Leelavathi (actress)
| Leelavathi | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Leela Kiran 1937 Mangalore, Madras Presidency (now in Karnataka), British India |
| Occupation | Actress, film producer, writer, philanthropist[1] |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Spouse(s) | Rajkumar |
| Children | Vinod Raj |
| Website | Personal website |
Leelavathi (born Leela Kiran in 1937)[2] 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 (more than 400 in Kannada alone) 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 film Naga Kannika. She joined the Mahalinga Bhagavathar team Sri Sahitya Samrajya Drama troupe. She got a chance to act in Subbainaidu ‘Bhakta Prahallada. Mangalya Yoga, Dharma Vijaya and Ranadheera Kanteerava she got paltry roles. It was from Rani Honnamma, Leelavathi became the heroine and never turned back. Santha Thukaram, Kantheradhu Nodu, Kaivara Mahatme, Gaali Gopura, Kanyarathna, Kulavadhu, Veera Kesari, Mana Mechchida Madadhi. She proved her mettle as a competitive heroine. Even when started accepting the supporting actress the power of acting was more graduated with films like Gejje Pooje, Sipayi Ramu and Doctor Krishna for which she received the state award.
Partial filmography
As actress
| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Bhakta Prahlada | Kannada | |
| 1958 | Mangalya Yoga | First Film | |
| 1958 | Raja Malaya Simhan | ||
| 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 | Sumaithangi | Tamil | |
| 1962 | Valar Pirai | Tamil Film | With Sivaji Ganesan |
| 1962 | Vidhi Vilasa | ||
| 1963 | Kulavadhu | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Kanya Ratna | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Kalitharu Henne | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Bevu Bella | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Jeevana Taranga | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Malli Madhuve | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Mana Mechhida Madadi | ||
| 1963 | Santa Tukaram | National Award, With Rajkumar | |
| 1963 | Valmiki | Telugu Film | With N. T. Rama Rao |
| 1963 | Veera Kesari | With Rajkumar | |
| 1964 | Marmayogi | Telugu | First Telugu Film |
| 1964 | Shivarathri Mahatme | ||
| 1964 | Thumbida Koda | State Award | |
| 1965 | Chandrahasa | Kannada | |
| 1965 | Ide Mahasudina | Kannada | |
| 1965 | Maduve Maadi Nodu | National Award, With Rajkumar | |
| 1965 | Naga Pooja | ||
| 1965 | Vatsalya | ||
| 1965 | Veera Vikrama | With Udaya Kumar | |
| 1966 | Mohini Bhasmasura | Kannada | |
| 1966 | Prema Mayi | ||
| 1966 | Paduka Pattabhishekhamu | ||
| 1966 | Thoogu Deepa | ||
| 1967 | Gange Gowri | Kannada | |
| 1968 | Anna Thamma | Kannada | |
| 1968 | Attegondukala Sosegondukala | Kannada | |
| 1968 | Bhagya Devathe | Kannada | |
| 1968 | Mammathe | ||
| 1969 | Kalpa Vruksha | Kannada | |
| 1969 | Brindavana | Kannada | |
| 1969 | Gejje Pooje | Kannada | State Award |
| 1970 | Aaru Mooru Ombattu | Kannada | |
| 1970 | Boregowda Bangaloruge Banda | Kannada | With Rajesh |
| 1970 | Aparajithe | Kannada | |
| 1970 | Sukha Samsara | ||
| 1971 | Signalman Siddappa | ||
| 1971 | Sipayi Ramu | State Award | |
| 1971 | Sothu Geddavalu | ||
| 1971 | Sharapanjara | ||
| 1972 | Dharmapatni | Kannada | |
| 1972 | Naagarahavu | 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 | Phalithamsha | ||
| 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 Thappadha Maga | ||
| 1978 | Matu Tappada Maga | ||
| 1978 | Vasanthalakshmi | ||
| 1979 | Karthika Deepam | ||
| 1979 | Idi Kathakadu | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Na Ninna Bidalare | ||
| 1979 | Pakka Kalla | ||
| 1979 | Savathiya Neralu | ||
| 1979 | Vijaya Vikram | ||
| 1980 | Bhumi Par Aaye Bhagwan | ||
| 1980 | Jathara | ||
| 1980 | Kulla Kulli | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Nanna Rosha Nooru Varusha | ||
| 1980 | Namma Mane Sose | ||
| 1980 | Nyaya Nithi Dharma | ||
| 1980 | Simha Jodi | ||
| 1980 | Subbi Subakka Suvvalali | ||
| 1980 | Vasantha Geethe | ||
| 1981 | Hana Balavo Jana Balavo | Kannada | |
| 1981 | Edeyuru Siddhalingeshwara | Kannada | |
| 1981 | Kulaputra | ||
| 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 | ||
| 1985 | Ajeya | Kannada | |
| 1985 | Hosa Baalu | Kannada | |
| 1985 | Balondu Uyyale | Kannada | |
| 1985 | Naanu Nanna Hendthi | ||
| 1986 | Bettada Thayi | Kannada | |
| 1986 | Katha Nayaka | 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 | |
| Unknown | Pamasiraja | Malayalam Film | First Malayalam Film |
| Unknown | Saviradoorthi Savitri | Tulu Film | First Tulu Film |
- 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[3]
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 great achievements and contribution to the southern cinema for five long decades.[4][5]
- 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
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
- ↑ IndiaGlitz - Leelavathi builds hospital - Kannada Movie News
- ↑ Leelavathi - IMDb
- ↑ Leelavathi Filmography
- ↑ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/43478.html>
- ↑ News, Express (2009-01-10). "Leelavathi conferred with doctorate". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
- ↑ Veteran Actress Leelavathi Hospitalized