# List of Kannada films of 1981

The following is a list of films produced in the Kannada film industry in India in 1981, presented in alphabetical order.
| Title | Director | Cast | Music |
| Aalemane | Mohan Kumar | Suresh Heblikar, Seetharam, Roopa Chakravarthi | Ashwath-Vaidi |
| Antha | Rajendra Singh Babu | Ambareesh, Lakshmi, Leelavathi, Vajramuni | G. K. Venkatesh |
| Anupama | Renuka Sharma | Ananth Nag, Madhavi, M. S. Umesh | Ashwath-Vaidi |
| Avala Hejje | H. R. Bhargava | Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Lakshmi, Dwarakish | Rajan–Nagendra |
| Avali Javali | A. V. Seshagiri Rao | Srinath, Lokesh, Manjula, Lokanath | Satyam |
| Baalu Bangara | Geethapriya | Ashok, Srinivasa Murthy, Srilalitha, Maanu | Vijaya Bhaskar |
| Bangarada Mane | Basavaraj Kesthur | Srinath, Ashok, Roja Ramani | Vijaya Bhaskar |
| Bhagyada Belaku | K. V. S. Kutumba Rao | Aarathi, Maanu, Jayamala, Dheerendra Gopal | Jayaprakash |
| Bhagyavantha | B. S. Ranga | Master Lohith, Aarathi, Jai Jagadish, Leelavathi, K. S. Ashwath | T. G. Lingappa |
| Bhaari Bharjari Bete | Rajendra Singh Babu | Ambareesh, Shankar Nag, Jayamala, Prabhakar | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha | K. S. L. Swamy | Lokesh, Jai Jagadish, Lakshmi, Vajramuni, Roja Ramani | G. K. Venkatesh |
| Chadurida Chitragalu | N. T. Jayarama Reddy | Rajesh, Aarathi, Balakrishna | Rajan–Nagendra |
| Devara Aata | V. Somashekhar | Shankar Nag, Sulakshana, M. P. Shankar, Leelavathi | Satyam |
| Ediyooru Siddalingeshwara | Hunsur Krishnamurthy | Lokesh, Aarathi, K. S. Ashwath, Jai Jagadish | T. G. Lingappa |
| Etu Ediretu | Mani Murugan | Srinath, Lakshmi, K. S. Ashwath | Satyam |
| Gaali Maathu | Dorai-Bhagavan | Lakshmi, Kokila Mohan, Jai Jagadish, Hema Chowdhary, K. S. Ashwath | Rajan–Nagendra |
| Ganeshana Mahime | Mani Murugan | Ashok, Aarathi, Sundar Krishna Urs, Musuri Krishnamurthy | M. S. Viswanathan |
| Garjane | C. V. Rajendran | Rajinikanth, Madhavi, Geetha, Jai Jagadish, Dwarakish | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Geetha | Shankar Nag | Shankar Nag, Akshata Rao, Ramesh Bhat, K. S. Ashwath | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Grahana | T. S. Nagabharana | Anand Paricharan, Malathi Rao, Mallika Isaak, G. K. Govinda Rao | Vijaya Bhaskar |
| Guru Shishyaru | H. R. Bhargava | Vishnuvardhan, Manjula, Jayamalini, Dwarakish, Balakrishna, Dinesh, M. S. Umesh, Shivaram | K. V. Mahadevan |
| Havina Hede | V. Somashekhar | Rajkumar, Sulakshana, Dinesh | G. K. Venkatesh |
| Hennina Sedu | Sameeulla | Kokila Mohan, Geetha, Srinath | Ramesh Naidu |
| Jeevakke Jeeva | K. S. R. Das | Shankar Nag, Ananth Nag, Saritha, Dwarakish | Rajan–Nagendra |
| Keralida Simha | Chi. Dattaraj | Rajkumar, Saritha, Srinivasa Murthy | Satyam |
| Koodi Baalidare Swargasukha | Siddalingaiah | Srinivasa Murthy, Rajyalakshmi, Loknath | Rajan–Nagendra |
| Kula Puthra | T. R. Ramanna | Shankar Nag, Gayathri, Dwarakish, Udaykumar | Satyam |
| Leader Vishwanath | Mani Murugan | Ambareesh, Jayanthi, K. S. Ashwath, Leelavathi | Vijaya Bhaskar |
| Maha Prachandaru | Joe Simon | Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Kumari Vinaya, Halam, Tiger Prabhakar | Upendra Kumar |
| Mane Mane Kathe | Rajachand | Vishnuvardhan, Dwarakish, Jayachitra, Lokesh, Deepa | Satyam |
| Mareyada Haadu | R. N. Jayagopal | Ananth Nag, Manjula, Leelavathi | G. K. Venkatesh |
| Muniyana Madari | Dorai-Bhagavan | Shankar Nag, Jayamala, Kokila Mohan | Rajan–Nagendra |
| Naga Kala Bhairava | Tiptur Raghu | Vishnuvardhan, Jayanthi, Jayamala, Dheerendra Gopal | M. Ranga Rao |
| Nee Nanna Gellalare | Vijay | Rajkumar, Manjula, Balakrishna, K. S. Ashwath | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Prachanda Putanigalu | Geethapriya | Ramakrishna Hegde, Bhanuprakash, Baby Indira, Dwarakish, Srilalitha | Upendra Kumar |
| Preethisi Nodu | Geethapriya | Vishnuvardhan, Aarathi, Srinivasa Murthy | Vijaya Bhaskar |
| Premanubhandha | R. Ramamurthy | Srinath, Manjula, Manorama, K. Vijaya | Rajan–Nagendra |
| Ranganayaki | Puttanna Kanagal | Ambareesh, Aarathi, Ramakrishna, Ashok | M. Ranga Rao |
| Sangeetha | Chandrashekhara Kambara | Lokesh, Jayamala, Maanu, Pramila Joshai | Chandrashekhara Kambara |
| Shikari | C. R. Simha | Srinath, Manjula, Leelavathi, Vajramuni | Ilayaraja |
| Simhada Mari Sainya | Rajendra Singh Babu | Arjun Sarja, Baby Rekha, Bhanuprakash, Jayanthi | Satyam |
| Snehitara Savaal | K. S. R. Das | Ambareesh, Vishnuvardhan, Manjula, K. S. Ashwath, Tiger Prabhakar | Satyam |
| Sri Raghavendra Vaibhava | Babu Krishnamurthy | Srinath, Chandrakala, Ramanamurthy | Chittibabu |
| Swapna | Dasari Narayana Rao | Swapna | Satyam |
| Thayiya Madilalli | B. Subba Rao | Ashok, Aarathi, Balakrishna, Leelavathi | Satyam |