A special tribute concert celebrating the life and legacy of South Indian cinema legend B. Saroja Devi will take place in Singapore on Jan 3 at the RELC Auditorium, Orange Grove Road.
Titled Timeless Tamil Songs of Saroja Devi, the three-hour show from 6.30pm to 9.30pm will feature classic film songs, live music, dance, and heartfelt fan tributes – all woven together to honour one of Tamil cinema’s most enduring stars.
The event is organised by Punithan and Friends, a community-driven music collective that has been producing Tamil cultural concerts since the pandemic.
The group includes V. Punithan, a former Vasantham presenter, his wife and singer S. Rajalakshmi, and Prabha Seth, a community leader.
This Culture Pass-approved programme will be graced by Minister of State for Community, Culture and Youth, and Manpower, Dinesh Vasu, as Guest of Honour.
Saroja Devi, who passed away in July this year at the age of 87, is revered as one of South Indian cinema’s greatest actresses.
Known as “Abhinaya Saraswathi” (Goddess of Acting), she ruled Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi screens through the 1950s to 1970s, often starring opposite legends like M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), Sivaji Ganesan, and Dr Rajkumar.
Her screen pairing with MGR produced some of Tamil cinema’s most iconic romantic and family dramas. The songs from these films – filled with poetic lyrics, social depth, and emotional resonance – continue to strike a chord with Tamil-speaking audiences around the world, especially older generations.
Punithan says the idea for the tribute was sparked by Saroja Devi’s deep emotional connection with senior citizens in Singapore.
“She left behind many unforgettable songs. When she passed away in July, people paid small tributes online. We wanted to organise something larger – just like we did for Jayalalitha last December,” he said.
The concert will blend live musical renditions, dance performances, and video montages to evoke the golden era of Tamil cinema.
Well-known local talents like V Suriamurthi, P.R. Rani, V Magesvari, and C. Shailaja will sing the classics. Magesvari, a Mediacorp veteran, won a national Tamil singing contest in 1995.
Choreographed recreations of famous Saroja Devi film sequences will be performed by Manimaran Creations.
Visual clips and dramatic excerpts from Saroja Devi’s movies will be screened, along with tributes spotlighting legendary Tamil lyricists such as Kannadasan, Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram, and Vaali.
Recorded messages by Singapore’s senior citizens who grew up watching her films will also be played out.
For V Punithan & Friends, the concert is not just a tribute, but also a mission. Since 2020, they have organised multiple online and stage shows that explore the richness of Tamil film music.
Their previous productions – including tributes to lyricists and singers – have been supported by the National Arts Council and the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee (TLLPC).
Their most recent stage concerts in March 2024 and December 2024 were well received, showing growing community support for preserving Tamil film heritage through live performance.
The show has already generated buzz among die-hard fans like Marco Murali, a retired F&B worker and self-proclaimed MGR devotee. “I own 124 of MGR’s films on video and still watch them regularly,” he shared. “I’ve bought 14 tickets for the concert – my friends from Johor Bahru are joining me.”
Entrepreneur Dr Prema Subramaniam, 73, who will be attending the show, said: “Saroja Devi was a great actress and the songs involving her are all very melodious and emotional. Baby boomers can empathise and relate to those songs, which had so much of feeling. The show on January 3 will rekindle lovely memories.”
santosh@sph.com.sg
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18 Jul 2025 8:18
