P. Leela പി. ലീല | |
|---|---|
 P. Leela | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Porayath Leela (1934-05-19)19 May 1934 |
| Died | 31 October 2005(2005-10-31) (aged 71) Chennai, India |
| Genres | Carnatic music andplayback singing |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Composer |
| Instrument | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1948–2005 |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan, Kalaimamani |
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Porayath Leela (19 May 1934 – 31 October 2005) was anIndian playback singer,a Carnatic vocalist, and amusic director.[1] She began her career as aplayback singer in the 1948 Tamil filmKangkanam.[2] She recorded songs in variousIndian languages, includingMalayalam,Telugu,Tamil,Kannada,Hindi,Bengali,Sanskrit,Odia,Gujarati,Marathi, andSinhala. Leela was posthumously awarded thePadma Bhushan in 2006.[3]
During her career, Leela collaborated with composers such asV. Dakshinamoorthy,Baburaj,G. Devarajan,Ghantasala,M. S. Viswanathan,K. Raghavan,Br Lakshmanan,L. P. R. Varma,B. A. Chidambaranath, A.T. Ummer,M. K. Arjunan, Johnson,Ouseppachan,Ilaiyaraja, as well as playback singersK. J. Yesudas andS. P. Balasubrahmanyam.[4] Leela described her vocal style using the term Ganamani.[citation needed]
Leela was born in 1934 inChittur,Palakkad,Kerala, to V.K. Kunjanmenon (Menon) and Porayath Meenakshi Amma. She was the youngest of three daughters, with sisters Sharadha and Bhanumathi. Her father, V.K. Kunjanmenon, was a teacher at Ramavarma Higher Secondary School inErnakulam. He encouraged his daughters to learnCarnatic music, and Leela attributes her passion for singing to his influence.[5]
By age 13, Leela had sung over 5,000 film songs in the South Indian languages ofTamil,Telugu,Malayalam, andKannada.[6] She has also recorded songs forBengali andSinhala films. Leela sang during the same era as the Carnatic musiciansM.S. Subbulakshmi,M.L. Vasanthakumari, andD.K. Pattammal.[7]
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Leela's firstguru was Thiribuvana Manibhagavadhar, the uncle of musicianT. V. Gopalakrishnan. Later, she learned from Paththamadai Krishna Ayyar, Maruthuvakudi Rajagopala Iyer, and Rama Bhagavathar. Leela was trained in Carnatic music byChembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar andV. Dakshinamoorthy. Vadakkancheri Ramabhagavadhar was a close friend of Leela's father, Menon. He had settled down in Madras. He would invite Menon and Leela toMadras to learn music whenever he visited Ernakulam. The headmistress of the school where Leela was studying advised her father to take her to Madras for further music training.[8]
Menon resigned from his job in Ernakulam and took Leela to Madras in 1944. They stayed with Vadakkancheri Ramabagavathar inMylapore and the 10-year-old Leela began learning in thegurukula style. Her father insisted that Leela dosadhaka (practice music) early in the morning.
In Madras, Leela had opportunities to listen to concerts of singers likeAriyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar,S. Ramanathan,G. N. Balasubramaniam,Chembai, and others. Leela said this 'kelvi gnanam' (learning music by listening) helped her much in developing and refining her.[9] In 1946, Leela participated in several music competitions in her city, receiving multiple awards.Durgabai Deshmukh gave Leela her first formalconcert opportunity atAndra Mahila Sabha.[citation needed]
The Columbia Recording Company was looking for a female voice. The manager at the time, Ganabathirama Iyer, recommended Leela. She was appointed as their artist, which paved the way for her entry into films.
In Tamil,Nandakumar was the first movie to introduce playback singing.A.V. Meiyappa Chettiar came up with the idea of replacing the soundtrack with voice and the playback system was introduced in Tamil cinema in 1938. It gradually got accepted and many singers entered the movie world.
When she landed in Madras, she did not know Tamil or Telugu. She would write the songs in Malayalam and practice them to perfection. Once she started her career as a playback singer, she arranged for tutors and learned other languages.
She got her first offer to sing in 1948 for a Tamil movie. Her father was initially reluctant but later he was persuaded to accept. Leela made her first appearance as a playback singer in the movieKangkanam. She sang her first song,Sree Varalakshmi, at age 13. C.H. Padmanabhasastry was the music director of the film. She sang all the songs for the heroine in that film. After her debut inKangkanam, she was the most sought-after playback singer inSouth Indian cinema for more than two decades, according toThe Hindu.[10]
In 1948, she sangPaaduka Poonkuyile for the Malayalam movieNirmala, thoughBalan. The film was made in 1938 and it was the first Malayalam "talkie" with a soundtrack.Balan was produced by T.R Sundaram for Modern Theatres, Salem, withS. Nottani as the director.[citation needed]
In 1949, Leela made her debut inTelugu cinema singing in three films:Mana Desam,Keelu Gurram, andGunasundari Katha. Singer and music directorGhantasala (with whom Leela has sung the most songs) introduced Leela inManadesam. She sang all the songs for the heroine in the filmGunasundari Katha.[citation needed]
By the 1950s, Leela was recording playback songs in all major South Indian languages. Around the same period, she contributed toShavukaru, the debut production ofVijaya Productions, which did not achieve commercial success at the box office.[citation needed]
She sang in the filmMissamma (made asMissiyamma in Tamil) and worked as a music director for a film called 'Chinnari Papalu' (Telugu) in 1968. The film was produced exclusively by women. She sang eight songs along withP. Susheela in the filmLava Kusa (1963).[citation needed]
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| Year | Film | Songs |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Kangkanam | "Sree Varalakshmi" |
| 1948 | Thirumalisai Alvar | Giridhaari |
| 1949 | Inbavalli | *Inbamana Mohini maane withT. R. Mahalingam |
| 1949 | Gunasundari Katha | "Sri Tulasi Jaya Tulasi" "Upakara Gunalayavai" |
| 1951 | Patala Bhairavi | "Pranaya Jeevulaku Devi Varaale" "Entha Ghaatu Premayo" "Kalavaramaaye Madilo" |
| 1951 | Singari | "Jighu Jighu Samakku Paarungo" "O! Chellaiah Nee Vallaiah" "Kaanil Vennilaa Poleh" "Bhaarathi Enge Solladi" "Vaanavillaipoleh Oru Vaaliban" |
| 1952 | Amarakavi | "Chedi Maraivile Oru Poongodi", "Yaanai Thandham Pole" and "Konji Pesum Kiliye" withMKT "Mullaich Chirippile" and "Mookuthi Minnudhu" with N. L. Ghanasaraswathi |
| 1953 | Bratuku Theruvu | "Andame Anandam Anandame Jeevita Makarandam" |
| 1954 | Pudhu Yugam | "Vaazhvinile Inba Saubhagyam" "Kaadhal Kondu Poovil Vandu" withGhantasala "Pudhu Yugam, Pudhu Yugam" withJikki |
| 1954 | Vaira Malai | "Nadana Kala Rani" (Dance Drama) withA. P. Komala andG. K. Venkatesh |
| 1955 | Jayasimha | "Eenaati Eehaayi Kalakadoyi Nijamoyi" |
| 1955 | Missamma | "Karuninchu Mary Matha" "Telusukonave Chelli" "Yemito Ee Maaya Challani Raja" ""Raavoyi Chandamaama" "Raaga Sudha Rasa" |
| 1956 | Chiranjeevulu | "Thellavaaraga Vachhe Theliyaka Naasaami Malliparundevu Lera" "Kanupaapa Karuvaina Kanulenduko" |
| 1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | "Jagamula Dayanele Janani Sadashivuni Manoharini" |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | "Ulagellaam Unatharulaal Malarum", "Ulagellaam Unatharulaal Malarum (pathos)", "Aadum Kalaiyellam Paruva Mangaiyar Azhagu Koorum" |
| 1957 | Maya Bazaar | "Chinnari Sasirekha Vardhillavamm" "Vinnava Yashodamma" "Neekosame Ne Jeevinchunadi" "Neevena Nanu Thalachinadi" "Laahiri Laahiri Laahirilo" "Choopulu Kalasina Subhavela" |
| 1957 | Suvarna Sundari | "Bangaaru Vannela Rangaaru Sanjala Rangeli Yetenchene" |
| 1957 | Pathini Deivam | "Gnaanakkanna Ezhundhiru" (withT. M. Soundararajan) "Vaaraai Indre Mohana" "Chinna Chinna Vayasile" with group |
| 1957 | Babruvaahana | "Yelara Manohara Manasemo Vayyaraala" |
| 1958 | Uthamaputhiran | "Kathiruppan Kamalakannan" |
| 1958 | Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu | "Joharu Gaikonara Deva" "Rama Rama Saranam Bhadradri Rama Saranam" |
| 1958 | Pelli Naati Pramanalu | "Sreemanturalivai Cheluvondu Maata Mammu Deevimpuma Maa Andhramata" |
| 1959 | Abalai Anjugam | "Daaladikkum Paappaa Jaaliyaaga" |
| 1959 | Amudhavalli | "Anbum Amaidhiyum" (withT. R. Mahalingam) "Singaara Vadivamaana Thithikkum" (withSirkazhi Govindarajan) |
| 1959 | Nalla Theerpu | "Azhagaana Maaran Yaaradi" |
| 1960 | Chavukkadi Chandrakantha | "Aadchiyum Soozhchchiyum Sernthaal" (withA. G. Rathnamala) "Malarvana Veedhiyile Vasantha Thaerile" |
| 1960 | Shanti Nivasam | "Kalanaina Nee Valape Kalavaramandaina Nee Talape" |
| 1960 | Raja Makutam | "Ooredi Peredi "Sadiseyako Gaali" "Amba Jagadamba" Edanunnado Ekkadunnado" |
| 1961 | Jagadeka Veeruni Katha | "Nanu Dayaganave Naa Moravinava" "Jalakaalaatalalo kalakalapaatalalo" along with P. Suseela and "Varinchi Vachchina Maanavaveerudu also along with P. Suseela"" |
| 1961 | Kumara Raja | "Yettil Padithathodu Irundhuvidaathe" "Naan Vandhu Serndha Idam Nalla Idam" "Aanundu Paada, Pennundu Aada" (withJ. P. Chandrababu) |
| 1963 | Lava Kusha | "Ramakathanu Vinarayyaa Ihapara Sukhamulanosage" "Voorake Kanneeru Nimpa Karanamemamma" "Vinudu Vinudu Ramayana Gaatha Vinudee Manasara" "Sriraamuni Charithamunu Telipedamamma" |
| 1965 | Pandava Vanavasam | "Devaa Deena Baandhavaa" |
| 1966 | Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam | "Swagatam Suswagatam" along with P. Suseela |
| 1967 | Rahasyam | "Shrilalitha Shivajyothi Sarvakaamadaa" "Evo Kanulu Karuninchinavee" (duet with Ghantasala Master, who was the music director too for this movie) |
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Leela married a lawyer, but the marriage was unsuccessful. In her later years, she devoted herself to performing classical concerts and light music programs. She lived with her nieces and nephews in Defence Colony,St. Thomas Mount (Parangimalai).[11]
She was known for her ability to sing both classical and light film music. Satya Kabali, an actor, said that Leela had an emotional touch and classical discipline which she imparted in film music.[9]
On her death, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha said:
“One of the greatest vocal musicians of India, who made a name for herself by singing exquisite songs in her mellifluous voice in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu both for the film industry, as well as in Carnatic music. She had also rendered melodious devotional songs. Though she had been decorated with a number of awards including the Kalaimamani Award of the State Government for 1991-92, she was the epitome of humility and considered her contributions in the field of music a humble service to humanity and an offering to the Lord. In her passing, we have lost a great singer, leaving a great void in the world of music"[12]
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She was awardedPadma Bhushan posthumously for her contributions in the year 2006.[13]
She was awarded theKalaimamani title in 1992[14] by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.[15]
Leela received thebest playback singer award from the Kerala government in 1969 for the songUjjayiniyile Gaayika from the movieKadalpalam.
She received a Certificate of Honour for the Growth and Development of Malayalam Films from theKerala Government.[16]
Leela has been awarded many titles, including:
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P. Leela died on 31 October 2005, at 00:40IST atSri Ramachandra Medical Centre in Chennai. She was hospitalized in late September after suffering serious injuries sustained due to a fall in the bathroom in her home. Though she was operated on, her condition suddenly worsened due topneumonia, possibly a complication from her long-standingasthma. She went into a deepcoma a day before she died. She was cremated with full state honours on the day of her death at Besant Nagar Crematorium.[citation needed]The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,Jayalalitha eulogised her after her death.[14]
An open stage named Thiruvarangu was built in 2018 at her native place Chittur-Tathamangalam in her memory.[25][26]
