# Leelavathi (actress)

Leena Sequeira (1937 – 8 December 2023), known mononymously as Leelavathi, was an Indian actress, producer who worked predominantly in Kannada and Tamil films, in addition to few Telugu, Malayalam and Tulu films. After having her stint at the theatre, Leelavathi made her film debut in a small role as child artist in Nagakannika (1949). She went on to act in more than 600 films (more than 400 in Kannada alone) throughout her career spanning over five decades.
Leelavathi is known for many memorable performances as a lead actress in films such as Rani Honnamma, Bhakta Kumbara, Valar Pirai, Mana Mecchida Madadi and Santha Thukaram. In early 1970s, she switched towards performing character roles and was notable in films such as Gejje Pooje, Upasane, Naagarahaavu, Vasantha Geetha, Shravana Banthu and Eradu Nakshatragalu. She was the recipient of the Dr. Rajkumar Award in 1999 and Filmfare Awards.

## Early life

Leena Sequeira was born in Mura, a village in Belthangady town of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka which was then a part of Madras Presidency. She lost her parents at the age of 6. Leena and her sister Angelina Sequeira raised under the care of their elder cousin. Both the sisters had 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 lady, like Santha Thukaram, Kantheredu Nodu, Kaivara Mahatme, Gaali Gopura, Kanyarathna, Kulavadhu, Veera Kesari and Mana Mecchida Madadi. She has 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
### As actress

| Year | Film | | Language | Notes |
| 1949 | Nagakannika | | Kannada | |
| 1953 | Chanchala Kumari | | Kannada | |
| 1958 | Bhakta Prahlada | | Kannada | |
| 1958 | Mangalya Yoga | | Kannada | First Film |
| 1959 | Raja Malaya Simha | | Telugu/Tamil | |
| 1959 | Abba Aa Hudugi | | Kannada | |
| 1959 | Dharma Vijaya | | Kannada | |
| 1960 | Dashavtara | | Kannada | |
| 1960 | Ranadheera Kanteerava | | Kannada | |
| 1960 | Rani Honnamma | | Kannada | |
| 1961 | Kaiwara Mahathme | | Kannada | |
| 1961 | Kantheredu Nodu | | Kannada | |
| 1961 | Kittur Chennamma | Veeravva | Kannada | |
| 1962 | Gaali Gopura | | Kannada | |
| 1962 | Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu | | Kannada | |
| 1962 | Bhoodaana | | Kannada | |
| 1962 | Mana Mecchida Madadi | | Kannada | |
| 1962 | Nanda Deepa | | Kannada | |
| 1962 | Pattinathaar | | Tamil | First Tamil Film |
| 1962 | Rani Chanamma | | Kannada | |
| 1962 | Rathna Manjari | | Kannada | |
| 1962 | Sumaithaangi | | Tamil | |
| 1962 | Valar Pirai | | Tamil | |
| 1962 | Vidhi Vilasa | | Kannada | |
| 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 | | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Santha Thukaram | | Kannada | National Award |
| 1963 | Valmiki | | Telugu | |
| 1963 | Valmiki | | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Veera Kesari | | Kannada | |
| 1963 | Bandipotu | | Telugu | |
| 1964 | Marmayogi | | Telugu | |
| 1964 | Shivarathri Mahathme | | Kannada | |
| 1964 | Thumbida Koda | | Kannada | State Award |
| 1965 | Chandrahasa | | Kannada | |
| 1965 | Mahasathi Anasuya | | Kannada | |
| 1965 | Ide Mahasudina | | Kannada | |
| 1965 | Karthigai Deepam | | Tamil | |
| 1965 | Maduve Madi Nodu | | Kannada | National Award |
| 1965 | Naga Pooja | | Kannada | |
| 1965 | Vathsalya | | Kannada | |
| 1965 | Veera Vikrama | | Kannada | With Udaya Kumar |
| 1966 | Mohini Bhasmasura | | Kannada | |
| 1966 | Premamayi | | Kannada | |
| 1966 | Paduka Pattabhishekam | Kaikeyi | Telugu | |
| 1966 | Thoogu Deepa | | Kannada | |
| 1967 | Gange Gowri | | Kannada | |
| 1968 | Anna Thamma | | Kannada | |
| 1968 | Attegondukala Sosegondukala | | Kannada | |
| 1968 | Bhagya Devathe | | Kannada | |
| 1968 | Mamathe | | Kannada | |
| 1969 | Kalpa Vruksha | | Kannada | |
| 1969 | Brindavana | | Kannada | |
| 1969 | Gejje Pooje | | Kannada | State Award |
| 1970 | Aaru Mooru Ombhatthu | | Kannada | |
| 1970 | Boregowda Bangalorige Banda | | Kannada | |
| 1970 | Aparajithe | | Kannada | |
| 1970 | Sukha Samsara | | Kannada | |
| 1971 | Signalman Siddappa | | Kannada | |
| 1971 | Sothu Geddavalu | | Kannada | |
| 1971 | Sharapanjara | | Kannada | |
| 1972 | Dharmapatni | | Kannada | |
| 1972 | Naagarahaavu | | Kannada | |
| 1972 | Sipayi Ramu | | Kannada | State Award |
| 1972 | Naa Mechida Huduga | | Kannada | |
| 1973 | Mooroovare Vajragalu | | Kannada | |
| 1973 | Premapasha | | Kannada | |
| 1973 | Sahadharmini | | Kannada | |
| 1974 | Bhakta Kumbara | | Kannada | |
| 1974 | Devara Gudi | | Kannada | |
| 1974 | Aval Oru Thodar Kathai | | Tamil | |
| 1974 | Idu Namma Desha | | Kannada | |
| 1974 | Maga Mommaga | | Kannada | |
| 1974 | Maha Thyaga | | Kannada | |
| 1974 | Naan Avanillai | | Tamil | |
| 1974 | Professor Huchuraya | | Kannada | |
| 1974 | Upasane | | Kannada | |
| 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 | |
| 1975 | Kalla Kulla | | Kannada | |
| 1976 | Bangarada Gudi | | Kannada | |
| 1976 | College Ranga | | Kannada | |
| 1976 | Makkala Bhagya | | Kannada | |
| 1976 | Naa Ninna Mareyalare | | Kannada | |
| 1976 | Phalitamsha | | Kannada | |
| 1977 | Deepa | | Kannada | |
| 1977 | Avargal | | Tamil | |
| 1977 | Dhanalakshmi | | Kannada | |
| 1977 | Kumkuma Rakshe | | Kannada | |
| 1977 | Mugdha Manava | | Kannada | |
| 1977 | Solah Shukrawar | | Hindi | |
| 1977 | Veera Sindhoora Lakshmana | | Kannada | |
| 1978 | Devadasi | | Kannada | |
| 1978 | Kiladi Jodi | | Kannada | |
| 1978 | Gammathu Goodacharulu | | Telugu |
| 1978 | Hombisilu | | Kannada |
| 1978 | Kiladi Kittu | | Kannada | |
| 1978 | Maathu Tappada Maga | | Kannada | |
| 1978 | Vasantha Lakshmi | | Kannada | |
| 1979 | Karthika Deepam | | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Idi Katha Kaadu | | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Naa Ninna Bidalaare | | Kannada | |
| 1979 | Pakka Kalla | | Kannada | |
| 1979 | Savathiya Neralu | | Kannada | |
| 1979 | Vijay Vikram | | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Bhumi Par Aaye Bhagwan | | Hindi | |
| 1980 | Jathara | | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Kulla Kulli | | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Nanna Rosha Nooru Varusha | | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Namma Mane Sose | | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Nyaya Neethi Dharma | | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Simha Jodi | | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Subbi Subakka Suvvalali | | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu | | Kannada | |
| 1980 | Vasantha Geethe | | Kannada | |
| 1981 | Hana Balavo Jana Balavo | | Kannada | |
| 1981 | Edeyuru Siddhalingeshwara | | Kannada | |
| 1981 | Kula Puthra | | Kannada | |
| 1981 | Garjanai | | Tamil | |
| 1981 | Garjanam | | Malayalam | |
| 1981 | Garjane | | Kannada | |
| 1981 | Thayiya Madilalli | | Kannada | |
| 1981 | Mareyada Haadu | | Kannada | |
| 1982 | Auto Raja | | Kannada | |
| 1982 | Maro Malupu | | Telugu | |
| 1983 | Eradu Nakshatragalu | | Kannada | |
| 1983 | Mududida Tavare Aralithu | | Kannada | |
| 1983 | Sididedda Sahodara | | Kannada | |
| 1983 | Samarpane | | Kannada | |
| 1984 | Endina Ramayana | | Kannada | |
| 1984 | Chanakya | | Kannada | |
| 1984 | Olavu Moodidaga | | Kannada | |
| 1984 | Shravana Banthu | | Kannada | |
| 1985 | Ajeya | | Kannada | |
| 1985 | Hosa Baalu | | Kannada | |
| 1985 | Balondu Uyyale | | Kannada | |
| 1985 | Naanu Nanna Hendthi | | Kannada | |
| 1986 | Bettada Thayi | | Kannada | |
| 1986 | Kathanayaka | | Kannada | |
| 1986 | KD No. 1 | | Kannada | |
| 1986 | Mrigalaya | | Kannada | |
| 1986 | Pudhir | | Tamil Film | |
| 1986 | Seelu Nakshatra | | Kannada | |
| 1987 | Huli Hebbuli | Kamala, Vijay and Ajay's mother | Kannada | |
| 1987 | Olavina Udugore | | Kannada | |
| 1987 | Premaloka | | Kannada | |
| 1988 | Ramanna Shamanna | | Kannada | |
| 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 | |
| 1990 | Tiger Gangu | | Kannada | |
| 1991 | Golmaal Radhakrishna II | | Kannada | |
| 1999 | Habba | | Kannada | |
| 2000 | Chamundi | | Kannada | |
| 2003 | Swathi Muthu | | Kannada | |
| 2006 | Kannadada Kanda | | Kannada | |
| 2007 | Shukra | | Kannada | |
| 2009 | Yaaradhu | | Kannada | |
    First Film in Malayalam: Pamasiraja
    First Film in Tulu: Saviradoorthi Savitri

### As producer

| Year | Film |
| 1990 | College Hero |
| 2006 | Kannadada Kanda |
| 2007 | Shukra |
| 2009 | Yaaradhu |