P. Leela

Leela was born in 1934 in Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, to V.K. Kunjanmenon "Menon" and Porayath Meenakshi Amma. She was the youngest of three daughters, with her sisters being Sharadha and Bhanumathi. Her father, V.K. Kunjanmenon, was a teacher at Ramavarma Higher Secondary School in Ernakulam. He encouraged his daughters to learn Carnatic music, and Leela attributes her passion for singing to his influence.^{[citation needed]}

Since the age of 13, Leela has sung over 5,000 film songs in all the major South Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. She has also recorded songs for Bengali and Sinhala films. Known for her emotionally expressive singing and classical discipline, she built a reputation in both the film industry and Carnatic music. Leela considered it a great honor to have sung during the same era as the legendary Carnatic musicians M.S. Subbulakshmi, M.L. Vasanthakumari, and D.K. Pattammal.^{[citation needed]} She has worked with some of the greatest Indian music directors and has collaborated with many prominent singers from the South Indian film industry.

Leela's first guru was Thiribuvana Manibhagavadhar, the uncle of musician T. V. Gopalakrishnan. Later she learnt from Paththamadai Krishna Ayyar, Maruthuvakudi Rajagopala Iyer and Rama Bhagavathar. Leela was trained in Carnatic music by doyens such as Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar and V. Dakshinamoorthy. Vadakkancheri Ramabhagavadhar was a close friend of Leela's father, Menon. He had settled down in Madras. He would invite Menon and Leela to Madras 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 training in music.

It was Menon's ambition to make his youngest daughter an accomplished singer. Menon resigned his job in Ernakulam and took Leela to Madras in 1944. They stayed with Vadakkancheri Ramabagavathar in Mylapore and the 10-year-old Leela started learning in gurukula style. Her father was particular that Leela do sadhaka (practice music) early in the morning.

In Madras, Leela had opportunities to listen concerts of singers like Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, S. Ramanathan, G. N. Balasubramaniam, Chembai and others. Leela said this 'kelvi gnanam' (learning music by listening) helped her much in fine-tuning music and molding her.^{[citation needed]} Leela sang at many music competitions in the city winning prizes in 1946. Durgabai Deshmukh gave her the first concert at Andra Mahila Sabha. Leela was giving concerts in various places.

Columbia Recording Company was looking for a female voice and the manager Ganabathirama Iyer recommended Leela. She was appointed as their artiste. This 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 innovative idea of replacing the soundtrack with voice and the playback system was introduced in Tamil cinema in 1938. It gradually got acceptance and many singers entered the movie world.

When she landed in Madras she did not know Tamil or Telugu. She used to write the song in Malayalam and practice them to perfection. Once she started her career as playback singer she arranged tutors and learnt 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 debut as playback singer in the movie Kanganam. She sang her first song, Sree Varalakshmi..., when she was just 13 years old. C.H. Padmanabhasastry was the music director of the film. She sang all the songs for the heroine in that film. After her debut in Kanganam, for two decades and more she was the most sought-after playback singer in South Indian Cinema.^[4]

In 1948, she sang Paaduka Poonkuyile for the Malayalam movie Nirmala, though Balan, made in 1938, was the first Malayalam "talkie" with a sound track. Balan was produced by T.R Sundaram for Modern Theatres, Salem, with S. Nottani as the director.

In 1949, Leela made her debut in Telugu Cinema singing in three films: Manadesam, Keelu Gurram and Gunasundari Katha. Singer and music director Ghantasala (with whom Leela has sung the most songs) introduced Leela in Manadesam. She sang all the songs for the heroine in the film Gunasundari Katha.

In the 1950s Leela was busy singing in all the South Indian languages. Vijaya productions' first movie, Shavukaru, did not fare well at the box office.

She sang in the film Missamma (made as Missiyamma 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 with P. Susheela in the film Lava Kusa (1963).

Main article List of songs by P. Leela

1. Sampoorna Ramayanam (1971)
2. Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha (1966)
3. Tirupathamma Katha (1963)
4. Mahamantri Timmarasu (1962)
5. Gundamma Katha (1962)
6. Dakshayagnam (1962)
7. Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam (1961)
8. Deepavali (1960)
9. Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva Chinthamani (1960)
10. Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960)
11. Krishna Leelalu (1959)
12. Pelli Sandadi (1959)
13. Mangalya Balam (1958)
14. Dongallo Dora (1957)
15. Panduranga Mahatyam (1957)
16. Preme Daivam (1957)
17. Sarangadhara (1957)
18. Bhakta Markandeya (1956)
19. Bhale Ramudu (1956)
20. Jayam Manade (1956)
21. Anarkali (1955)
22. Vadina Gari Gajulu (1955)
23. Vaddante Dabbu (1954)
24. Oka Talli Pillalu (1953)
25. Palletooru (1952)
26. Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952)
27. Patala Bhairavi (1951)
28. Navvite Navaratnalu (1951)
29. Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha (1950)

Leela married a lawyer, but the marriage was not successful. In her later years, Leela was busy rendering classical concerts and light music programs. Leela was staying with her sister's children in Defence colony, St. Thomas Mount (Parangimalai).

She was known for her ability to sing both classical and light, film music also her emotional touch and classical discipline she imparted.^[5] It can be well explained by her song in the film Chilamboli, Priyamanasa née composed by V Dakshinamoorthy and sung by her.^[6]

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.^[7]

She was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously for her contributions in the year 2006.^[8]

She was conferred with the Kalaimamani title^[9] in 1992 by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa^{[10][citation needed]}

Leela received the best playback singer award of the Kerala government in 1969 for the song Ujjayiniyile Gaayika from the movie Kadalpalam.

She received a Certificate of Honour for the Growth and Developments of Malayalam Films by Kerala Government.^[11]

• Janmashtami Puraskaram instituted by Balasamskara Kendram for her efforts in spreading 'Narayaniyam', 'Jnanappana' and 'Harinamakeerthanam.
• Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Best Classical Musician (1983).^[12]
• Kamukara Awards^[13]
• Thyagaraja Bhagavthar special awards by Tamil Nadu government^[14]
• Madras Music Academy Gold Medal
• Swaralaya Kairali Yesudas Special Jury Awards
• Film fans awards
• Life achievement awards by the sangam kala group-hero honda^[15]
• Sivapadmam Award
• Swathi Ratna award and Title by Malayali club Madras for propagating Swathi Thirunal krithis^[16]
• Vayalar Memorial Cultural Award 1997" by Kala Kairali and Vayalar Memorial Cultural Award Academy.
• Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA^[17]) honorary membership.

• Leela has been conferred with many titles like ''ganamani'', ''ganakokila'', ''kalarathnam'' and ''ganavarshini'',
• 1 Curnool - Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha - "Ganamathi"
• 2. Anbathur - Maunaswamigal - "Sangeetha Hamsani"
• 3. Guntur - Guntur Cultural Academy - "Ganakokila" 4. Chennai - St. Thomas Arts Academy - "Sangeetha Saraswathi" 5. Trivandrum - Trivandrum Devaswom Board - "Kalaratnam" 6. Newyork - Kannada Kota & Tamil Sangam - "Gana Varshini" 7. Guruvayoor - Venkatachalapathi Temple - "Nada Sudha" 8. Guruvayoor - Sangeerthana Trust - "Bakthi Gana Thilakam" 9. Arni - Sri Thyagaraja Sabha - "Irai Isai Mamani" 10. Guruvayoor - Guruvayoor Temple - "Sangeetha Narayani"

^[11]

P. Leela died on 31 October 2005, at 00:40 IST at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre in Chennai. She was hospitalized in late September after suffering serious injuries sustained due to a fall at the bathroom in her home. Though she was operated on, her condition suddenly worsened due to pneumonia, probably a complication of asthma she suffered for a long time, and she went into a deep coma a day before she died. She was cremated with full state honours the same day at Besant Negar Crematorium.

An open stage named Thiruvarangu was built in 2018 at her native place Chittur-Tathamangalam in her memory.^[18][19]

• P. Leela at IMDb
• D. B. S. Jeyaraj. "P. Leela, 'Forgotten' Singer Who Sang Unforgettable Songs in Tamil Cinema". dbsjeyaraj.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.