Padmabhushana Dr B Saroja Devi National award constituted in the year 2010 has recognized several achievers in the fraternity of cinema. The first award was bestowed on Harini S Rao, Anjali Devi and Jamuna Ramana Rao.

In this year one of the most beautiful heroines of Kannada cinema of yesteryears Abhinaya Sharade Dr Jayanthi gets the 2017 Dr B Saroja Devi national award. This is especially for talented women in different segments of cinema.

A press release of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan says the 2017 annual award will be presented to the veteran actress. Starting from Jenugoodu, Dr Jayanthi has acted in some of the impeccable films in Kannada and others languages. On April 16, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan the award will be presented to Dr Jayanthi.