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{{Short description|Indian actress}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = B. Saroja Devi
| image = Saroja Devi.jpg
| caption = Devi at the 54th National Film Awards function, in New Delhi on 2 September 2008.
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1938|01|07|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]]
| nationality = Indian
| other_names =
| occupation = Actress
| years active = 1955–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Sri Harsha|1967|1986|end= d.}}
| children = 2
| parents = Bhairappa (father)<br>Rudramma (mother)
| honours = [[Padma Bhushan]] (1992)<br />[[Padma Shri]] (1969)
}}
'''Bhairappa Saroja Devi'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/the-sweet-bird-of-southern-cinema/story-Y7p6H1UiJWXM6NcxRsGbkI.html|title=Sweet bird of southern cinema|publisher=Hindustan Times.com}}</ref>
popularly known as '''B. Saroja Devi''' (born 7 January 1938), is an Indian actress who has acted in [[Kannada cinema|Kannada]], [[Tamil cinema |Tamil]], [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]] and [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]] movies. She acted in around 200 films in over six decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chitramala.com/articles/saroja-devi-4189.html |title=Documentary on legendary Saroja Devi - Chitramala.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711020420/http://www.chitramala.com/articles/saroja-devi-4189.html |date=11 July 2011|archive-date=11 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Aruna_2006"/><ref name="ToI_greatest_2013">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/B-Saroja-Devi-in-the-list-of-greatest-Indianactresses-ever/articleshow/19895895.cms |title=B Saroja Devi in the list of greatest Indian actresses ever |author=Taniya Talukdar |date=5 May 2013 |newspaper=The Times of India }}</ref> She is known by the epithets "''Abhinaya Saraswathi''" ([[Saraswati|Saraswathi]] of acting) in [[Kannada language|Kannada]] and "''Kannadathu Paingili''" (Kannada's Parrot) in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].<ref name="rediff_2008_4"/><ref name="ToI_greatest_2013"/>

At the age of 17, Saroja Devi got her big break with her movie, the Kannada film ''[[Mahakavi Kalidasa]]'' (1955). In Telugu cinema, she made her debut with ''[[Panduranga Mahatyam]]'' (1957), and starred in a number of successful films until the late 1970s. The Tamil film ''[[Nadodi Mannan]]'' (1958) made her one of the top actresses in Tamil cinema. After her marriage in 1967, she continued to be the second in demand actress in Tamil films till 1974, but she continued to be one of the top actresses in Telugu and Kannada cinema from 1958 until the 1980s. She also starred in Hindi films until the mid-1960s, starting with ''[[Paigham]]'' (1959).

She played the lead heroine in 161 consecutive films<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2016/jan/20/Meet-the-Heroes-of-Malleswaram-871077.html|title=Meet the Heroes of Malleshwaram|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> in 29 years between 1955 and 1984. Saroja Devi received the [[Padma Sri]], the fourth-highest civilian honour, in 1969 and [[Padma Bhushan]], third highest civilian award, in 1992 from the Government of India, honorary doctorate from [[Bangalore University]] and [[Kalaimamani]] award from Tamil Nadu.

== Early life ==

Saroja Devi was born in [[Bangalore]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]] (now Bengaluru, [[Karnataka]]) on 7 January 1938.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nE2mwKYwdJ8C |title=Film World, Volume 1 |editor=T.M. Ramachandran |year=1964 |page=145 }}</ref> Her father Bhairappa worked for the police department, and her mother Rudramma was a homemaker. She was their fourth daughter. Bhairappa asked her to learn dancing, and encouraged her to take up acting as a career. A young Saroja Devi was accompanied often by her father to studios and he would patiently tie on her salangais and massage her swollen feet after her dancing stints.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide2.htm |title=Celebrating Saroja Devi: The Beginning |author=Pavithra Srinivasan |work=rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref> Her mother gave her a strict dress code: no swimsuits and no sleeveless blouses, which she followed for the rest of her career.<ref name="HT_Renuka_2008"/> She was first spotted by B.R. Krishnamurthy when she was singing at a function at the age of 13, but she declined the film offer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/B-Saroja-Devi-in-the-list-of-greatest-Indianactresses-ever/articleshow/19895895.cms|title=B Saroja Devi in the list of greatest Indian actresses ever - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Rise to stardom ===

Saroja Devi's debut movie and also her first major success was [[Honnappa Bhagavatar]]'s Kannada film ''[[Mahakavi Kalidasa]]'' (1955), in which she played a supporting role. The film won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada]]. Next, she acted in B. R. Panthulu's Tamil film ''[[Thangamalai Ragasiyam]]'' (1957), in which she performed a dance sequence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide3.htm |title=Celebrating Saroja Devi: Foray into movies |author=Pavithra Srinivasan |work=rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref>

Subsequently, she was noted by [[M. G. Ramachandran]] (MGR), who cast her as the [[female lead]] in ''[[Nadodi Mannan]]'' (1958), the movie that made her one of the most popular actresses in [[Tamil Nadu]]. She was then signed up for the Hindi film ''[[Paigham]]'' (1959), in which her co-stars included [[Dilip Kumar]]. She went on to work in other leading Hindi actors, including [[Rajendra Kumar]] in ''[[Sasural (1961 film)|Sasural]]'' (1961), [[Sunil Dutt]] in ''Beti Bete'' (1964) and [[Shammi Kapoor]] in ''[[Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963 film)|Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya]]'' (1963). She also shot a few scenes with [[Raj Kapoor]] for ''[[Nazrana (1961 film)|Nazrana]]'' (1961), but was replaced by [[Vyjayanthimala]] after a conflict with the director [[C. V. Sridhar]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e07vBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA128 |title=Pride of Tamil Cinema |author=G. Dhananjayan |author-link=G. Dhananjayan |publisher=Blue Ocean |year=2014 |page=128 }}</ref>

Following the success of ''Nadodi Mannan'', she was also cast opposite the leading Tamil actors of that time: with [[Gemini Ganesan]] in ''[[Kalyana Parisu]]'' (1959), with [[Sivaji Ganesan]] in ''[[Bhaaga Pirivinai]]'' (1959) and again with MGR in ''[[Thirudadhe]]'' (1961).<ref name="rediff_2008_4">{{cite web |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide4.htm |title=Celebrating Saroja Devi: Woking with Gemini Ganesan and Sivaji Ganesan |author=Pavithra Srinivasan |work=rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref> Her involvement in Tamil films also continued with superhits like ''[[Palum Pazhamum]]'' (1961), ''[[Vazhkai Vazhvatharke]]'' (1964), ''[[Aalayamani]]'' (1962), ''[[Periya Idathu Penn]]'' (1963), ''[[Puthiya Paravai]]'' (1964), ''[[Panakkara Kudumbam]]'' (1964), ''[[Enga Veetu Pillai]]'' (1965) and ''[[Anbe Vaa]]'' (1966). She came to be known as a "lucky mascot" for MGR films and acted with him in 26 films.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide5.htm |title=Celebrating Saroja Devi: The lucky mascot of MGR movies |author=Pavithra Srinivasan |work=rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref>

Her early successes in Kannada cinema included ''Chintamani'' (1957), ''[[School Master (1958 film)|School Master]]'' (1958) and ''[[Jagajyothi Basveshwara]]'' (1959). Her role as a patriotic anti-British queen in the Kannada ''[[Kittur Chennamma (film)|Kittooru Rani Chennamma]]'' (1961) was widely acclaimed. In 1964, she and [[Kalyan Kumar]] acted in the first full-fledged Kannada colour movie ''Amarashilpi Jakanachaari''.

Saroja Devi also achieved success in Telugu films, starring opposite [[N. T. Rama Rao]] in ''[[Seetarama Kalyanam]]'' (1961), ''[[Jagadeka Veeruni Katha]]'' (1961) and ''Daagudu Moothalu'' (1964). ''[[Amara Shilpi Jakkanna]]'' (1964, remake of Kannada film) and ''[[Rahasyam (1967 film)|Rahasyam]]'', her film ''Pelli Kaanuka'' (1960) with [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]], were also successful. The first Telugu film featured dubbing; wherein, [[Krishna Kumari (actress)|Krishna Kumari]] dubbed her voice in ''[[Panduranga Mahatyam (film)|Panduranga Mahatyam]]'' (1957). But in the subsequent years, Saroja Devi learnt Telugu language. Her Hindi films included ''Sasural'' (1960), ''Opera House'' (1961), ''Pareeksha'', ''Hong Kong'' (1962) and ''Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya'' (1963), which became successful. In 1962 she was crowned "Chaturbhaasha Taare", because of her popularity in these four languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide5.htm|title=rediff.com: Abhinaya Saraswathi Saroja Devi|website=specials.rediff.com}}</ref>

The pair of MGR-Saroja Devi gave 26 back-to-back hit films together,<ref>http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/starring-mgr--jayalalitha/7148/</ref> which included 1: ''[[Nadodi Mannan]]'' (1958), 2: ''[[Thirudathe]]'' (1961), 3: ''[[Thaai Sollai Thattadhe]]'' (1961), 4: ''[[Paasam]]'' (1962), 5: ''[[Kudumba Thalaivan]]'' (1962), 6: ''[[Maadappura]]'' (1962), 7: ''[[Thayai Katha Thanayan]]'' (1963), 8: ''[[Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum]]'' (1963), 9: ''[[Needhikkuppin Paasam]]'' (1963), 10: ''[[Dheiva Thaai]]'' (1964), 11: ''[[Padagotti]]'' (1964), 12: ''[[Aasai Mugam]]'' (1965), 13: ''[[Nadodi]]'' (1966), 14: ''[[Thali Bhagyam]]'' (1966), 15: ''[[Naan Aanaiyittal]]'' (1966), 16: ''[[Petralthan Pillaiya]]'' (1966) and 17: ''[[Arasa Kattalai]]'' (1967). Her best performances opposite MGR were the "rich girl" roles: 18: ''[[Panathottam]]'' (1963), 19: ''[[Periya Idathu Penn]]'' (1963), 20: ''[[Panakkara Kudumbam]]'' (1964), 21: ''[[En Kadamai]]'' (1964), 22: ''[[Thaayin Madiyil]]'' (1964), 23: ''[[Enga Veettu Pillai]]'' (1965), 24: ''[[Kalangarai Vilakkam]]'' (1965), 25: ''[[Anbe Vaa]]'' (1966) and 26: ''[[Parakkum Paavai]]'' (1966).{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} The women adored her dressing sense and her saris and blouses, ornaments, hairstyles were copied by girls and women.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide6.htm|title=rediff.com: Abhinaya Saraswathi Saroja Devi|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>

In the 1960s, Saroja Devi became a fashion icon among the South Indian women, who mimicked her [[sari]]s, blouses, jewellery, hairstyles and mannerisms. In particular, her saris and jewellery from the Tamil movies ''[[Enga Veettu Pillai]]'' (1965) and ''[[Anbe Vaa]]'' (1966) were popularized widely in magazines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide6.htm |title=Celebrating Saroja Devi: A style icon |author=Pavithra Srinivasan |work=rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref>

The pairing of Sivaji Ganesan and Saroja Devi gave 22 back-to-back hit movies: 1: ''[[Thangamalai Ragasiyam]]'' (1957), 2: ''[[Sabaash Meena]]'' (1958), 3: ''[[Engal Kudumbam Perisu]]'' (1958), 4: ''[[Bhaaga Pirivinai]]'' (1959), 5: ''[[School Master (1959 film)|School Master (Hindi)]]'' (1959), 6: ''[[Irumbu Thirai]]'' (1960), 7: ''[[Vidivelli]]'' (1960), 8: ''[[Palum Pazhamum]]'' (1961), 9: ''[[Paarthaal Pasi Theerum]]'' (1962), 10: ''[[Valar Pirai]]'' (1962), 11: ''[[Aalayamani]]'' (1962), 12: ''[[Kulamagal Radhai]]'' (1963), 13: ''[[Iruvar Ullam]]'' (1963), 14: ''[[Kalyaniyin Kanavan]]'' (1963) and 15: ''[[Puthiya Paravai]]'' (1964)

=== Post-marriage career ===

After 1968, Saroja Devi's career in Tamil cinema gradually declined, and she became more active in Kannada movies.<ref name="rediff_pavithra_2008">{{cite web |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide8.htm |title=Celebrating Saroja Devi: Her last years in the industry |author=Pavithra Srinivasan |work=rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref> With her marriage in 1967 and the rise of younger heroines like [[K. R. Vijaya]] and [[Jayalalithaa]] producers stopped pairing her opposite MGR. Her last film with MGR was ''[[Arasa Kattalai]]'' (1967), which also starred Jayalalithaa. She continued starring in Tamil movies opposite [[Sivaji Ganesan]] after her marriage: 16: ''[[En Thambi]]'' (1968), 17: [[Anbalippu]] (1969), 18: [[Anjal Petti 520]] (1969), 19: [[Arunodhayam]] (1971), 20: [[Thenum Paalum]] (1971), 21: [[Paarambariyam]] (1993) and 22: ''[[Once More (1997 film)|Once More]]'' (1997).{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

She worked with [[Gemini Ganesan]] in ''Pen Endral Pen'' (1967), ''[[Panama Pasama]]'' (1968), ''[[Thamarai Nenjam]]'' (1968), ''Ainthu Latcham'' (1969), ''Thanga Malar'' (1969), ''Kula Vilakku'' (1969), ''[[Malathi]]'' (1970) and ''Kann Malar'' (1970).{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

With [[Ravichandran (Tamil actor)|Ravichandran]] she acted in the successful films ''Odum Nadhi'' (1969), ''Snegithi'' (1970), ''[[Malathi]]'' (1970), and ''Pathu Matha Bandham'' (1974).

With [[R. Muthuraman]], she starred in ''[[Arunodhayam]]'' (1971), ''Uyir'' (1971) and ''Pathu Matha Bandham'' (1974), which was her last Tamil film as a lead actor until 1985.

She continued to be among the highest-paid actresses in Kannada and Telugu films. She was cast opposite the leading actor [[Rajkumar (actor)|Dr. Rajkumar]] in several Kannada films, including ''[[Mallammana Pavada]]'' (1969), ''[[Nyayave Devaru]]'' (1971), ''[[Sri Srinivasa Kalyana]]'' (1974), ''[[Babruvahana (film)|Babruvahana]]'' (1977) and ''[[Bhagyavantharu]]'' (1977). Her other successful films from this period include ''Thande Makkalu'' (1971), ''Papa Punya'' (1971), ''Gunavanthudu'' (1975), ''Katha Sangama'' (1976), ''Sri Renukadevi Mahathme'' (1977), with Chiranjeevi, then with Vishnuvardhan in ''Shani Prabhava'' (1977) and ''[[Rudranaga]]'' (1984).

In Telugu cinema, she was cast opposite N. T. Rama Rao in films like ''Bhagyachakram'' (1968), ''Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha'' (1968), ''[[Vijayam Manade]]'' (1970), ''Mayani Mamatha'' (1970), Shakuntala and ''[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]'' (1979).

In her long career she chiefly opted for romantic films only in the 1960s and later sentimental and socially relevant films right from the late 1960s to the 1980s. ''Sri Renukadevi Mahathme'', a Kannada film released in 1977 was Saroja Devi's 150th film in her career and by 1984, she had completed 161 films as the main lead heroine, without ever playing supporting roles. Yarivanu, in Kannada, was the 161st film, in which she played the main lead heroine.

=== After husband's death ===
Saroja Devi signed up for the film ''Ladies Hostel'' in 1985, but stopped shooting after her husband fell ill. He subsequently died in 1986, and she resumed shooting only in 1987. The film was successful, but Saroja Devi refused to sign up for any more films. She completed the 8 films that she had accepted before 1986, and these films were released during 1987–1990. These included ''[[Thaimel Aanai]]'' (1988) and ''Dharma Devan'' (1989).

She returned to acting on insistence by film producers and her fans. She starred opposite Sivaji Ganesan in ''Parambariyam'' (1993), and then performed a few roles as a supporting actress. In Kannada films, her notable supporting performances included her roles in ''[[Anuraga Sangama]]'' (1995) and ''Agni IPS'' (1997). She and Sivaji Ganesan acted in the Tamil film ''[[Once More (1997 film)|Once More]]'' (1997), which also includes scenes from their 1963 film ''[[Iruvar Ullam]]''. Her latest film in Tamil was the film ''[[Aadhavan]]'' (2009), in which she played a judge's mother.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://movies.rediff.com/report/2009/oct/17/aadhavan-is-clean-fun.htm |title=Aadhavan is clean fun |work=[[rediff.com]] |date=17 October 2009 }}</ref>

Twice in 1998 and 2005, Saroja Devi chaired [[45th National Film Awards#Juries|45th National Film Awards]] and [[53rd National Film Awards]] jury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Film-awards-Saroja-Devi-to-head-jury/article15730138.ece|title=Film awards: Saroja Devi to head jury|date=29 July 2006|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=1998|first=National Film Awards Archives|title=45th National Film Festival|url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/72_45thNfacatalogue.pdf|pages=viii}}</ref> She served as the vice-president of Kannada Chalanchitra Sangha, and as a member of [[Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams]]'s local advisory committee. She runs a successful business.<ref name="Aruna_2006">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/journey-down-a-glorious-lane/article3218620.ece |title=Journey down a glorious lane |newspaper=The Hindu |author=Aruna Chandaraju |date=30 June 2006 }}</ref> She also served as the Chairperson of the Karnataka Film Development Corporation,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Saroja-Devi-Ramoji-Rao-among-recipients-of-A.P.-film-awards/article15583986.ece|title=Saroja Devi, Ramoji Rao among recipients of A.P. film awards|date=7 December 2010|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> which had been set up as a private limited company by her and a few other film personalities in 1972.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zIZVCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT178 |title=Pursuit of Law and Order |author=A.P. Durai |publisher=Notion Press | year=2015 |isbn=9789352062157 |orig-year=1978 }}</ref>

Saroja Devi is now settled in Bangalore, where she is involved in social work. She has organized many donation camps in the name of her husband and her mother. She is also involved with charitable trusts, rehabilitation centers and health programs.

Her most recent work is ''[[Natasaarvabhowma]]'', which released in 2019.

== Personal life ==

Saroja Devi had an [[arranged marriage]] with Sri Harsha, a [[Bharat Electronics]] engineer,<ref name="HT_Renuka_2008">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/the-sweet-bird-of-southern-cinema/story-Y7p6H1UiJWXM6NcxRsGbkI.html |title=The sweet bird of Southern cinema |author=Renuka Narayanan |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=5 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>https://starofmysore.com/interview-with-b-saroja-devi-the-queen-of-tamil-cinema-1/</ref> on 1 March 1967. At that time, she was facing a financial crisis and income tax troubles. Her husband helped her overcome these problems, and taught her how to manage her finances.<ref name="Aruna_2006"/>

When she was asked in an interview as to how she did not discontinue acting due to her mother's insistence after 1967, she quoted: "[[Dilip Kumar]] once said he has asked [[Saira Banu]] to not to stop acting profession. The same thing was mentioned by [[Rajesh Khanna]] to my husband Sri Harsha not to stop me from acting.".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://models.indiafashionmodels.com/?p=print&recipe=83|title=Dr. B Saroja Devi - A Model Actress - Saroja Devi known for her philanthropic gestures has donated a|website=models.indiafashionmodels.com|access-date=2016-06-06}}</ref> Her husband hence encouraged her to continue acting from 1970, and their marriage lasted till his death in 1986.

Saroja Devi's children included her daughter Bhuvaneshwari and two grandchildren Indira and Gautam. Bhuvaneshwari was her niece, and had been adopted by her.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} Bhuvaneshwari died young,<ref name="Aruna_2006"/> and Saroja Devi sponsors the ''Bhuvaneshwari Award'' for literature in her memory.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Saroja-ducks-romance-poser/articleshow/2741746.cms |title=Saroja ducks romance poser |newspaper=The Times of India |date=30 January 2008 }}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==
[[File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Life Time Achievement Award to the famous film actress Smt. Saroja Devi, at the 54th National Film Awards function, in New Delhi on September 02, 2008.jpg|thumb|250px|Saroja Devi receiving the Life Time Achievement from the then President of India, [[Pratibha Patil]] in 2008.]]
'''National awards'''

* 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award by the [[Government of India]], as a part of the celebrations of India's 60th independence day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/01slide1.htm |title=Celebrating Saroja Devi |author=Pavithra Srinivasan |work=rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref>
* 1992 [[Padma Bhushan]]<ref name="Padma Awards" />
* 1969 [[Padma Shri]]<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014}}</ref>

'''State awards'''

* 2009 - [[Kalaimamani]] Lifetime achievement award by the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
* 2009 - [[Dr. Rajkumar Award|Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award]] by the [[Government of Karnataka]]
* 2009 - [[NTR National Award]] from [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] for the second time for the year 2009
* 2001 - [[NTR National Award]] from Andhra Pradesh Government for the year 2001
* 1993 - Tamil Nadu Government's MGR Award
* 1988 - [[Karnataka]] Government's [[Rajyothsava award]]
* 1980 - ''Abhinandana-Kanchana Mala'' award by [[Karnataka]] State
*1969 - [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress]] for [[Kula Vilakku]]
* 1965 - Abhinya Saraswathy honor by [[Karnataka]]

'''Other awards'''

* 2009 - Natya Kaladhar Award— Tamil cinema, by Bharat Kalachar Chennai
* 2007 - NTR award for remarkable achievement by Karnataka Telugu Academy
* 2007-Rotary Sivaji Award by the Charitable Trust and Rotary Club of Chennai
* 2006 Honorary Doctorate from [[Bangalore University]]
* 2006 Vijay Award for Contribution to Tamil Cinema
* 2003 Dinakaran award for All-round Achievement
* 1997 Lifetime achievement awards by Cinema Express in Chennai
* 1994 [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South]]

==B. Saroja Devi National Award==
In 2010, ''Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan'' instituted '''''Padma Bhushan B. Saroja Devi National Award''''', a lifetime achievement award to honour artists in the field of performing arts, annually. The recipients of the award including [[K. J. Yesudas]], [[Vyjayantimala]], [[Anjali Devi]], [[Ambareesh]], [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]] and others.<ref>http://www.uniindia.com/multi-lingual-actress-jayanti-wins-b-saroja-devi-national-award/states/news/834469.html</ref>

== Filmography ==
{{Main|B. Saroja Devi Filmography}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{iMDb name|0044600}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1990–99}}
{{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAwardSouth}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, B. Saroja}}
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Actresses from Bangalore]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kalaimamani Award]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]

B. Saroja Devi - Revision history

>FrescoBot at 17:21, 5 July 2021