If you want to understand how to become better allies to people with disabilities, then join us at Embracing All Abilities: Including People with Disabilities at Work.
B S Saroja, was born on 18th November 1929, in Thriuvanthapuram, and had acted as a leading lady, sang and produced films in golden days of Tamil cinema.
B S Saroja, was born on 18th November 1929, in Thriuvanthapuram, and had acted as a leading lady, sang and produced films in golden days of Tamil cinema. She acted in multiple Tamil Films like Vikatayogi, Natya Rani, Pandiththevan, Oru Iravu, Koondukkili, Puthumaipithan, Arunagirinathar. She had also exhibited her acting prowess in multiple Indian Languages— Malayalam, Telugu, Kanada and Hindi.
Furthermore, she only studied till fourth standard, after which she joined a circus company she travelled with them all over India.
Her career in the entertainment industry began as a young singer in a chorus at the age of 10 for the Telugu film Bala Nagamma produced by Gemini Pictures. And in the year 1941 she joined the crew of a Tamil Cinema as junior artist and continued acting for the next three decades.
As a child, she was inspired by her violinist grandfather and vocalist mother to sing. And later she developed a love for cinema sets, and it made her happy to be just there, this love for acting and singing made her parents look hard to get her the first job as chorus singer as an entry into the film world. Her first job earned her ₹45 a month!
She was also inspired to work hard by watching the performances of artists like Yoga Mangalam, M.V. Rajamma and Vasantha.
Her first break as a leading lady came in when director K Subramaniyam signed her as the heroine for the film Vikata Yogi. Subramaniyam who had seen B.S Saroja on sets with different production was impressed by her talent. He cast her opposite then a star in his own right, Kumaresan.
Being a free-spirited person, she was always physically active in the film sets. She also tried and did the physical tasks her characters were required to do without much help from others.
Later on these sets she met her husband, T R Ramanna, who was working then as sound engineer for Subramaniyam. The duo fell in love, and chose to have a simple wedding in the temple with their parent’s blessing.
A few years down the line, she encouraged her husband to become a director. And together they started three production houses: R.R. Pictures, Vinayaga Pictures and Ganesh Pictures.
As a producer-director couple, they produced Periya Idaththu Pen which is B S Saroja’s favourite as it produced a super-duper hit song with MGR in western clothes! Other films produced by them are Panakkarak Kudumbam, Pasam, Kathavarayan, Thangachchurangam, Naan, Moondrezuthu, Sorgam and more.
B S Saroja managed the finances of their companies, not only that, she never shied away from having the money talk with her actors. She was a good paymaster who always paid salaries and advances on time. She visited the actors’ houses to pay them their dues; which was still a shocking behaviour for the society then.
In her illustrated career, B S Saroja, has worked with many leading men— her career’s greatest high came when she became the only leading lady who worked in cinema where MGR and Sivaji Ganesan worked together.
Koondukkili was produced by her and producer turned director husband. T R Ramanna, known for demanding work ethics and a man with great persuasive skills, created a blockbuster with help of his wife.
In her interview with the Hindu, she fondly recalls how professional and friendly both the matinée stars were during the shooting. Koondukkili, was written by social activist and reformist writer, Vindhan. The cinema was an instant classic and has stood the test of time.
B S Saroja is not only an actor, singer, producer, she is also a horticulturist! She loves growing flowers and fruits in her farm, which looked after with care and devotion for years. She even participated in flower shows and won few accolades.
After having three children and working tirelessly for three decades, she retired from acting around 1978. Many have speculated she stopped acting completely after the death of her husband, but she has refuted it. Later, she retired from the active role of the producer and spend her retirement with her family.
Currently, she lives with her music composer son Ganesh Ramanna and looks after her plants.
Image source: Wikipedia, IMDB, Telugu Wiki, edited on CanvaPro
Editor at Women's Web. 29. Bi. Bookworm. Comic book connoisseur. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
What I loved was how there is so much in the movie of the SRK we have known, and also a totally new star. The gestures, the smile, the wit and the charisma are all too familiar, but you also witness a rawness, an edginess.
When a movie that got the entire nation in a twist – for the right and wrong reasons – hits the theatres, there is bound to be noise. From ‘I am going to watch it – first day first show’ to ‘Boycott the movie and make it a flop’, social media has been a furore of posts.
Let me get one thing straight here – I did not watch Pathaan to make a statement or to simply rebel as people would put it. I went to watch it for the sheer pleasure of witnessing my favourite superstar in all his glory being what he is best at being – his magnificent self. Because when it comes to screen presence, he burns it, melts it and then resurrects it as well like no other. Because when it comes to style and passion, he owns it like a boss. Because SRK is, in a way, my last connecting point to the girl that I once was. Though I have evolved into so many more things over the years, I don’t think I am ready to let go of that girl fully yet.
There is no elephant in the room really here because it’s a fact that Bollywood has a lot of cleaning up to do. Calling out on all the problematic aspects of the industry is important and in doing that, maintaining objectivity is also equally imperative. I went for Pathaan for entertainment and got more than I had hoped for. It is a clever, slick, witty, brilliantly packaged action movie that delivers what it promises to. Logic definitely goes flying out of the window at times and some scenes will make you go ‘kuch bhi’ , but the screenplay clearly reminds you that you knew all along what you were in for. The action sequences are lavish and someone like me who is not exactly a fan of this genre was also mind blown.
Recent footage of her coming out of an airport had comments preaching karma and its cruel ways, that Samantha "deserved her illness" because she filed for divorce.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu fell from being the public’s sweetheart to a villain overnight because she filed for divorce. The actress was struck with myositis post divorce, much to the joy of certain groups (read sexist) in our society.
A troll responded to Samantha’s tweet, “Women Rising!!” by adding to it “just to fall”. She replied, “Getting back up makes it all the more sweeter, my friend.”
Here’s another insensitive tweet by BuzZ Basket showing fake concern for her autoimmune disease. “Feeling sad for Samantha, she lost all her charm and glow. When everyone thought she came out of divorce strongly and her professional life was seeing heights, myositis hit her badly, making her weak again.” Samantha responded, “I pray you never have to go through months of treatment and medication like I did. And here’s some love from me to add to your glow.”
Please enter your email address