B. Saroja Devi's demise: CM Siddaramaiah pays tribute; announces state honours for final rites

Veteran Indian actress B. Saroja Devi, a beloved icon of Indian cinema, passed away at the age of 87 at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru on July 14.Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that her final rites would be conducted with full state honours.“I had met her several times in the past”In a heartfelt statement shared on Twitter, the Chief Minister recalled his many encounters with the actress over the years, describing her as a warm and affectionate individual with a remarkable presence. “I had met her several times in the past. Wherever we met, she always spoke with great affection and warmth. She was an actress with a wonderful personality,” he said, adding that discussions are underway to name 11th Cross in Malleswaram after her.Siddaramaiah's Tweet completely read, "I paid my final respects to the mortal remains of the legendary multilingual actress B. Saroja Devi, who passed away in Bengaluru yesterday. B. Saroja Devi was a towering figure in Indian cinema. An exceptional actress, she shone as a star across five languages — Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and more — earning admiration for her versatility and grace.“I have watched many of her iconic films like ‘Mallammana Pavada’, ‘Kittur Chennamma’”He further wrote, "I had the opportunity to meet Saroja Devi multiple times. She always spoke warmly and affectionately with everyone. She carried herself with immense dignity and grace. I have watched many of her iconic films like ‘Mallammana Pavada’, ‘Kittur Chennamma’, ‘Bhagyavantharu’, ‘Babruvahana’, and ‘Nyayave Devaru’. Her passing is a deep loss to the entire film industry. She entered the world of cinema at a young age and remained an artist for over seven decades. She was conferred the title “Abhinava Saraswati” early in her career. She acted alongside legendary actors across all major film industries — including Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Dev Anand, M.G.R., N.T.R., Sivaji Ganesan, and Dr. Rajkumar."He added, "Saroja Devi brought life to every role she played. Even in her personal life, she was known for her disciplined and principled lifestyle. She made immense contributions to the growth of Kannada cinema. Her passing is a profound loss to the industry. I pray that her soul may rest in peace, and may her family find the strength to bear this loss. Her final rites will be performed with full state honours in her hometown. I will be discussing the renaming of the street she lived on in her honour with the Greater Bengaluru authority."Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to the late actress. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “Saddened by the passing of the noted film personality, B. Saroja Devi Ji. She will be remembered as an exemplary icon of Indian cinema and culture. Her diverse performances left an indelible mark across generations. Her works, spanning different languages and covering diverse themes, highlighted her versatile nature. My condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti.”