Leelavathi (actress)

Indian actress, producer (1936/1937 – 2023)

M Leelavathi

Leelavathi at Kalamandira, Mysore

Born|

Leela Kiran

1936/1937

Mangalore, Madras Province, British India

Died| 8 December 2023 (aged 86)

Nelamangala, Bangalore Rural district, Karnataka, India.

Occupation(s)| Actress, film producer, writer, philanthropist[1]

Leelavathi (born Leela Kiran, 1936/1937 – 8 December 2023) was an Indian actress who worked in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films. She acted in more than 600 films (more than 400 in Kannada alone) throughout her career of more than 50 years. She is known for her memorable performances in Bhakta Kumbara, Mana Mecchida Madadi and Santha Thukaram. She was the recipient of the Dr. Rajkumar Award in 1999 and Filmfare Awards.

## Early life[edit]

Leela Kiran was born at Beltangadi, Dakshina Kannada district. She lost her parents at the age of 6.[citation needed]

## Film career[edit]

Leelavathi had a small role in Chanchala Kumari and then in Shanker Singh's film Naga Kannika. She later joined the troupe of Mahalinga Bhagavathar's Sri Sahitya Samrajya Drama Company.[2] She got a chance to act in Subbainaidu's 1958 movie Bhakta Prahlada and in movies like Mangalya Yoga, Dharma Vijaya and Ranadheera Kanteerava. It was from Rani Honnamma that Leelavathi became a full-fledged heroine. In Santha Thukaram, Kantheredu Nodu, Kaivara Mahatme, Gaali Gopura, Kanyarathna, Kulavadhu, Veera Kesari and Mana Mecchida Madadi , she was the leading lady. She has starred in supporting roles in Gejje Pooje and Doctor Krishna for which she received the Karnataka State Award.

Leelavathi had the rare distinction of having worked with Rajkumar in various films as heroine as well as his daughter (in Bhoodana), sister (in Vathsalya), sister in law - elder brother's wife in Premamayi and younger brother's wife in Kalitharu Henne, paternal aunt (in Shravana Banthu), mother-in-law (in Vasantha Geetha, Naa Ninna Mareyalare and Jwaalamukhi) and daughter-in-law (in Kittur Chennamma).

## Death[edit]

Leelavathi died on 8 December 2023, at the age of 86 passed away on Friday due to prolonged illness.[3][4]

## Awards and recognitions[edit]

* Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 from Karnataka Government.[5]
* Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada for Kannadada Kanda in 2006[citation needed]
* Leelavathi was conferred with the honorary doctorate from the Tumkur University in the year 2008 for her contribution to the southern cinema.[6][7]

## Partial filmography[edit]

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### As actress[edit]

Year  | Film  | Language  | Notes

|
|
|

1958  | Bhakta Prahlada | Kannada  |
1958  | Mangalya Yoga |  | First Film
1959  | Raja Malaya Simha |  |
1959  | Abba Aa Hudugi | Kannada  |
1959  | Dharma Vijaya | Kannada  |
1960  | Dashavtara |  |
1960  | Ranadheera Kanteerava |  |
1960  | Rani Honnamma |  |
1961  | Kaiwara Mahathme | Kannada  |
1961  | Kantheredu Nodu | Kannada  |
1961  | Kittur Chennamma | Kannada  | Veeravva
1962  | Gaali Gopura | Kannada  |
1962  | Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu | Kannada  |
1962  | Bhoodaana | Kannada  | With Udaya Kumar, Rajkumar, Kalyan Kumar
1962  | Mana Mecchida Madadi |  |
1962  | Nanda Deepa | Kannada  | Udaykumar, Rajkumar
1962  | Pattinathaar | Tamil Film  | First Tamil Film
1962  | Rani Chanamma |  |
1962  | Rathna Manjari |  |
1962  | Sumaithaangi | Tamil  |
1962  | Valar Pirai | Tamil Film  | With Sivaji Ganesan
1962  | Vidhi Vilasa |  |
1963  | Kulavadhu | Kannada  |
1963  | Kanyarathna | Kannada  |
1963  | Kalitharu Henne | Kannada  |
1963  | Bevu Bella | Kannada  |
1963  | Jeevana Tharanga | Kannada  |
1963  | Malli Maduve | Kannada  |
1963  | Mana Mecchida Madadi | Kannada  |
1963  | Santha Thukaram | Kannada  | National Award, With Rajkumar
1963  | Valmiki | Telugu Film  | With N. T. Rama Rao
1963  | Valmiki | Kannada  |
1963  | Veera Kesari | Kannada  | With Rajkumar
1964  | Marmayogi | Telugu | First Telugu Film
1964  | Shivarathri Mahathme | Kannada  |
1964  | Thumbida Koda | Kannada  | State Award
1965  | Chandrahasa | Kannada  |
1965  | Ide Mahasudina | Kannada  |
1965  | Maduve Madi Nodu | Kannada  | National Award, With Rajkumar
1965  | Naga Pooja | Kannada  |
1965  | Vathsalya | Kannada  |
1965  | Veera Vikrama | Kannada  | With Udaya Kumar
1966  | Mohini Bhasmasura | Kannada  |
1966  | Premamayi | Kannada  |
1966  | Paduka Pattabhishekhamu |  |
1966  | Thoogu Deepa | Kannada  | With Rajkumar
1967  | Gange Gowri | Kannada  |
1968  | Anna Thamma | Kannada  |
1968  | Attegondukala Sosegondukala | Kannada  |
1968  | Bhagya Devathe | Kannada  | With Rajkumar
1968  | Mamathe | Kannada  |
1969  | Kalpa Vruksha | Kannada  |
1969  | Brindavana | Kannada  |
1969  | Gejje Pooje | Kannada  | State Award
1970  | Aaru Mooru Ombhatthu | Kannada  |
1970  | Boregowda Bangalorige Banda | Kannada  |
1970  | Aparajithe | Kannada  |
1970  | Sukha Samsara | Kannada  |
1971  | Signalman Siddappa | Kannada  |
1972  | Sipayi Ramu | Kannada  | State Award With Rajkumar
1971  | Sothu Geddavalu | Kannada  |
1971  | Sharapanjara | Kannada  |
1972  | Dharmapatni | Kannada  |
1972  | Naagarahaavu | Kannada  | With Vishnuvardhan
1972  | Naa Mechida Huduga | Kannada  | With Kalpana
1973  | Mooroovare Vajragalu | Kannada  |
1973  | Premapasha | Kannada  |
1973  | Sahadharmini | Kannada  |
1974  | Bhakta Kumbara | Kannada  | Co-actor: Rajkumar
1974  | Devara Gudi | Kannada  |
1974  | Aval Oru Thodar Kathai | Tamil | With Kamal Haasan
1974  | Idu Namma Desha | Kannada  |
1974  | Maga Mommaga | Kannada  |
1974  | Maha Thyaga | Kannada  |
1974  | Naan Avanillai | Tamil | With Gemini Ganesan
1974  | Professor Huchuraya | Kannada  |
1974  | Upasane | Kannada  | With Aarathi
1975  | Bhagya Jyothi | Kannada  |
1975  | Bili Hendthi | Kannada  |
1975  | Hennu Samsarada Kannu | Kannada  |
1975  | Hosilu Mettida Hennu | Kannada  |
1975  | Koodi Balona | Kannada  |
1975  | Katha Sangama | Kannada  | With Rajinikanth
1975  | Kalla Kulla | Kannada  |
1976  | Bangarada Gudi | Kannada  |
1976  | College Ranga | Kannada  |
1976  | Makkala Bhagya | Kannada  |
1976  | Naa Ninna Mareyalare | Kannada  |
1976  | Phalitamsha | Kannada  |
1977  | Deepa | Kannada  |
1977  | Avargal | Tamil | With Rajinikanth
1977  | Dhanalakshmi | Kannada  |
1977  | Kumkuma Rakshe | Kannada  |
1977  | Mugdha Manava | Kannada  |
1977  | Solah Shukrawar |  |
1977  | Veera Sindhoora Lakshmana | Kannada  |
1978  | Devadasi | Kannada  |
1978  | Kiladi Jodi | Kannada  |
1978  | Gammathu Goodacharulu |
1978  | Hombisilu | Kannada
1978  | Kiladi Kittu | Kannada  |
1978  | Maathu Tappada Maga | Kannada  |
1978  | Vasantha Lakshmi | Kannada  |
1979  | Karthika Deepam | Telugu  |
1979  | Idi Katha Kaadu | Telugu |
1979  | Na Ninna Bidalare | Kannada  |
1979  | Pakka Kalla | Kannada  |
1979  | Savathiya Neralu | Kannada  |
1979  | Vijay Vikram | Kannada  |
1980  | Bhumi Par Aaye Bhagwan |  |
1980  | Jathara |  |
1980  | Kulla Kulli | Kannada  |
1980  | Nanna Rosha Nooru Varusha | Kannada  |
1980  | Namma Mane Sose | Kannada  |
1980  | Nyaya Neethi Dharma | Kannada  |
1980  | Simha Jodi | Kannada  |
1980  | Subbi Subakka Suvvalali | Kannada  |
1980  | Vasantha Geethe | Kannada  | With Rajkumar
1981  | Hana Balavo Jana Balavo | Kannada  |
1981  | Edeyuru Siddhalingeshwara | Kannada  |
1981  | Kula Puthra | Kannada  |
1981  | Garjanai | Tamil  |
1981  | Garjane | Kannada  |
1981  | Thayiya Madilalli | Kannada  |
1981  | Mareyada Haadu | Kannada  |
1982  | Auto Raja | Kannada  | with Shankar Nag
1982  | Maro Malupu | Telugu |
1983  | Eradu Nakshatragalu | Kannada  |
1983  | Mududida Tavare Aralithu | Kannada  |
1983  | Sididedda Sahodara | Kannada  |
1983  | Samarpane | Kannada  |
1984  | Endina Ramayana | Kannada  |
1984  | Chanakya | Kannada  |
1984  | Olavu Moodidaga | Kannada  |
1984  | Shravana Banthu | Kannada  | With Rajkumar
1985  | Ajeya | Kannada  |
1985  | Hosa Baalu | Kannada  |
1985  | Balondu Uyyale | Kannada  |
1985  | Naanu Nanna Hendthi | Kannada  |
1986  | Bettada Thayi | Kannada  |
1986  | Kathanayaka | Kannada  |
1986  | KD No. 1 | Kannada  |
1986  | Mrigalaya | Kannada  |
1986  | Pudhir | Tamil Film  |
1986  | Seelu Nakshatra | Kannada  |
1987  | Huli Hebbuli | Kannada  |
1987  | Olavina Udugore | Kannada  |
1987  | Premaloka | Kannada  |
1988  | Ramanna Shamanna | Kannada  |
1989  | Abhimana | Kannada  |
1989  | Doctor Krishna | Kannada  | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
1989  | Yuga Purusha | Kannada  |
1989  | Gagana | Kannada  |
1990  | Golmaal Radhakrishna | Kannada  | With Anant Nag
1990  | Tiger Gangu | Kannada  |
1991  | Golmaal Radhakrishna II | Kannada  |
1999  | Habba | Kannada  |
2000  | Chamundi | Kannada  |
2003  | Swathi Muthu | Kannada  | Sudeep
2006  | Kannadada Kanda | Kannada  |
2007  | Shukra | Kannada  |
2009  | Yaaradhu | Kannada  | With son Vinod Raj

First Film in Kannada: Mangalya Yoga
First Film in Tamil: Pattinathaar
First Film in Telugu: Marmayogi
First Film in Malayalam: Pamasiraja
First Film in Tulu: Saviradoorthi Savitri[citation needed]

### As producer[edit]

Year  | Film

|

1990  | College Hero
2006  | Kannadada Kanda
2007  | Shukra
2009  | Yaaradhu

## References[edit]

1. ^ IndiaGlitz – Leelavathi builds hospital – Kannada Movie News
2. ^ "ಲೀಲಾವತಿಯವರ ನಿಜವಾದ ಗಂಡ ಯಾರ್ ಗೊತ್ತಾ..? ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಸತ್ಯ ಬಾಯ್ಬಿಟ್ಟ ನಟಿ..!! | Civic News".
3. ^ "Veteran Kannada actress Leelavathi passes away". Deccan Herald. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
4. ^ "Leelavathi Passes Away: ನಟಿ ಲೀಲಾವತಿ ನಿಧನ: 600ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿನಯಿಸಿದ್ದ ಕಲಾವಿದೆ ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲ". TV9 Kannada. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
5. ^ The Hindu. 17 December 2007.
6. ^ Indiaglitz.com>
7. ^ "Leelavathi conferred with doctorate". The New Indian Express. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2013.

## External links[edit]

* Leelavathi at IMDb