Saroja Devi was born in Karnataka in 1938 to Bhairappa and Rudramma. Bhairappa worked for the police department.

Saroja Devi was first spotted by B.R. Krishnamurthy while she was singing at a function at the age of 13. Initially, she refused his offer to act in movies. She debuted with the Kannada film Sri Rama Puja in 1955-56, which went on to win the National Award.

Saroja Devi was married to Sri Harsha, an engineer by profession on 1 March 1967.

She acted in more than 170 films in Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Telugu languages. Her kannada film "Kittuura Rani Chennama" won the national award. She is also known in Tamil as: கன்னடத்து பைங்கிளி 'Kannadathu Paingkili' (Kannada's Parrot) in Tamil films.

Her debut movie in Telugu was Panduranga Mahathmyam (1957) in which she acted opposite N.T. Rama Rao. Another Telugu actress Krishna Kumari dubbed her voice in this movie for Saroja devi. Later, without any dubbing for her voice Saroja Devi acted in many Telugu films.

B. Saroja Devi was Chairperson of the Karnataka Film Development Corporation. She was also the chairperson of Kantheerava Studios, Bangalore.

Saroja Devi organized many donation camps in the name of her late husband Sri Harsha, daughter Bhuvaneshwari and her mother; and has organized Charitable Trusts, rehabilitation centers and health programmes.
 Awards
  * Life Time Achievement Award for 60th Independence. (National award) in 2008
    * Padma Bhushan in 1992 National award
    * Padma Sri award in 1969 National award
    * Doctorate from bangalore university in 2006
    * Abhinandana -Kanchana Maala’ award in 1980
    * Karnataka Government’s Rajyothsava award in 1989
    * Filmfare award for All-round Achievement
    * Tamil Nadu Government’s MGR award
    * Cinema Express award in 1997
    * NTR award in 2001
    * Dinakaran award for All-round Achievement in 2003

Sarojadevi acted nearly 180 films in four languages (Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi).

1955

    * Mahakavi Kalidasa (kannada) Honnapa Bhagavathar( first film)
    * Sri Rama Pooja (Kannada)
    * Aashadya Bhoothi (Kannada) Honnappa Bhagavathar

1956

    * Kacha Devayaani (Kannada) K S Aswath
    * Kokilavani (Kannada) K S Aswath
    * Pancharathna Kannada Honnappa Bhagavathar

1957

    * Chintamani (Kannada) K S Aswath
    * Ratnagiri Ragasiya (Kannada) Uthyakumar
    * Panduranga Mahatyam (Telugu) N. T. Rama Rao

1958

    * Thedi vantha Selvam (Tamil) Geminiganeshan
    * School Master (Kannada) B R Banthulu
    * Manalane Mangayin Bhagyam (Tamil) Geminiganeshan
    * Bhukailaasa (Kannada) Rajkumar
    * Anna Thangi (Kannada) Rajkumar
    * Naadodi Mannan (Tamil) M G R
    * Manamulla Marutharam (Tamil)Balaji
    * Sabhash Meena (Tamil) Sivjiganeshan
    * Sengottai Singam (Tamil) Uthyakumar
    * Bhukailasa (Telugu) N T R, A N R

1959

    * Jagajyothi Basaveshwara (Kannada) Rajkumar
    * Kalyana Parisu (Tamil) Geminiganeshan
    * Paigham (Hindi) Dilip kumar
    * President Panchatcharam (Tamil) S S Rajentheran
    * Kudivazhanthal kodi nanmai (Tamil) S S Rajentheran
    * OdeVelaiyadu papa (Tamil) Geminiganeshan
    * Bagapirivinai (Tamil) Sivjiganeshan, MR Ratha
    * Pelli sandadi (Telugu) A N R
    * Vaazha Vaitha Deivam (Tamil) Geminiganeshan
    * Yaanai Paagan (Tamil) Uthyakumar

1960

    * Vidi Velli(Tamil) Sivjiganeshan
    * Ellorum Innatto Mannargal (Tamil) Geminiganeshan
    * Phayham (Hindi) Dilepkumaar
    * Kairasi Tamil Geminiganeshan
    * Parthiban Kanavu (Tamil) Geminiganeshan
    * Irumbuthirai (Tamil) Sivjiganeshan
    * Pelli Kanuka (Telugu) A N R
    * Sasural (Hindi) Rajendra kumar,mehmood

1961

    * Opera House (Hindi) Ajit, Lalita Pawar
    * Mana Pandhal (Tamil) S S Rajenthiran
    * Palum Pazhamum (Tamil) Sivajiganeshan
    * Thirudathey (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Seetha Rama Kalyanam (Telugu) N TR
    * Jagadeka veeruni katha (Telugu) N TR
    * Panithirai (Tamil) Gemeniganeshan
    * Thai sollai thattathey (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Intiki deepam illalae (Telugu) N TR
    * Vijayanagarada Veeraputhra (Kannada) Uthyakumar

1962

    * Hong Kong (Hindi) Ashok Kumar
    * Kitturu Chennamma (Kannada) Rajkumar
    * Kudambathalaivan (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Aadi Perukku (Tamil)Gemini Ganesan
    * Valar Pirai (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan
    * Paasam (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Parthal pasi theerum (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan
    * Madappura (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Aalayamani (Tamil) S S Rajendran
    * Thaayaikaatha Thanayan (Tamil) M G Ramachandran

1963

    * Pareeksha (Hindi) Gemini Ganesan, Anjali Devi
    * Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (Hindi) Shammi Kapoor
    * Iruvar Ullam (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan
    * Periya Idathu Penn (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Kulamagal Radhai (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan
    * Pana Thottam (Tamil) M G Ramachandran, Nagesh
    * Dharmam Thalaikkakkum (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Neethikku Pin Pasam (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Kalyaniyin Kanavan (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan
    * Manchi Chedu (Telugu) N T Rama Rao
    * Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham (Telugu) N T R & ANR

1964

    * Beti Bete (Hindi) Sunil Dutt
    * Dooj Ka Chand (Hindi) Bharat Bhushan
    * Amarashilpi Jakanacharya (Kannada) Kalyan Kumar
    * Vaazhkai Vaazhvatharke (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Pannakkara Kudumbam (Tamil) M G R
    * Thayin Madiyil (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Padagotti (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Deivathai (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Paasamum Nesamum (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Puthiya Paravai (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan
    * En Kadamai (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Dagudu moothalu (Telugu) N T R
    * Aathma Balam (Telugu) A N R
    * Amarashilpi Jakanna (Telugu) A N R

1965

    * Beretha Jeeva (Kannada) Kalyan Kumar
    * Aasai Mugam (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Enga Vettu Pillai (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Kalangarai Vilakkam (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Prameelaarjunaeyathum (Telugu)N T R

1966

    * Preet Na Jaane Reet (Hindi)Shammi Kapoor
    * Naan Anayittaal (Tamil)M G Ramachandran
    * Nadodi (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Thalibahakiyam (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Parakkum Paavai (Tamil)M G Ramachandran
    * Anbe Vaa (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Petralthaan Pillaiya (Tamil)M G Ramachandran
    * Shakuntala (Telugu) N T R

1967

    * Dilwaar (Hindi)
    * Penn Endral Penn (Tamil)Gemini Ganesan (100th film )
    * Arasa Kattalai (Tamil) M G Ramachandran
    * Rahasyam (Telugu) Akkineni Nageswara Rao

1968

    * En Thambi (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan Nagesh
    * Panamaa Paasama (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Thamarai Nenjam (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Bahagyachakram (Telugu) N T R
    * Uma Chandi Gauri Shankarula katha (Telugu)N T R

1969

    * MalamaPavada (Kannada) Rajkumar
    * Thanga Malar (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Anbalippu (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan
    * Anjal Petti 520 (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan
    * Aindhu Laksham (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Kula Vilakku (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Odum Nadhi (Tamil) Ravichandran

1970

    * Lakshmi Saraswathi(Kannada) Ramesh
    * Malathy (Tamil) GeminiGanesan
    * Kann Malar (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Snehithi (Tamil) Gemini Ganesan
    * Vijayam manade(Telugu) N T R
    * Mayani Mamata(Telugu) N T R

1971

    * Purnima (Kannada) Srinath
    * Thande Makkalu(Kannada) Srinath
    * Papa Punya (Kannada)Kalyan Kumar
    * Sri Krishna Rukmini Satya Bhama (Kannada) Rajkumar
    * Nyayave Devaru (Kannada) Rajkumar
    * Thenum Palum (Tamil)Sivaji Ganesan
    * Arunothayam(Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan

1972

    * Hari Darshan (Hindi)Randhava
    * Sakthi Leelai (Tamil)A V M Rajan
    * Pandanti Kapuram (Telugu)
    * Mathru Moorthy (Telugu) Haranath

1973

    * Sahadharmini(Kannada)K S Aswath

1974

    * Chamundeswarei Mahemai(Kannada) Uthyakumar
    * Sri Srinivasa Kalyana(Kannada)Rajkumar
    * Grihini (Kannada) Rajesh
    * Paththu Matha Bandham (Tamil)R Muthuraman
    * Sri Chamundeeswari Mahimai (Tamil)

1975

    * Shri Ramanjaneya Yudhamu (Telugu) N T R
    * Sri Renukadevi Mahathme(Kannada)Rajesh(150th film)
    * Gunavanthudu (Kannada) Rajes
    * Shani Prabhava (Kannada)Vishnuvardhan
    * Katha Sangama (Kannada) G K Govinda Rao
    * Sree Ram Hanuman Yudh (Hind) N T R

1976

    * Sri Ram Vanavas (Hindi)Ravi Prasad
    * Chiranjeevi (Kannada) K Srinath

1977

    * Babruvahana (Kannada)Rajkumar
    * Bhagyavantharu (Kannada) Rajkumar
    * Sree Tirupathi Kshetra Mahathmyam (Telugu)Rajkumar

1978

    * Daana Veera Shoora Karna (Telugu)NTR
    * Ellaimman (Tamil) Rajesh

1980

    * Sri Raghavendra Karuna(Kannada) Gangadhar

In Eighties

    * 1981 Nammina Thayi Annamma (Kannada)
    * 1983 Rudra Naga (Kannada) Vishnuvardhan
    * 1984 Guru Bhakthi(Kannada)Kalyan Kumar
    * 1984 Thai Thande(Kannada) Kalyan Kumar
    * 1985 Ugra Naagu (Telugu) Vishnuvardhan
    * 1987 Ladies Hostel (Kannada) Rajesh
    * 1988 Thaimel Aanai (Tamil) Arjun
    * 1989 Poovukkul Bhoogambam (Tamil)
    * 1989 Guru (Kannada) Ambarish Srinath
    * 1989 Dharma Devan (Tamil) Murali
    * 1989 Ponmana selvan (Tamil)Vijakantha Gemeni Ganesan
    * 1990 Oray Thai Oray Kulam (Tamil) Shobana
    * 1990 Bhale Chatura (Kannada) Shankar Nag

In Nineties

    * 1993 Parambhariyam (Tamil)Sivaji Ganesan
    * 1994 Emergency (Kannada) Devaraj
    * 1995 Anuragasangama (Kannada) Ramesh Aravind
    * 1995 Putmalli (Kannada) Bharat,Sai Kumar
    * 1996 Agni I P S (Kannada) Sai Kumar, Ranjitha
    * 1996 Jannai Janma Bhoomi Kannada Vishnuvardhan, Rashika
    * 1997 Once More (Tamil) Sivaji Ganesan, Vijay
    * 1998 Mangala Suitra (Kannada) Rekaha das

In 2009

    * Aadhavan (Tamil) Surya Sivakumar, Nayanthara