UpdateBot at 17:54, 11 February 2022

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{{short description|Indian pattimandram anchor and orator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dindigul I. Leoni
| native_name = திண்டுக்கல் ஐ. லியோனி
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1954|11|22}}
| birth_place = [[Dindigul]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| occupation = School Teacher, Orator, Politician
| years_active = 1997, 2020
| television = [[Kalaignar TV]]
| title = [[Kalaimamani]]
| party = [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
| spouse = Dr.Palaniammal (deceased)<br> Amudha
| children = Ahalya<br> Siva Kumar <br>Sathish Kumar
| relatives = [[C. S. Amudhan]] <br> (son-in-law)
}}
'''Dindigul I. Leoni''' also known as '''Dindigul Leoni''' or simply known as '''Leoni''' ({{lang-ta | திண்டுக்கல் ஐ. லியோனி}}) (born 22 November 1954<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tamilstar.com/profile/actor/dindigul-i-leoni/biography-short/1832|title=Profile of Actor Dindigul I Leoni - Tamil Movie Data Base of Tamilstar.com|website=www.tamilstar.com|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref>) is a pattimandram anchor, social [[debate]]s anchor, school [[teacher]], [[orator]], actor, television personality and political activist.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bodiwala|first=Community Contributor Suresh|title=Mr. Dindigul I. Leoni, Kalaignar TV fame joins Chicago Tamil Sangam to celebrate "Pongal Vizha 2015"|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/chi-ugc-article-mr-dindigul-i-leoni-kalaignar-tv-fame-join-2015-02-09-story.html|access-date=2020-07-29|website=chicagotribune.com}}</ref> He received the adjective '''Dindigul''' which refers to his birthplace. He is well known for his [[political satire]] and humorous speech and also for his [[tongue-in-cheek]] remarks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Speakers fall silent as virus ruins election fever|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/jun/10/speakers-fall-silent-as-virus-ruins-election-fever-2154595.html|access-date=2020-07-29|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-20|title=Case registered against pattimandram anchor Dindigul Leoni|url=https://newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/10/20/case-registered-against-pattimandram-anchor-dindigul-leoni/|access-date=2020-07-29|website=News Today|language=en-US}}</ref> He currently serves as a talk show moderator in a pattimandram program telecast in [[Kalaignar TV]]. His son-in-law [[C. S. Amudhan]] is a filmmaker.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Palani|first=Dhiwaharan|title=C.S Amudhan Bashes People Who Accused That He Is Belong To DMK !! Says Had A Scene That Trolled "SEYAL" !! {{!}} Chennai Memes|url=https://www.chennaimemes.in/c-s-amudhan-bashes-people-who-accused-that-he-is-belong-to-dmk-says-had-a-scene-that-trolled-seyal/|access-date=2020-07-29|language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Leoni initially served as a school teacher at the [[St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Dindigul|St. Mary's Higher Secondary School]] in Dindigul for a short stint. He then ventured into hosting social debate/pattimandram show "Nalla Pesunga Nallathaiye Pesunga" aired in [[Kalaignar TV]]. He eventually rose to fame and prominence in the state for his speeches in the television show.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Dindigul Leoni interview - time with COVID-19|url=http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/newsview/74122/What-does-Corona-do-during-Dindigul-I--Leoni---An-Interview|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721010013/http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com:80/newsview/74122/What-does-Corona-do-during-Dindigul-I--Leoni---An-Interview |archive-date=21 July 2020 |access-date=|website=}}</ref> He received the state award [[Kalaimamani]] in 2010 for his stage speeches from the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-01-28|title=Tamil Nadu Govt announces Kalaimamani awards|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Tamil-Nadu-Govt-announces-Kalaimamani-awards/article15536958.ece|access-date=2020-07-29|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

He has campaigned for [[Tamil Nadu]] based political party [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] in [[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]], [[2014 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu|2014 Indian general election]] and in [[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=அம்மா பிரதமரானால் எதிர்க்கட்சி மாப்ளைங்க வாலைச் சுருட்டிக்கணும் : திண்டுக்கல் ஐ.லியோனி பேட்டி|url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/tamilnadu/3186-.html|access-date=2020-07-29|website=Hindu Tamil Thisai|language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=திமுக ஆட்சியில்தான் விழுப்புரம் வளர்ச்சி: திண்டுக்கல் ஐ.லியோனி|url=https://www.dinamani.com/all-editions/edition-villupuram/villupuram/2016/may/09/திமுக-ஆட்சியில்தான்-விழுப்-2505219.html|access-date=2020-07-29|website=Dinamani}}</ref>

He made his acting debut in 1997 [[Tamil Language|Tamil]] film ''[[Ganga Gowri (1997 film)|Ganga Gowri]]'' in a supporting role playing the role of [[Arun Vijay]]'s father. He then made a comeback to film acting after a long gap of 23 years in 2020 for the unreleased film ''[[Aalambana]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dinamalar|date=2020-02-17|title=23 வருடங்களுக்கு பிறகு மீண்டும் நடிக்க வந்த திண்டுக்கல் ஐ.லியோனி {{!}} after 23 years, i.leoni came back to acting|url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/85702/cinema/Kollywood/after-23-years,-i.leoni-came-back-to-acting.htm|access-date=2020-07-29|website=தினமலர் - சினிமா|language=ta}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
In August 2016, rumours were circulating in the social media which indicated that Leoni died in a car accident. Leoni filed a lawsuit against the rumours.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-09-02|title=Dindigul Leoni files case over WhatsApp message|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/Dindigul-Leoni-files-case-over-WhatsApp-message/article14619788.ece|access-date=2020-07-29|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In January 2018, during a pattimandram show telecast during [[Diwali]] season he made references citing [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] to "sleeper cells". He was criticised for his alleged political attacks on BJP.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 16, 2018|first=Pradeep|last=Kumar|title=How Pattimandram took a political tone |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/how-pattimandram-took-a-political-tone/articleshow/62514962.cms|access-date=2020-07-29|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
;Films
* ''[[Ganga Gowri (1997 film)|Ganga Gowri]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Panni Kutty]]'' (TBA) <ref>{{Cite web|title=Yogi Babu & Karunakaran's 'Panni Kutty' trailer - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/yogi-babu-karunakarans-panni-kutty-trailer/articleshow/73693702.cms|access-date=2020-07-29|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
* ''[[Aalambana]]'' (TBA)

;Television
* ''[[Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal (TV series)|Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal]]'' (2021) - [[Zee Tamil]] (replaced by Jayaraj)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|10100195}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leoni, Dindigul I.}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Dindigul district]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Indian television personalities]]
[[Category:Tamil male actors]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian educators]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kalaimamani Award]]

Dindigul I. Leoni - Revision history

UpdateBot at 17:54, 11 February 2022