P.Leela
was born on 19th May 1933 in Kerala. Born
to parents deeply interested in music in Chittur
in Palakkad district, Leela had a thorough
training in classical music before starting
her film career. Her first song was for the
Tamil movie Kankanam in 1943, when she was
just 13. It was an invocational song composed
by H R Padmanabha Sastry.Following that, she
sang for 2 Tamil films in Subbaraman's music
direction.
In
a career spanning over five decades, P Leela,
had sung over 1,000 songs in different languages
under top music directors. She also left a
lasting impression as a devotional singer
with her recital of Narayaneeyam and Lord
Guruvayurappan songs marking brisk sales of
the records.
Vakacharthu
as recited by Leela, is played every morning
in Guruvayur Temple, coinciding with the Nirmalya
darshan in the wee hours.
As
a playback singer she has sung in 4 languages.
She along with Ghantasala became a definition
for duets. Ghantasala was working with Subbaraman
as assitant at that time. Their acquaintance
started then. When Ghantasala turned music
director, he gave her the chance to become
a full fledged playback singer for Mana Desam
in 1949. She continued with her voice in Keelu
Gurram, Gunasundari, Patalabhairavi and many
movies.
Evergreen
numbers:
Entha ghatu premayo, Kalavaramaye Madhilo
(Patalabhairavi 1951), Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo,
Choopulu Kalasina Subhavela, Neevnea Nanu
talachinadhi, Nee kosame ney (Maya Bazar 1957),
Echati Nundi Veecheno (Appu Chesi Pappu koodu
1959), Ravoyi Chandamama (Missamma), Andhame
Anandham, Veshamu Marenu (Gundamma Kadha)
are just a few of many evergreen numbers rendered
by P.Leela in Telugu.
She
also rendered devotional including Sri Ramuni
Charitamunu (Lavakusa), Karuninchu Meri Matha
(Missamma), Deva Deenabandhava (Pandava Vanavasam),
Mangala Gowri Devi (Mudhu Bidda), O Jagadadhara
(Sati Anasuya), Yedu Kondalavada (Pelli Chesi
Choodu).
In
1988, Leela composed music for Chinnari Papalu
directed by Savitri. Her last film in Telugu
is Srimadvirat Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swami
Charitra in 1984.
Several
songs in Telugu and Kannada films followed
the debut performance before she made it to
her mother tongue, Malayalam, with the 1948
release Nirmala.
She
had since then made hundreds of Malayalam
scores, known for their emotional touch and
classical discipline.
Leela
was a recipient of several honours, including
the first best playback singer award of the
Kerala government in 1969 and in 1992 by the
State Government of Tamil Nadu.
The
veteran playback singer died on 1st Nov 2005
at the age of 76 in a private hospital in
Chennai. She was being treated for pneumonia
and asthma.
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