Leelavathi (actress)
Leelavathi (born Leela Kiran) is an Indian actress who worked in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films. She has acted in more than 600 films (more than 400 in Kannada alone) throughout her career for more than 50 years. She is known for her memorable performances in Bhakta Kumbara , Mana Mecchida Madadi and Santha Thukaram. She has been the recipient of the Dr. Rajkumar Award in 1999 and Filmfare Awards.
M Leelavathi | |
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![]() Leelavathi at Kalamandira, Mysore | |
Born | Leela Kiran Mangalore, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Karnataka, India) Beltangadi, Dakshina Kannada District |
Occupation(s) | Actress, film producer, writer, philanthropist[1] |
Early life
She was born at Beltangadi, Dakshina Kannada district. She lost her parents at the age of 6.
Film career
She got 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.
She has 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) and mother in law (in Vasantha Geetha, Naa Ninna Mareyalare and Jwaalamukhi).
Awards and recognitions
- Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 from Karnataka Government.[3]
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada for Kannadada Kanda in 2006
- Leelavathi was conferred with the honorary doctorate from the Tumkur University in the year 2008 for her contribution to the southern cinema.[4][5]
Partial filmography
As actress
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 | 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
As producer
Year | Film |
---|---|
1990 | College Hero |
2006 | Kannadada Kanda |
2007 | Shukra |
2009 | Yaaradhu |
References
- IndiaGlitz – Leelavathi builds hospital – Kannada Movie News
- "ಲೀಲಾವತಿಯವರ ನಿಜವಾದ ಗಂಡ ಯಾರ್ ಗೊತ್ತಾ..? ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಸತ್ಯ ಬಾಯ್ಬಿಟ್ಟ ನಟಿ..!! | Civic News".
- The Hindu. 17 December 2007.
- Indiaglitz.com>
- "Leelavathi conferred with doctorate". The New Indian Express. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
External links
- Leelavathi at IMDb