S P Muthuraman, who worked as an assistant director on the sets of Anbe Vaa, which featured Saroja Devi, said she never carried any airs despite being a star.

“She was meticulous and a director’s favourite because she ensured the filmmaker got the necessary shots. Her acting skills were legendary, and she was a star in her own right -- that’s why every leading actor wanted to pair with her,” he added.

Actor-director Ramesh Khanna shared an interesting anecdote about introducing a new character just to act alongside Saroja Devi in the 2009 film Aadhavan, as he didn’t want to miss the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

“We both danced to the famous song – Naan Paarthathile Aval Oruthiyai Thaan Nalla Azhagi Enben (She is the only one I have seen; I would call her the true beauty) from Anbe Vaa. After the shot, I told her I was lucky to have had a duet with her after MGR. She kept laughing -- that’s how much she loved cinema and people who acted with her,” he said.