Leelavathi

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. 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. 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).