<p>Bengaluru: The ‘Varanati Dr Leelavathi Degula’, a memorial temple in honour of veteran yesteryear Kannada actor Leelavathi, was inaugurated by Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa recently.</p>.<p>The memorial also has rare photographs of the actor on display. It is now open to the general public. </p>.<p>Leelavathi’s son, Vinod Raj, also an actor, has built the temple at their farmhouse in Soladevanahalli near Nelamangala. Leelavathi died on December 8, 2023 at the age of 87. Vinod Raj had then expressed his desire to build a temple for her, according to reports.</p>.<p>Leelavathi was also a philanthropist and built a primary health centre and veterinary hospital at Soladevanahalli.</p>.<p>Leelavathi was one of the most successful actors of her time. Her career spanned five decades and she acted in more than 200 films, including Rani Honnamma, Santha Tukaram, Gaali Gopura, Kantheradu Nodu, Veerakesari, Mana Mechchida Madadi, Ranadheera Kanteerava, Gejjepuje, Na Mechchida Huduga, Naagarahavu, Sipayi Ramu, Bhakta Kumbara, Upaasane, Bilihendthi, Naa Ninna Mareyalaare, Thayiya Madilalli, Shravana Banthu and Swathi Mutthu starting from the late 1950s to the beginning of the new millennium. </p>.<p>Dr M Leelavathi hailed from a small village Mura in Belthangady of Dakshina Kannada district. She worked in a drama company owned by the thespian M V Subbaiah Naidu before making an entry in films in 1958 with a small role in ‘Bhakta Prahlada’.</p>.<p>Leelavathi shot to fame in the 1960s and became a hit pair with veteran actor Rajkumar. She acted in 45 films with him. She also shared screen with some of the biggest stars of her time, like N T Rama Rao in Telugu.</p>.<p>She was a recipient of the state government’s Dr Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. She had won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film <span class="italic">Kannadada Kanda</span> in 2006. Earlier, she had bagged the state government’s award for the films Gejjepuje and Doctor Krishna. Tumkur University had conferred an honorary doctorate on her in recognition of her contribution to the Kannada film world (2008). She had featured in some Tamil and Telugu films too. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The ‘Varanati Dr Leelavathi Degula’, a memorial temple in honour of veteran yesteryear Kannada actor Leelavathi, was inaugurated by Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa recently.</p>.<p>The memorial also has rare photographs of the actor on display. It is now open to the general public. </p>.<p>Leelavathi’s son, Vinod Raj, also an actor, has built the temple at their farmhouse in Soladevanahalli near Nelamangala. Leelavathi died on December 8, 2023 at the age of 87. Vinod Raj had then expressed his desire to build a temple for her, according to reports.</p>.<p>Leelavathi was also a philanthropist and built a primary health centre and veterinary hospital at Soladevanahalli.</p>.<p>Leelavathi was one of the most successful actors of her time. Her career spanned five decades and she acted in more than 200 films, including Rani Honnamma, Santha Tukaram, Gaali Gopura, Kantheradu Nodu, Veerakesari, Mana Mechchida Madadi, Ranadheera Kanteerava, Gejjepuje, Na Mechchida Huduga, Naagarahavu, Sipayi Ramu, Bhakta Kumbara, Upaasane, Bilihendthi, Naa Ninna Mareyalaare, Thayiya Madilalli, Shravana Banthu and Swathi Mutthu starting from the late 1950s to the beginning of the new millennium. </p>.<p>Dr M Leelavathi hailed from a small village Mura in Belthangady of Dakshina Kannada district. She worked in a drama company owned by the thespian M V Subbaiah Naidu before making an entry in films in 1958 with a small role in ‘Bhakta Prahlada’.</p>.<p>Leelavathi shot to fame in the 1960s and became a hit pair with veteran actor Rajkumar. She acted in 45 films with him. She also shared screen with some of the biggest stars of her time, like N T Rama Rao in Telugu.</p>.<p>She was a recipient of the state government’s Dr Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. She had won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film <span class="italic">Kannadada Kanda</span> in 2006. Earlier, she had bagged the state government’s award for the films Gejjepuje and Doctor Krishna. Tumkur University had conferred an honorary doctorate on her in recognition of her contribution to the Kannada film world (2008). She had featured in some Tamil and Telugu films too. </p>