Leelavathi (actress)

She was born at Beltangadi, Dakshina Kannada district. She lost her parents at the age of 6.

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).

• 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]

• Leelavathi at IMDb