M Rafi Ahmed
“Yaarukkum kedaikkadha vaaippu unakku kidaithullathu, Devi. Idhai ubhayogithukolvathu unadhu thiramai alla kadamai (You have the opportunity that others don’t; it’s your duty to use it well),” ace actress B Saroja Devi quoted MGR saying during the shoot of Nadodi Mannan. Referring to this in an interview few years ago, she said that it was only then that she realised what has been handed to her—Kadamaiyai Naan seidha thozhil dhaan ennai inge kooptittu vandhirukku (It’s something that I had earned through hardwork).
The veteran actress Radha Devi alias Saroja Devi, who is celebrating her 86th birthday today recalled acting with Makkal Thilagam in 26 movies like Nadodi Mannan, Padagoti, Enga Veetu Pillai, Anbe Vaa, Panakkara Kudumbam, Deivathai and Thirudathey. She reached stardom after pairing with MGR which earned her a name and fame in the tinsel town. She had named her son as Gautam Ramachandra as a token of affection towards MGR.
In contrast, she donned lead roles with Sivaji in 22 movies like Puthiya Paravai, Thenum Paalum, Palum Pazhamum, Vidivelli, En Thambi and Bagapirivinai.
Called as ‘Kannadathu Paingili’ and ‘Abinaya Saraswathi’, the successful actress after acting in more than 200 odd films is spending her time in social service activities in Bengaluru city.
Saroja Devi in an interview had said, “My husband Sri Harsha has done so much for me. I consider him my God and it is very difficult to get a person like him in my life”. It was he who bailed out her from her financial crisis and tax problems. She lived a contented life with her spouse. Though she took a break from acting after her marriage, it was Bollywood veteran actor Dilip Kumar, who was instrumental in making her act again.
Hailing from a Vokkaliga family, Radha Devi craved for becoming a teacher. However, luck smiled at her when she was offered a supporting role by K R Seetharama Sastry in Mahakavi Kalidasa when she was just 17. Later, she did a dance sequence in Thangamalai Ragasiyam. MGR’s Nadodi Mannan took her to exalted heights making her known to the Tamil audience. Since then, no looking back to her as she donned different roles with MGR, Sivaji, Gemini Ganesan, Nageswara Rao, NTR, Dr Rajkumar besides a host of Hindi veterans.
Her dad Jawar Bhairappa, a police personnel and her mom Rudramma, a home-maker, She is the fourth daughter to her parents while her elder sisters were Saraswathy Devi, Bama Devi and Seetha Devi. How Radha Devi become Saroja Devi forms the story about her filmdom. Notably, she played the lead heroine roles in 161 consecutive films in a span of 29 years between 1955 and 1984. Saroja Devi was honoured with Padma Sri, the fourth-highest civilian honour, in 1969 and Padma Bhushan, third highest civilian award, in 1992 from the Government of India besides Honorary doctorate from Bangalore University and Kalaimamani award from Tamil Nadu. Her passion for dancing later made acting her profession.
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