P.Leela

P. Leela was a well-known Carnatic musician and playback vocalist. Her melodic voice enchanted music lovers until October 2005. She has performed in countless Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada songs. Leela, a native of Chittoor, Palghat, Kerala, studied Carnatic music under Vadakkkancheril Rama Bhagavathar. In 1947, she started her career as a playback vocalist.

Her debut song appeared in the Kankanam Tamil movie. The following year, she sung for Nirmala, which debuted the playback system in Malayalam. Since then, she has left hundreds of Malayalam scores. "Ujayiniyile," "Periyare," "Kannum Kannum Kalandhu," "Elam Inba Mayaam," and "Emito Ee Maya," "Rama Kadhanu," in Telugu are a few of her timeless hits.

The Tamilnadu government granted her the title "Kalaimamani" and the Kerala government's First Playback Singer Award. Every morning, Leela recites Narayaneeyam and Vakacharthu at the Guruvayur temple.

Early Life

In 1934, P. Leela was born in Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala, to V.K. Kunjanmenon and Porayath Meenakshi Amma. Out of the three daughters, Sharadha, Bhanumathi, and Leela, she was the youngest. In Ramavarma Higher Secondary School in Ernakulam, V K Kunjanmenon was employed as a teacher. V.K. Menon had an intense love for music "I was the youngest of three females in our family. All three of us used to sing beautifully, and my father was the one who really helped me become a singer by pushing us to learn Carnatic music," Leela remarked.

She began singing movie songs at the age of 13, and she has performed them in all four South Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. She also performed in Sinhala and Bengali movies. Her melodies are renowned for their classical discipline and emotional depth. She became well-known for her beautiful voice and her ability to sing Carnatic music for the cinema business. Being able to sing during the same time as three titans of Carnatic music, M S Subbulakshmi, M L Vasanthakumari, and D K Pattammal, was an honor for her. She has collaborated with every notable music director and performed alongside all of the leading vocalists in South Indian cinema.

Personal Life

Leela wed a lawyer, but their union did not work out. Leela was quite busy doing light music and classical concerts in her final years. Leela was residing at Defence Colony, St. Thomas Mount (Parangimalai), with her sister's kids. Her pooja room, her music, and her father's recollections made up her universe. The individual responsible for the singer, Leela, was V.K. Menon. Leela recounted with passion in several of the interviews, "My father is the reason I am here today talking to you; he was everything to me. He bestowed upon me fame and fortune. I would not be who I am without him." By captivating her followers with her beautiful voice, Leela realized her father's hopes.

Career

Leela was a talented vocalist. Her first guru was Thiribuvana Manibhagavadhar, the uncle of musician T. V. Gopalakrishnan. Later on, she received knowledge from Rama Bhagavathar, Maruthuvakudi Rajagopala Iyer, and Paththamadai Krishna Ayyar. Doyens like V. Dakshinamoorthy and Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar taught Leela the art of Carnatic music.

Menon has a good friendship with Vadakkancheri Ramabhagavadhar, who is now a resident of Madras. Every time he goes to Ernakulam, he encourages Menon and Leela to come learn music in Madras. Leela's father was recommended by the headmistress of the school she was attending to take her to Madras for additional music training.

Menon wanted his youngest daughter to become a professional singer. In 1944, Menon quit his work in Ernakulam and accompanied Leela to Madras. The 10-year-old Leela began receiving instruction in the gurukula manner while they were staying with Vadakkancheri Ramabagavathar in Mylapore. Leela's father insisted that she practice music in the morning or sadhana.

Leela got the chance to attend performances in Madras, including vocalists such as Ariyakkudi Ramanujam, S. Ramanathan, G. N. Balasubramaniam, Chembai, and others. Leela claimed that this practice of "kelvi gnanam," or learning music by listening, had greatly aided in her personal development and musical tuning. In 1946, Leela won medals for her singing in numerous music competitions held in the city. She received her first concert at Andra Mahila Sabha from Durgabai Deshmukh. Leela was performing live around the country.

Entry In Film Industry

Ganabathirama Iyer, the manager of Columbia Recording Company, suggested Leela for the role of entry into the film industry. The company was looking for a female voice. She was chosen to be their featured performer. This cleared the path for her movie debut.

Nandakumar was the first Tamil film to feature playback singing. A.V. Meiyappa Chettiar conceived the inventive concept of using voice instead of music, and the playback system was first implemented in Tamil movies in 1938. As it gained traction, more vocalists entered the film industry. "I was introduced at a time when actresses were singing for themselves," recalls Leela.

She didn't speak Tamil or Telugu when she first arrived in Madras. She used to compose the songs in Malayalam and perform them flawlessly. She hired tutors and picked up additional languages after she began her career as a playback vocalist.

Her first singing gig was for a Tamil film in 1948. After being convinced to agree, her father changed his mind from his first refusal. Kanganam marked Leela's feature film debut as a playback vocalist. At the age of 13, she performed her debut song, Sree Varalakshmi. C.H. Padmanabhasastry directed the movie's music. For the movie's heroine, she performed all the songs. She was in high demand as a playback vocalist in South Indian cinema for almost twenty years after making her debut with Kanganam.

While the 1938 Malayalam film Balan was the first "talkie" with a soundtrack, she performed Paaduka Poonkuyile for the Malayalam film Nirmala in 1948. Director S. Nottani directed Balan, which T.R. Sundaram produced for Modern Theatres, Salem.

Tamil Films

Gunasundarikatha, Keelu Gurram, and Manadesam were the three Telugu movies in which Leela made her singing début in 1949.

Leela debuted in Manadesam as the leading lady of music, Ghantasala, who has collaborated with Leela on the most tracks. As the Telugu megastar Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao's first appearance as a police inspector, Manadesam is remembered. In advance of his compensation, he received 250 rupees.

Based on a Bengali novel, Vipradas was the movie's inspiration. Modeled after a Bengali novel, it was the first Telugu movie ever filmed. Film production company MRA Films produced the movie. The company was called after Meka Rajyalakshmi Anuradha, who was the daughter of Telugu actress, singer, and producer Mrs. C. Krishnaveni and Mirzapuram Raja. When Krishnaveni was introduced to Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, who was blossoming as a vocalist, she was incredibly taken by his voice and recognized his compositional potential. For three of their shows, Manadesam, Keelu Gurram, and Lakshmamma-Ghantasala was engaged as the music director.

Krishnaveni intended to bring all kinds of Andhra Pradesh folk music to Manadesam, including patriotic and devotional tunes like "Dhampudu palatal, veedhi naatakaalu, bommalaatalu, jaanapada geethalu, burra kathalu, etc." The music by Ghantasala is amazing. For the brave C.H. Narayanarao, M.S. Ramarao sung.

Nageswara Rao Akkineni and Anjali Devi starred in the superhit film Keelu Gurram [1949], which was directed by Raja of Mirzapur. B.N. Reddy produced and K.V. Reddy directed the Vauhini film Gunasundarikatha. December 29, 1949, was the movie's premiere. Shakespeare's drama King Lear served as the inspiration for the movie. Writing the screenplay were Kamalaakara Kameswara Rao and K.V. Reddy. The cast of the movie included comedian Kasturi Siva Rao as the cursed Prince, Sriranjani as Gunasundari, K. Malati and P. Santa Kumari as Gunasundari's evil sisters, and Vallabhajosyula SivaRam as the Prince. Lyrics and Dialogues: Pingali Nagendra Rao. For the role of Sriranjani, Leela performed the songs.

Hit songs from the movies Kalakala aa KokilEmO, Challani doravElE Chandamaamaa, Sree Tulasi jaya Tulasi, and Ammaa Mahalaxmi dayasEyavamma were released during the time.

Awards and Recognition

In addition to these titles, Leela has also been called "Ganamani," "Ganakokila," "Kalarathnam," and "Ganavarshini." When Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa awarded her the title "Kalaimamani" in 1994, she expressed pride in being the one to give it to her despite the fact that it had come late. In 1969, Leela won the Kerala government's inaugural Best Playback Singer award.

In 2003, Balasamskara Kendram awarded Leela the Janmashtami Puraskaram in recognition of her efforts in promoting "Narayaneeyam," "Jananappana," and "Harinamakeerthanam. "

In the end, Leela's marriage to the lawyer did not work out. Late in life, Leela devoted her time to performing light music and classical concerts. In Parangimalai's Defence Colony, Leela was lodging with her sister's kids. Her pooja room, her music, and her father's recollections made up her universe. V.K. Menon created the vocalist Leela. Leela recounted, tearfully, in several of the interviews, "My father is the reason I am here today talking to you; he was everything to me." It was he who bestowed upon me glory and fortune. He is the reason I am who I am.

With a captivating voice that captivated her followers, Leela realized her father's wishes. Her tunes are timeless and will always be cherished.

Conclusion

P. Leela, a renowned playback vocalist in the Indian music scene, made a lasting impression with her expressive and passionate voice. Owing to her extraordinary talent and adaptability, Leela became a beloved figure among music lovers throughout her remarkable career. Her versatility in playing a range of styles, from folk to classical, demonstrated the breadth of her musical skills.

Leela has made valuable contributions to the film industry by lending her voice to numerous classic melodies that appeal to audiences of all ages. Her commitment to her art and the feelings she captured in her voice left an enduring legacy that is still unrivaled.

Past the bounds of song, P. Leela's life story demonstrates tenacity and ardor. After overcoming obstacles and making a name for herself in a field dominated by men, she started to inspire other young artists. Her dedication to protecting and advancing traditional Indian music strengthens her influence on the field of culture.