The Indian film industry is mourning the loss of one of its most celebrated legends, B. Sarojadevi, who passed away at the age of 87. Her contribution to cinema, spanning nearly seven decades and about 200 films, has left a mark on audiences across generations.
Sarojadevi, fondly known as the “Goddess of Acting,” was a towering presence in the film industries of Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid heartfelt tribute to the veteran actress. In a post on social media, he wrote, “The news of B. Sarojadevi’s passing has deeply saddened me. She was a legend who brought life to iconic roles in films like ‘Kittur Chennamma’, ‘Babruvahana’, and ‘Annathangi’. Her performances transcended language barriers, earning her admiration across India. Her loss is a monumental blow to Indian cinema. I pray her soul rests in peace.”
ಕನ್ನಡದ ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟಿ ಬಿ.ಸರೋಜಾದೇವಿ ಅವರ ನಿಧನವಾರ್ತೆ ನೋವುಂಟುಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗವು ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ತಮಿಳು, ತೆಲುಗು ಮತ್ತು ಹಿಂದಿಯ ಸುಮಾರು 200 ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಟಿಸಿ, ಅಭಿನಯ ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಎಂದೇ ಖ್ಯಾತರಾಗಿದ್ದರು.
ಸರೋಜಾದೇವಿ ಎಂದಾಕ್ಷಣ ಕಿತ್ತೂರು ಚೆನ್ನಮ್ಮ, ಬಬ್ರುವಾಹನ, ಅಣ್ಣತಂಗಿ ಮುಂತಾದ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿನ ಅವರ ಮನೋಜ್ಞ ಅಭಿನಯ… pic.x.com/ZOVdrXGqlp
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 14, 2025
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, also shared his condolences. “It is hard to believe that Sarojadevi is no more. She was a star whose brilliance spanned across four major film industries. Her contribution to Indian cinema is unparalleled. The void she leaves behind is impossible to fill,” he said.
ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದ ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟಿ, ‘ಅಭಿನಯ ಸರಸ್ವತಿ’ ಎಂದೇ ಹೆಸರುವಾಸಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಬಿ.ಸರೋಜಾದೇವಿ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ತಿಳಿದು ದುಃಖವಾಯಿತು.
ಕನ್ನಡ, ತಮಿಳು, ತೆಲುಗು ಮತ್ತು ಹಿಂದಿ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮಾರು 160ಕ್ಕೂ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಯಕ ನಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಅಭಿನಯಿಸಿದ್ದ ಅವರ ಅಗಲಿಕೆಯಿಂದ, ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲದೆ ಇಡೀ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗಕ್ಕೆ… pic.x.com/AtBSv4wJSL
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) July 14, 2025
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar echoed similar sentiments, calling Sarojadevi’s passing a personal and collective loss. “She served cinema for over six decades and captivated audiences in five languages. Her dedication, discipline, and artistry were exemplary. Farewell to the Goddess of Acting. Om Shanti,” he wrote.
ಅಭಿನಯ ಸರಸ್ವತಿಗೆ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ವಿದಾಯ..
ಕನ್ನಡದ ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟಿ, ಅಭಿನಯ ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ಎಂದೇ ಖ್ಯಾತರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಬಿ. ಸರೋಜಾ ದೇವಿ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ನೋವು ತಂದಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಪಂಚ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಟಿಸಿ, 6 ದಶಕಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ಸೈ ಎನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದರು.
ಅಗಲಿದ ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ದೇವರು ಚಿರಶಾಂತಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಲಿ. ಅಪಾರ… pic.x.com/ea7LP77N2q
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) July 14, 2025
B. Sarojadevi’s career began with a breakthrough role in the Kannada film ‘Mahakavi Kalidasa’ in 1955. From there, she quickly rose to prominence. In 1957, she debuted in Telugu cinema with ‘Pandurang Mahathyam’, and just a year later, she made her mark in Tamil cinema with ‘Nadodi Mannan’ (1958), a blockbuster that catapulted her to stardom.
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Her Hindi film journey began with ‘Paigham’ in 1959, where she starred opposite the legendary Dilip Kumar. Though she eventually focused more on South Indian cinema, her roles in Hindi films during the early 60s remain significant chapters in her career.
Between 1955 and 1984, Sarojadevi acted in a remarkable 161 consecutive films as the lead heroine. Even after her marriage in 1967, when many actresses of that era stepped away from the spotlight, she continued to be one of the most sought-after actresses, especially in Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu cinema, until the late 1970s.
She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992, two of India’s highest civilian honours. She also received the Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu government and an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University.
In 2008, she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her unmatched legacy in Indian cinema.