Leelavathi (actress)
Leelavathi is a Kannada film actress who predominantly worked in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu. She has acted with actors such as 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 throughout her career for more than 50 years. Her performance in Nagarahavu, Avargal are remembered and prominent among the people.
Leelavathi has won various awards throughout her career, including the Rajkumar Award in 1999, State awards and Filmfare Awards.
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 |
As producer
Awards and recognitions
- Honorary Doctorate: Leelavathi was conferred with the honorary doctorate from the Tumkur University in the year 2008 for her great achievements and contribution to the southern cinema for five long decades.
- Her movies which won Rashtrapati Award:
- Maduve Maadi Nodu
- Santha Thukaram
- Karnataka State Film Awards:
- 1969-70 - Gejje Pooje
- 1971-72 - Sipayi Ramu
- 1989-90 - Doctor Krishna
- Filmfare Awards South
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada for Kannadada Kanda in 2006
Health