Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema - B. Saroja Devi

Later my brother Muthu Manickam and younger brother of Shivaji Ganesan V.C.Shanmugam had planned to conduct the outdoor shooting of a new film under Prabhuram films banner at Vettaikkaran puthur. The shooting of the film was arranged in the forests owned by my father that lay around seven KM from my house.

Saroja Devi also came with the group. On seeing me she has enquired Gnana how are you and why you have become so lean and why don't you take some tonic to improve your health. In fact she was the one who has become lean due to continuous shooting schedules and was in the need of taking the tonic.

On a number of occasions I was on the verge of crying on seeing her straining her health, to save her fame and position in the cinema. She will not leave the shooting spot even at 2.00 PM for lunch, unless the director expressed satisfaction about her acting. I used to feel elated every time she gets the appreciation from the director for her acting capabilities.

I had never seen her showing fatigue during any time of the shooting schedule. In fact she will make anyone to get rejuvenated by her comedy talking. She was always fond of cycling and driving cars. She would go for long distance cycling and wait for us sweating to enable us to reach her by jeep.

She invited me in advance to participate in the 100th day celebrations of the film Bagapirivinai. When she saw me she did not hesitate to hug me at the stage and enquire my good health before the audience. Though initially I felt shy but felt elated enjoying her love and affection towards me.

Though the mother tongue of Saroja Devi was Kannada, she was equally eloquent in other languages. I still preserve her letters written in highly decorative Tamil language.