Leena Sequeira[1] (1937 – 8 December 2023), known mononymously as Leelavathi, was an Indian actress, producer and philanthropist 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 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
Leelavathi at Kalamandira, Mysore
Born
Leena Sequeira

1937
Died (aged 86)
Occupation(s)Actress, film producer, writer, philanthropist
ChildrenVinod Raj

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

edit

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.[1] She lost her parents at the age of 6.[2] 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

edit

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.[3] 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 [4] 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).[5]

Death

edit

Leelavathi died at a private hospital in Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru, on 8 December 2023, at the age of 86.[6][7]

Awards and recognitions

edit

Partial filmography

edit

As actress

edit
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 Kannada Veeravva
1962 Gaali Gopura Kannada
1962 Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu Kannada
1962 Bhoodaana Kannada With Udaya Kumar, Rajkumar, Kalyan Kumar
1962 Mana Mecchida Madadi Kannada
1962 Nanda Deepa Kannada Udaykumar, Rajkumar
1962 Pattinathaar Tamil Film First Tamil Film
1962 Rani Chanamma Kannada
1962 Rathna Manjari Kannada
1962 Sumaithaangi Tamil
1962 Valar Pirai Tamil With Sivaji Ganesan
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, With Rajkumar
1963 Valmiki Telugu With N. T. Rama Rao
1963 Valmiki Kannada
1963 Veera Kesari Kannada With Rajkumar
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, With Rajkumar
1965 Naga Pooja Kannada
1965 Vathsalya Kannada
1965 Veera Vikrama Kannada With Udaya Kumar
1966 Mohini Bhasmasura Kannada
1966 Premamayi Kannada
1966 Paduka Pattabhishekam[10] Telugu Kaikeyi
1966 Thoogu Deepa Kannada With Rajkumar
1967 Gange Gowri Kannada
1968 Anna Thamma Kannada
1968 Attegondukala Sosegondukala Kannada
1968 Bhagya Devathe Kannada With Rajkumar
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
1972 Sipayi Ramu Kannada State Award With Rajkumar
1971 Sothu Geddavalu Kannada
1971 Sharapanjara Kannada
1972 Dharmapatni Kannada
1972 Naagarahaavu Kannada With Vishnuvardhan
1972 Naa Mechida Huduga Kannada With Kalpana
1973 Mooroovare Vajragalu Kannada
1973 Premapasha Kannada
1973 Sahadharmini Kannada
1974 Bhakta Kumbara Kannada Co-actor: Rajkumar
1974 Devara Gudi Kannada
1974 Aval Oru Thodar Kathai Tamil With Kamal Haasan
1974 Idu Namma Desha Kannada
1974 Maga Mommaga Kannada
1974 Maha Thyaga Kannada
1974 Naan Avanillai Tamil With Gemini Ganesan
1974 Professor Huchuraya Kannada
1974 Upasane Kannada With Aarathi
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 With Rajinikanth
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 With Rajinikanth
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 With Rajkumar
1981 Hana Balavo Jana Balavo Kannada
1981 Edeyuru Siddhalingeshwara Kannada
1981 Kula Puthra Kannada
1981 Garjanai Tamil
1981 Garjane Kannada
1981 Thayiya Madilalli Kannada
1981 Mareyada Haadu Kannada
1982 Auto Raja Kannada with Shankar Nag
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 With Rajkumar
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 Kannada Kamala, Vijay and Ajay's mother
1987 Olavina Udugore Kannada
1987 Premaloka Kannada with V. Ravichandran
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 With Anant Nag
1990 Tiger Gangu Kannada
1991 Golmaal Radhakrishna II Kannada
1999 Habba Kannada
2000 Chamundi Kannada
2003 Swathi Muthu Kannada with Sudeep
2006 Kannadada Kanda Kannada
2007 Shukra Kannada
2009 Yaaradhu Kannada With son Vinod Raj
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[citation needed]

As producer

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

References

edit
  1. ^ a b https://www.udayavani.com/english-news/leena-sequeira-to-leelavati-a-tale-of-talent-and-tenacity [bare URL]
  2. ^ "Veteran actor Leelavathi no more". The Times of India. 10 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  3. ^ "ಲೀಲಾವತಿಯವರ ನಿಜವಾದ ಗಂಡ ಯಾರ್ ಗೊತ್ತಾ..? ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಸತ್ಯ ಬಾಯ್ಬಿಟ್ಟ ನಟಿ..!! | Civic News".
  4. ^ "Southscope July 2010 - Side A".
  5. ^ "Actor Leelavathi passes away at 86 in Bengaluru hosp". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Veteran Kannada actress Leelavathi passes away". Deccan Herald. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Leelavathi Passes Away: ನಟಿ ಲೀಲಾವತಿ ನಿಧನ: 600ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿನಯಿಸಿದ್ದ ಕಲಾವಿದೆ ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲ". TV9 Kannada. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  8. ^ The Hindu. 17 December 2007.
  9. ^ "Leelavathi conferred with doctorate". The New Indian Express. 10 January 2009. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Paduka Pattabhishekam (1966) Telugu Movie: Watch Full HD Movie Online On JioCinema". www.jiocinema.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
edit