Leelavathi (actress)

Leelavathi (born Leela Kiran in 1937) is an Indian actress who worked in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films.She has acted with actors such as Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, M. G. Ramachandran, N. T. Rama Rao, Sivaji Ganeshan, Gemini Ganesan, Shankar Nag, Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, V Ravichandran, Sudeep and various popular artists. She has acted in more than 600 films (more than 400 in Kannada alone) throughout her career for more than 50 years. Her performance in Naagarahaavu, Avargal are remembered and prominent among the people.

Leelavathi
Leelavathi at Kalamandira, Mysore
Born
Leela Kiran

1937 (1937)
Mangalore, Madras Presidency, British India
(now in Karnataka, India)
OccupationActress, film producer, writer, philanthropist[1]
Years active1958–present
ChildrenVinod Raj
WebsitePersonal website

Leelavathi has won various awards throughout her career, including the Rajkumar Award in 1999, State awards and Filmfare Awards.

Apart from playing the role of heroine to Rajkumar, she has the rare distinction of having played his daughter (in Bhoodana), sister (in Vathsalya), sister in law (in Premamayi), paternal aunt (in Shravana Banthu) and mother in law (in Jwaalamukhi).

Film career

After moving to Mysore, she got a small role in Chanchala Kumari and then in Shanker Singh's film Naga Kannika. She joined the Mahalinga Bhagavathar team Sri Sahitya Samrajya Drama troupe. She got a chance to act in Subbainaidu's 1958 movie Bhakta Prahlada. In Mangalya Yoga, Dharma Vijaya and Ranadheera Kanteerava , she got paltry roles. It was from Rani Honnamma that Leelavathi became a full fledged heroine and never turned back. In Santha Thukaram, Kantheredu Nodu, Kaivara Mahatme, Gaali Gopura, Kanyarathna, Kulavadhu, Veera Kesari, Mana Mecchida Madadi , she proved her mettle as a competitive heroine. Even when she started accepting the supporting actress, she took care to see that her acting was powerful enough with films like Gejje Pooje and Doctor Krishna for which she received the Karnataka State Award.

Partial filmography

As actress

Year Film Language Notes
1958 Bhakta Prahlada Kannada
1958 Mangalya Yoga First Film
1958 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
1963 Santha Thukaram National Award, With Rajkumar
1963 Valmiki Telugu Film With N. T. Rama Rao
1963 Valmiki
1963 Veera Kesari With Rajkumar
1964 Marmayogi Telugu First Telugu Film
1964 Shivarathri Mahathme
1964 Thumbida Koda State Award
1965 Chandrahasa Kannada
1965 Ide Mahasudina Kannada
1965 Maduve Madi Nodu National Award, With Rajkumar
1965 Naga Pooja
1965 Vathsalya
1965 Veera Vikrama With Udaya Kumar
1966 Mohini Bhasmasura Kannada
1966 Premamayi
1966 Paduka Pattabhishekhamu
1966 Thoogu Deepa With Rajkumar
1967 Gange Gowri Kannada
1968 Anna Thamma Kannada
1968 Attegondukala Sosegondukala Kannada
1968 Bhagya Devathe Kannada With Rajkumar
1968 Mamathe
1969 Kalpa Vruksha Kannada
1969 Brindavana Kannada
1969 Gejje Pooje Kannada State Award
1970 Aaru Mooru Ombhatthu Kannada
1970 Boregowda Bangaloruge Banda Kannada With Rajesh
1970 Aparajithe Kannada
1970 Sukha Samsara
1971 Signalman Siddappa
1971 Sipayi Ramu State Award With Rajkumar
1971 Sothu Geddavalu
1971 Sharapanjara
1972 Dharmapatni Kannada
1972 Naagarahaavu With Vishnuvardhan
1972 Naa Mechida Huduga Kannada With Kalpana
1973 Mooroovare Vajragalu
1973 Premapasha
1973 Sahadharmini
1974 Bhakta Kumbara Kannada Co-actor: Rajkumar
1974 Devara Gudi Kannada
1974 Aval Oru Thodar Kathai Tamil With Kamal Hassan
1974 Idu Namma Desha Kannada
1974 Maga Mommaga
1974 Maha Thyaga
1974 Naan Avanillai Tamil With Gemini Ganesan
1974 Professor Huchuraya
1974 Upasane 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
1976 Naa Ninna Mareyalare
1976 Phalitamsha
1977 Deepa Kannada
1977 Avargal Tamil With Rajinikanth
1977 Dhanalakshmi Kannada
1977 Kumkuma Rakshe
1977 Mugdha Manava
1977 Solah Shukrawar
1977 Veera Sindhoora Lakshmana
1978 Devadasi Kannada
1978 Kiladi Jodi Kannada
1978 Gammathu Goodacharulu
1978 Kiladi Kittu Kannada
1978 Maathu Tappada Maga
1978 Vasantha Lakshmi
1979 Karthika Deepam Telugu
1979 Idi Katha Kaadu Telugu
1979 Na Ninna Bidalare
1979 Pakka Kalla
1979 Savathiya Neralu
1979 Vijay Vikram
1980 Bhumi Par Aaye Bhagwan
1980 Jathara
1980 Kulla Kulli Kannada
1980 Nanna Rosha Nooru Varusha
1980 Namma Mane Sose
1980 Nyaya Neethi Dharma
1980 Simha Jodi
1980 Subbi Subakka Suvvalali
1980 Vasantha Geethe Kannada With Rajkumar
1981 Hana Balavo Jana Balavo Kannada
1981 Edeyuru Siddhalingeshwara Kannada
1981 Kula Puthra
1981 Thayiya Madilalli
1981 Mareyada Haadu
1982 Auto Raja Kannada Shankar Nag
1982 Maro Malupu Telugu
1983 Eradu Nakshatragalu Kannada
1983 Mududida Tavare Aralithu
1983 Sididedda Sahodara
1983 Samarpane
1984 Endina Ramayana Kannada
1984 Chanakya Kannada
1984 Olavu Moodidaga
1984 Shravana Banthu Kannada With Rajkumar
1985 Ajeya Kannada
1985 Hosa Baalu Kannada
1985 Balondu Uyyale Kannada
1985 Naanu Nanna Hendthi
1986 Bettada Thayi Kannada
1986 Kathanayaka Kannada
1986 KD No. 1
1986 Mrigalaya
1986 Pudhir Tamil Film
1986 Seelu Nakshatra
1987 Huli Hebbuli Kannada
1987 Olavina Udugore
1987 Premaloka
1988 Ramanna Shamanna
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
1991 Golmaal Radhakrishna II Kannada
1999 Habba Kannada
2000 Chamundi Kannada
2003 Swathi Muthu Kannada Sudeep
2006 Kannadada Kanda Kannada
2007 Shukra
2009 Yaaradhu 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[2]

As producer

Year Film
1990 College Hero
2006 Kannadada Kanda
2007 Shukra
2009 Yaaradhu

Awards and recognitions

  • Honorary Doctorate: Leelavathi was conferred with the honorary doctorate from the Tumkur University in the year 2008 for her contribution to the southern cinema.[3][4]
  • Her movies which won Rashtrapati Award:
  1. Maduve Maadi Nodu
  2. Santha Thukaram
  • Karnataka State Film Awards:
  1. 1969-70 - Gejje Pooje
  2. 1971-72 - Sipayi Ramu
  3. 1989-90 - Doctor Krishna
  • Lifetime Achievement Award:
  1. 1999-2000 - Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award from Karnataka Government.[5]
  • Filmfare Awards South
  1. Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada for Kannadada Kanda in 2006

Health

She was hospitalised on 15 October 2011, and had sustained heart problem. An operation was carried on, and she recovered from it. Her reports of hospitalization was concealed by her son Vinod Raj, but later it came into light by TV9 News report telecasted on 25 October.[6]

References

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