Leelavathi (actress)
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 Bhaktha Kumbara , Mana mechida Madadi and Santa Tukaram. She has been the recipient of the "Dr. Rajkumar Award" in 1999 and Filmfare Awards. Early life. She was born in 1937 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 (in "Premamayi"), paternal aunt (in "Shravana Banthu") and mother in law (in "Jwaalamukhi"). Awards and recognitions. Leelavathi was conferred with the honorary doctorate from the Tumkur University in the year 2008 for her contribution to the southern cinema.