Veteran actress Leelavathi, who was known for K Balachander's 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai', passed away yesterday. The film industry is mourning her death now. Leelavathi died at a private hospital near Bengaluru on Friday, aged 86. She died of a prolonged age-related illness.

Leelavathi acted in more than 600 films (more than 400 in Kannada alone) throughout her career of more than 50 years. She worked in all South Indian language movies back then. In Tamil, she is well known for director K Balachander's 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai'. in which she played the heroine's mother.

Leelavathi also starred in the Gemini Ganesan starrer 'Naan Avan Illai' and in the Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth starrer 'Avargal'. The actress fell ill and was hospitalised for the past few days and breathed her last on 8th December. Fans and celebrities are expressing their condolences over her death.