Leelavathi

Leena Sequeira She lost her parents at the age of 6. Leena and her sister Angelina Sequeira were raised under the care of their elder cousin. Both the sisters had a passion for dancing, and they both earned their living by training people in dance.

Film career Leelavathi had 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 and went on to act in many films as the leading female, like Santha Thukaram, Kantheredu Nodu, Kaivara Mahatme, Gaali Gopura, Kanyarathna, Kulavadhu, Veera Kesari and Mana Mecchida Madadi. She has also starred in key supporting roles in a large number of films and received the Karnataka State Award for Gejje Pooje and Doctor Krishna.

Leelavathi had the rare distinction of working with Rajkumar in various films as heroine as well as in other roles like daughter (Bhoodana), daughter-in-law (Kittur Chennamma), sister (Vathsalya), sister-in-law (elder brother's wife in Premamayi and younger brother's wife in Kalitharu Henne), paternal aunt (Shravana Banthu), and mother-in-law (Vasantha Geetha, Naa Ninna Mareyalare and Jwaalamukhi).

Death Leelavathi died at a private hospital in Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru, on 8 December 2023, at the age of 86.

Awards and recognitions Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 from the Karnataka Government. 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.

Partial filmography

Kannada films

Other language films

YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes 1959 Raja Malaya SimhaTelugu/Tamil 1962 Pattinathaar Tamil 1962 Sumaithaangi Tamil 1962 Valar Pirai Tamil 1963 Valmiki Telugu 1963 BandipotuTelugu 1964 Marmayogi Telugu 1965 Karthigai Deepam Tamil 1966 Paduka Pattabhishekam KaikeyiTelugu 1974 Aval Oru Thodar KathaiParvathi Tamil 1974 Naan AvanillaiChandrabai Tamil 1977 AvargalLeelavathi Tamil 1977 Solah ShukrawarHindi 1978 Gammathu GoodacharuluTelugu 1979 Karthika Deepam Telugu 1979 Idi Katha Kaadu Telugu 1980 Bhumi Par Aaye BhagwanHindi 1980 JatharaTelugu 1982 Maro Malupu Telugu 1986 PudhirVijay's mother Tamil

As producer YearFilm 1990 College Hero 2006 Kannadada Kanda 2007Shukra 2009 Yaaradhu