Leena Sequeira (1937 – 8 December 2023), known by her screenname Leelavathi, was an Indian actress and producer who worked predominantly in Kannada and Tamil films, in addition to Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and Tulu films. After starting in 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 throughout her career spanning over five decades.
Leelavathi is known for many performances as a lead actress in films such as Rani Honnamma, Bhakta Kumbara, Valar Pirai, Mana Mecchida Madadi and Santha Thukaram. In the 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 were raised under the care of their elder cousin. Both the sisters had a 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 female, like Santha Thukaram, Kantheredu Nodu, Kaivara Mahatme, Gaali Gopura, Kanyarathna, Kulavadhu, Veera Kesari and Mana Mecchida Madadi. She has also 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.The Hindu. 17 December 2007. 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
Kannada films
YearFilmRoleNotes 1949 Nagakannika 1953 Chanchala Kumari 1958 Bhakta Prahlada 1958 Mangalya Yoga 1959 Abba Aa Hudugi 1959 Dharma Vijaya 1960 Dashavtara 1960 Ranadheera Kanteerava 1960 Rani Honnamma 1961 Kaiwara Mahathme 1961 Kantheredu Nodu 1961 Kittur ChennammaVeeravva 1962 Gaali Gopura 1962 Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu 1962 Bhoodaana 1962 Mana Mecchida Madadi 1962 Nanda Deepa 1962 Rani Chanamma 1962 Rathna Manjari 1962 Vidhi Vilasa 1963 Kulavadhu 1963 Kanyarathna 1963 Kalitharu Henne 1963 Bevu Bella 1963 Jeevana Tharanga 1963 Malli Maduve 1963 Mana Mecchida Madadi 1963 Santha Thukaram National Award 1963 Valmiki 1963 Veera Kesari 1964 Shivarathri Mahathme 1964 Thumbida Koda State Award 1965 Chandrahasa 1965 Mahasathi Anasuya 1965 Ide Mahasudina 1965 Maduve Madi Nodu National Award 1965 Naga Pooja 1965 Vathsalya 1965 Veera Vikrama With Udaya Kumar 1966 Mohini Bhasmasura 1966 Premamayi 1966 Thoogu Deepa 1967 Gange Gowri 1968 Anna Thamma 1968 Attegondukala Sosegondukala 1968 Bhagya Devathe 1968 Mamathe 1969 Kalpa Vruksha 1969 Brindavana 1969 Gejje Pooje State Award 1970 Aaru Mooru Ombhatthu 1970 Boregowda Bangalorige Banda 1970 Aparajithe 1970 Sukha Samsara 1971 Signalman Siddappa 1971 Sothu Geddavalu 1971 Sharapanjara 1972 Dharmapatni 1972 Naagarahaavu 1972 Sipayi Ramu State Award 1972 Naa Mechida Huduga 1973 Mooroovare Vajragalu 1973 Premapasha 1973 Sahadharmini 1974 Bhakta Kumbara 1974 Devara Gudi 1974 Idu Namma Desha 1974 Maga Mommaga 1974 Maha Thyaga 1974 Professor Huchuraya 1974 Upasane 1975 Bhagya Jyothi 1975 Bili Hendthi 1975 Hennu Samsarada Kannu 1975 Hosilu Mettida Hennu 1975 Koodi Balona 1975 Katha SangamaKamala 1975 Kalla Kulla 1976 Bangarada Gudi 1976 College Ranga 1976 Makkala Bhagya 1976 Naa Ninna Mareyalare 1976 Phalitamsha 1977 Deepa 1977 Dhanalakshmi 1977 Kumkuma Rakshe 1977 Mugdha Manava 1977 Veera Sindhoora Lakshmana 1978 Devadasi 1978 Kiladi Jodi1978 Hombisilu 1978 Kiladi Kittu 1978 Maathu Tappada Maga 1978 Vasantha Lakshmi 1979 Naa Ninna Bidalaare 1979 Pakka Kalla 1979 Savathiya Neralu 1979 Vijay Vikram 1980 Kulla Kulli 1980 Nanna Rosha Nooru Varusha 1980 Namma Mane Sose 1980 Nyaya Neethi Dharma 1980 Simha Jodi 1980 Subbi Subakka Suvvalali1980Ondu Hennu Aaru Kannu 1980 Vasantha Geethe 1981 Hana Balavo Jana Balavo 1981 Edeyuru Siddhalingeshwara 1981 Kula Puthra1981Garjane 1981 Thayiya Madilalli 1981 Mareyada Haadu 1982 Auto Raja 1983 Eradu Nakshatragalu 1983 Mududida Tavare Aralithu 1983 Sididedda Sahodara 1983 Samarpane 1984 Endina Ramayana 1984 Chanakya 1984 Olavu Moodidaga 1984 Shravana Banthu 1985 AjeyaAjey's mother 1985 Hosa Baalu 1985 Balondu Uyyale 1985 Naanu Nanna Hendthi 1986 Bettada Thayi 1986 Kathanayaka 1986 KD No. 1 1986 Mrigalaya 1986 Seelu Nakshatra 1987 Huli HebbuliKamala 1987 Olavina Udugore 1987 Premaloka 1988 Ramanna Shamanna 1989Abhimana 1989 Doctor Krishna Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress 1989 Yuga Purusha 1989Gagana 1990 Golmaal Radhakrishna 1990 Tiger Gangu 1991Golmaal Radhakrishna II 1999Habba 2000Chamundi 2003Swathi Muthu 2006 Kannadada Kanda 2007 Shukra 2009 Yaaradhu
Other language films
YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes 1959 Raja Malaya SimhaTelugu/Tamil 1962 Pattinathaar Tamil 1962 Sumaithaangi Tamil 1962 Valar Pirai Tamil 1963 Valmiki Telugu 1963 BandipotuTelugu 1964 Marmayogi Telugu 1965 Karthigai Deepam Tamil 1966 Paduka PattabhishekamKaikeyiTelugu 1974 Aval Oru Thodar KathaiParvathi Tamil 1974 Naan AvanillaiChandrabai Tamil 1977 AvargalLeelavathi Tamil 1977 Solah ShukrawarHindi 1978 Gammathu GoodacharuluTelugu 1979 Karthika Deepam Telugu 1979 Idi Katha Kaadu Telugu 1980 Bhumi Par Aaye BhagwanHindi 1980 JatharaTelugu 1982 Maro Malupu Telugu 1986 PudhirVijay's mother Tamil
As producer YearFilm 1990 College Hero 2006 Kannadada Kanda 2007Shukra 2009 Yaaradhu
References
External links