Leela Omchery (31 May 1929 – 1 November 2023) was an Indian classical singer, musicologist and writer. She is known for her contributions to classical music and was a recipient of the

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

award from the Government of India for her contributions to Indian classical dance and music.

Early life

Leela Omchery was born on 31 May 1929 in Mankoyikkal tharavdu in Thiruvattar in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu to Parameswara Kurup and Lakshmikutty Amma. She started learning music from an early age under a Karnatic music guru, Thiruvattar Arumugham Pillai Bhagavathar, along with her younger brother, the late

Kamukara Purushothaman Kamukara Purushothaman (4 December 1930 – 26 May 1995) was an Indian singer. He was a noted playback singer in Malayalam cinema during its early years. He has recorded over 170 songs in 68 movies in various South Indian languages. Early l ...

, a classical and playback singer in Malayalam. Hailing from a family of musicians, she had the opportunity to hone her musical talents under the guidance of her grandmother and mother who were musicians in their own right. After early schooling in

Kanyakumari Kanyakumari (Tamil; / kəɳjɑkʊmɑɾiː/; referring to Devi Kanya Kumari, officially known as Kanniyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin) is a town and a municipality in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the ...

, she obtained a graduate degree in

Carnatic music Carnatic music (known as or in the Dravidian languages) is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and southern Odisha. It is o ...

from Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram and continued her studies in

Hindustani music Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' ...

at Punjab University, obtaining another graduate degree. Her Master's degree came from Meerut University and she got her PhD in music from

Delhi University The Delhi University (DU, ISO 15919, ISO: ), also and officially known as the University of Delhi, is a collegiate university, collegiate research university, research Central university (India), central university located in Delhi, India. It ...

Career

Leela Omchery was working as a Professor in ''Kamukara School of Music, Dance and Research Studies'', Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and as Professor and Principal of ''Trikalaa Gurukulam'' in Delhi. Omchery was the President of ''Dakshina Bharati'' (a south Indian Women’s Organization) and Vice President of ''Swaralaya'', Delhi. Omchery was an accredited Supervisor and Guide to Ph.D and M.Phil candidates from various universities including Delhi, Kerala, Calicut, Baroda, Nalanda, and Mumbai. She was also a member of the Selection Board of AIR,

Doordarshan Doordarshan (), abbreviated as DD, is India's State-owned enterprise, state-owned public broadcasting, public television broadcaster. Established by the Government of India on 15 September 1959, it is owned by the Ministry of Information and B ...

, ICCR, IGNCA, SNA (Delhi), the Ministry of Culture and IGNOU. Omchery also worked as the Associate Professor and Head, Karnatak Music Section, Faculty of Music & Fine Arts, University of Delhi (1964–1994). She served as Editorial Staff of Indian Music Journal, ''Vageeshwari'', (1975–1994). Omchery also wrote some short stories.

Personal life and death

Omchery was married to writer Omchery N. N. Pillai and resided in New Delhi. The couple had two children, S.D. Omchery and Deepti Omchery Bhalla, a classical dancer. Leela Omchery died on 1 November 2023, aged 94.

Works

English

Malayalam

On Other Topics

* Leelanjali (Short stories) * Jeevitham (Drama) * Parthivan Kanavu – Translation from Tamil * Katha Bharathi – Translation from Tamil * Aaharavum Aarogyavum She is also credited with over 200 published articles.

Awards and recognitions

Padmashri The Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 Janu ...

by Government of India in 2009 * Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy Award for the contribution to Traditional Music (Sopaana Sangeetham) and popular music of Kerala in 2003 * ''Marunaadan Malayaali Award'' for Excellence in the field of Traditional music and Arts, Delhi in 2008 * Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 1990 * ''Sangeeta Kulapathi'' from Kalaadarppanam, Kerala in 2003 * ''Sangeet Kovida'' from Gayatri Fine Arts, Delhi in 2003 * ''Kalaacharya'' from Akhila Kerala Maaraar Mahaa Sabha, Kerala in 1990 * ''Sangeeta Sarva Bhouma'' from Astika Samaj, Delhi in 2006 * Award for overall contributions to Music and Culture, Panchavaadya Trust, Delhi in 2006 * Senior Fellowships/Associate ship for Research Projects from various prestigious national organizations like Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), University Grants Commission (UGC), Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and Culture (IGNCA), SNA (Delhi).

References

External links

Facebook
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Omchery, Leela 1929 births 2023 deaths Malayali people Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Indian women musicologists Indian musicologists 20th-century Indian non-fiction writers Indian women classical musicians Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 20th-century Indian educators 20th-century Indian women educators Singers from Tamil Nadu People from Kanyakumari district Educators from Tamil Nadu Women writers from Tamil Nadu Women musicians from Tamil Nadu 20th-century Indian women singers 20th-century Indian singers 21st-century Indian women singers 21st-century Indian singers Women educators from Tamil Nadu 20th-century women writers Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship