B. S. Saroja

B. S. Saroja Biography

B. S. Saroja was a leading south Indian film actress. She acted in Tamil and Malayalam movies in the black & white era. She is the daughter of Johnson, who played villain’s role in Malayalam’s first film, Vigathakumaran released in 1930. The movie was directed by J. C. Daniel who is credited to be the father of Malayalam cinema. Thus B. S. Saroja is the daughter of first villain of Malayalam screen! In fact she too owns a unique credit. B. S. Saroja was the heroine of first super hit Malayalam film – Jeevitha nauka. Started off as a dancer in the early 1940s, she later moved to acting roles and made a mark of herself in the industry.

She was born in Thiruvananthapuram in 1922. When Malayalam’s first film Vigathakumaran was released in 1930, she was only 8 years old. Her father Johnson played the main antagonist of Malayalam’s historic movie. Her mother’s name is Rajalakshmi. She had formal education till fourth form. She joined a circus company at a younger age and travelled across India as a part of the troupe. She started off her film career as a junior artist and dancer in Tamil movies. Tamil film - Madanakamarajan in 1941 was her first film as a junior artist. She performed as a dancer for the movies, Madanakamarajan, Kannagi, Mangamma Sabatham, Kubera Kuchela, Mahamaya, Rajarajeswari, Burma Rani etc for the next five years.

Later she moved to supporting roles. In 1949 she got married to a sound engineer T. R. Ramanna who later directed many movies. . She had three daughters. In fact the turning point of her professional career happened after her marriage where she got several meaty roles, for which she is remembered till now. Jeevitha Nouka in 1951 marked her Malayalam film debut. She played the lead role opposite Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair and this landmark movie was the first super hit movie of Malayalam cinema. The movie was simultaneously shot in Tamil and Telugu, and was dubbed and released in Hindi also.

She along with T. R. Ramanna started three production companies. Achan, Lilly and Aathamasakhi are other noted Malayalam works. Many of her films were simultaneously released in Malayalam and Tamil and she has acted with all leading heroes of her time including M. G. R and Prem Nazzir. She also acted in Telugu movies. She was active in film scene till mid-1960s.

Published: N/A

Updated: April 24, 2016