Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sept 17: In a tribute to one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated legends, the Karnataka State government has announced a new lifetime achievement honour — the ‘Abhinaya Saraswati’ Award — named after the late B Saroja Devi, the iconic multilingual actress and recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.

Recognised as a ‘Panchabhasha Taare’ (star of five languages), B Saroja Devi had a towering presence in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi cinema, and made a lasting impact on Indian film history.

Her rich legacy has now inspired this new award, which will be presented annually to women artistes who have completed a minimum of 25 years of outstanding service to the Kannada film industry.

The award draws its name from the honorary title “Abhinaya Saraswati” once bestowed upon Saroja Devi for her unmatched acting prowess. It will be conferred as part of the annual Karnataka State Film Awards, under Annexure-1 of the Kannada Film Policy – 2011, which remains in effect.

The announcement has been welcomed by the film fraternity as a timely and respectful gesture, honouring the enduring contributions of women in Kannada cinema and celebrating the life and legacy of one of its brightest stars.