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). Awards and recognitions Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 from 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 As actress 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 As producer References External links Actresses in Kannada cinema Kannada actresses Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Actresses in Tamil cinema Actresses in Telugu cinema Filmfare Awards South winners Indian film actresses 20th-century Indian actresses 21st-century Indian actresses Actresses from Mangalore Kannada film producers Indian women film producers Film producers from Karnataka Businesspeople from Mangalore 21st-century Indian businesswomen 21st-century Indian businesspeople Businesswomen from Karnataka