Chefajaychopra123 at 21:51, 22 December 2025

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{{Short description|Indian singer (1929–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Leela Omchery
| image = A portrait of Leela Omchery who will be presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Traditional & Folk Music - Kerala by the President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on October 26, 2004.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Omchery in 2004
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1929|5|31}}
| birth_place = [[Thiruvattar]], [[Kingdom of Travancore]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now in [[Kanyakumari district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2023|11|1|1929|5|31}}
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], [[NCT of Delhi]], India
| othername =
| occupation = Singer, musicologist, writer
| yearsactive =
| spouse = [[Omchery N. N. Pillai]]
| children = 2, including [[Deepti Omchery Bhalla]]
| parents = Mankoyikkal Parameswara Kurup Lakshmikutty Amma
| relatives = [[Kamukara Purushothaman]] (brother)
| website = http://leelaomchery.org
| awards = [[Padmashri]] [[Sangeet Natak Academi Award|Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy Award]] Marunaadan Malayaali Award Fellow – [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] Sangeeta Kulapathi Sangeet Kovida Kalaacharya Sangeeta Sarva Bhouma
}}

'''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]] award from the Government of India for her contributions to Indian classical dance and music.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-01 |title=ഡോ. ലീലാ ഓംചേരി അന്തരിച്ചു |language=en |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/literature/news/drleela-omchery-classical-singer-musicologist-and-writer-passes-away-at-delhi-1.9035116 |access-date=2023-11-02}}</ref> 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]], a classical and playback singer in Malayalam.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/AuthorSelect.asp?Author=Leela+Omchery |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502191147/http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/AuthorSelect.asp?Author=Leela+Omchery |archive-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

After early schooling in [[Kanyakumari]], she obtained a graduate degree in [[Carnatic music]] from [[Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram]] and continued her studies in [[Hindustani music]] at Punjab University, obtaining another graduate degree.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}} Her Master's degree came from [[Meerut University]] and she got her PhD in music from [[Delhi University]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://leelaomchery.org/academic-record |title=Academic Record | PROF. DR. LEELA OMCHERY |access-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120120617/http://leelaomchery.org/academic-record/ |archive-date=20 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://leelaomchery.org/career |title=Career | PROF. DR. LEELA OMCHERY |access-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520214848/http://leelaomchery.org/career/ |archive-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Omchery was the President of ''Dakshina Bharati'' (a south Indian Women’s Organization) and Vice President of ''Swaralaya'', Delhi.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

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]], ICCR, IGNCA, SNA (Delhi), the Ministry of Culture and [[IGNOU]].{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

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).{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

Omchery also wrote some short stories.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

==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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Noted musician Leela Omchery, who sang a tribute after Gandhi assassination, dies |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/11/01/obituary-musician-leela-omchery-dies.html |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Onmanorama}}</ref>

Leela Omchery died on 1 November 2023, aged 94.<ref>[https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1180328&u=leela-omchery-classical-music-pioneer-dies-aged-94 Leela Omchery, classical music pioneer dies aged 94]</ref>

==Works==

===English===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title !! Publisher !! Year
|-
| Indian Music and Allied Arts (5 volumes) || Sandeep Prakashan, Delhi || 1990
|-
| Gleanings in Indian Music || Sandeep Prakashan, Delhi || 1991
|-
| Immortals of Indian Music || Gyan Books, Delhi || 1998
|-
|}

===Malayalam===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title !! Publisher !! Year
|-
| Abhinaya Sangeetham || Bhasha Institute, Kerala || 1981
|-
| Paadavum Padhavum || D.C. Books, Kerala ||
|-
| Keralathile Laasya Rachanakal || D.C. Books, Kerala || 2003
|-
| Chinakkara Koothu Paattukal || Mudra Books, Delhi || 2008
|-
| Leela Omcheriyude Pathangal || Poorna Books, Kerala || 2009
|-
| Karuna Cheyvanenthu Thamsam Krishna || D.C. Books, Kerala || 2011
|-
| Vettam Mangiya Kovil Paattukal || Poorna Books, Kerala || 2012
|-
|}

===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==
{{unreferenced section|date= September 2022}}
* [[Padmashri]] by Government of India in 2009
* [[Sangeet Natak Academi Award|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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/classical-music/456|title=Classical Music|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref>
* ''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 (India)|University Grants Commission]] (UGC), Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and Culture (IGNCA), SNA (Delhi).

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
| title = Gleanings of Indian Music and Art
| author = Leela Omchery / [[Deepti Omchery Bhalla]]
| year = 1991
| publisher = MLBD
| isbn = 8185067775
}}
* {{cite book
| title = Studies in Indian Music and Allied Arts (5 Vols.)
| author = Leela Omchery
| year = 1990
| publisher = MLBD
| isbn = 8185067600
}}
* {{cite book
| title = Karuna Cheyvanenthu Thamsam Krishna
| author = Leela Omchery / [[Deepti Omchery Bhalla]]
| year = 2012
| publisher = DC Books
| isbn = 9788124019221
}}

==External links==
* [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Padmashree-Dr-Leela-Omchery/152559338267728 Facebook]
* {{discogs artist|Leela Omchery}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}

{{authority control}}

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

Leela Omchery - Revision history

Chefajaychopra123 at 21:51, 22 December 2025