Cinema industry mourns: Veteran actress B. Saroja Devi passes away, final rites today in hometown Channapatna

The Kannada film industry is in deep mourning following the death of legendary actress B. Saroja Devi, widely revered as "Abhinaya Saraswathi" and one of the earliest female superstars of Indian cinema. Her demise has left an irreplaceable void in Sandalwood and beyond, as condolences continue to pour in from across the South Indian film fraternity.

Also Read:Kichcha Sudeep pays poetic tribute to late iconic actress B Saroja Devi

Saroja Devi, who left an indelible mark across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, passed away recently. Her body was kept for public viewing overnight, allowing thousands of fans and celebrities to pay their last respects.

Leading stars such as Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Jaggesh, and Upendra visited to offer their final tribute. Veteran actresses including Tara, Shruthi, and Malashree were visibly emotional, remembering the late icon with teary eyes.

Saroja Devi was not only a towering figure in Kannada cinema but also a celebrated name in Tamil films. Tamil actors Vishal and Karthi, along with Arjun Sarja and his family, attended the final viewing. Speaking on the occasion, Vishal remarked that "Saroja Devi is irreplaceable." Karthi fondly recalled their warm conversations and shared that she always invited him home whenever he visited Bengaluru.

The actress will be laid to rest today in her native village Dashavara in Channapatna Taluk of Ramanagara District, in accordance with Vokkaliga traditions. The cremation will take place at 11:30 AM amidst nature's lap, her hometown.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to arrive at 10 AM to pay his respects before the final rites. The film industry and political leaders alike have acknowledged the monumental contribution Saroja Devi made to Indian cinema, calling her passing a huge cultural loss to Karnataka.