<?xml version="1.0"?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en">
	<id>https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=Leela_Samson</id>
	<title>Leela Samson - Revision history</title>
	<link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=Leela_Samson"/>
	<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Leela_Samson&amp;action=history"/>
	<updated>2026-07-30T16:00:51Z</updated>
	<subtitle>Revision history for this page on the wiki</subtitle>
	<generator>MediaWiki 1.45.4</generator>
	<entry>
		<id>https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Leela_Samson&amp;diff=512031&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>Serzeqy at 08:54, 15 March 2026</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Leela_Samson&amp;diff=512031&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2026-03-15T08:54:00Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{short description|Indian choreographer (born 1951)}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Infobox dancer&lt;br /&gt;
| name          = Leela Samson&lt;br /&gt;
| image         = File:Leelasamson2.jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| alt           =&lt;br /&gt;
| caption       = Leela Samson&lt;br /&gt;
| full_name     =&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_name    =&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1951|05|06}}&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_place   = [[Coonoor]], [[The Nilgiris District]], [[Madras State]]&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;(now [[Tamil Nadu]]), India&lt;br /&gt;
| death_date    = &amp;lt;!-- {{death date and age|df=yes|deathyear|mm|dd|birthyear|mm|dd}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| death_place   = &lt;br /&gt;
| father = [[Benjamin Abraham Samson]]&lt;br /&gt;
| occupation    = Chairperson: [[Central Board of Film Certification]] (2011–15)&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;Director: [[Kalakshetra]] (2005–13)&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;Chairperson: [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] (2010–14)&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;Actor: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[OK Kanmani]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2015), &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Adithya Varma]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2019), &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Sillu Karupatti]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2019)&lt;br /&gt;
| current_group = &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Spanda&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (1995–present)&lt;br /&gt;
| dances        = [[Bharatanatyam]]&lt;br /&gt;
| website       =  {{URL|http://www.leelasamsondance.com}}&lt;br /&gt;
|awards=[[Padma Shri]]&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;[[Kalaimamani]] (2005)&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Leela Samson&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (born 6 May 1951) is a [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer, choreographer, instructor, writer and actress from [[India]]. As a soloist, she is known for her technical virtuosity and has taught Bharatanatyam at [[Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra|Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra]] in [[Delhi]] for many years.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;index&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Borders-no-Bar/475804/ |title=Borders no Bar |date=13 June 2009 |work=The Indian Express}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
She was appointed as the director of [[Kalakshetra]] by the Congress-led [[United Progressive Alliance]] in April 2005.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Leela Samson takes over as Kalakshetra director |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/18/stories/2005041812230500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050420161831/http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/18/stories/2005041812230500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2005 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=18 April 2005 |location=Chennai, India}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.artindia.net/leela.html Leela Samson Profile] artindia.net.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; She was subsequently also appointed as the chairperson of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] in August 2010&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ak&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |url=http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/files/Press-Release-12082010.pdf |title=Press Release |date=10 August 2010 |publisher=Sangeet Natak Academi}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sangeet-natak-akademi-chairperson-leela-samson-resigns/505174-8-66.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010204827/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sangeet-natak-akademi-chairperson-leela-samson-resigns/505174-8-66.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 October 2014 |title=Sangeet Natak Akademi chairperson Leela Samson resigns |date=10 October 2014 |publisher=CNN-IBN}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Leela-Samson-to-be-Sangeet-Natak-Academy-chairperson/articleshow/6111583.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103201147/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-01/india/28306065_1_chairperson-sangeet-natak-academy-charge |url-status=live |archive-date=3 November 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Leela Samson to be Sangeet Natak Academy chairperson |date=1 July 2010}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and as the chairperson of the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] (CBFC) in April 2011.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;tnie&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1592304.ece |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=New censor board chief Leela Samson promises balanced approach |date=2 April 2011}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
She resigned from her position as director of Kalakshetra in 2012.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article3368579.ece |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=I&amp;#039;ll try through my dance to find myself again |date=30 April 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3361530.ece |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |title=Leela Samson to quit as Kalakshetra director |date=28 April 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; She resigned from her position as chairperson of the CBFC after the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal overturned her attempt to ban the film &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[MSG: The Messenger of God]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; featuring [[Dera Sacha Sauda]] founder [[Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh]] in a lead role and gave it clearance.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/censor-board-chief-leela-samson-decides-to-quit/article1-1307305.aspx#sthash.MrDW2c7U.dpuf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116025245/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/censor-board-chief-leela-samson-decides-to-quit/article1-1307305.aspx#sthash.MrDW2c7U.dpuf |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 January 2015 |location=New Delhi, India |work=Hindustan Times |title=Censor Board chief Leela Samson quits over MSG nod, govt denies interference |date=16 January 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
She made her film acting debut in 2015 through the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] film, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[OK Kanmani]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; directed by [[Mani Ratnam]]. She reprised her role in the film&amp;#039;s [[Hindi language|Hindi]] remake,  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[OK Jaanu]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2017). She also appeared in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Adithya Varma]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2019) and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Putham Pudhu Kaalai]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2020).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Early life and training==&lt;br /&gt;
Samson was born on 6 May 1951&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ak&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;sruti&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Sruti, Issues 160-171, Publisher P.N. Sundaresan, 1998&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; in [[Coonoor]], Tamil Nadu, daughter of [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] [[Benjamin Abraham Samson]] and Laila Samson. Her father belonged to the [[Jewish]] [[Bene Israel|Bene-Israelite]] community from [[Pune]], and her mother belonged to the [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] [[Roman Catholic]] community from [[Ahmedabad]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;sruti&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web |url=http://thiraseela.com/artist/profile.php?perfmrid=297 |title=Leela samson (Padma Shri) Bharatanatyam Dancer &amp;amp; Choreographer Profile, Programs, Awards, Photos &amp;amp; Videos |website=thiraseela.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230110622/http://thiraseela.com/artist/profile.php?perfmrid=297 |archive-date=30 December 2014}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Leela&amp;#039;s paternal aunt Annie was the Principal of Anjum-e-Islam Muslim school for girls in [[Mumbai]] for 31 years.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;rediff2003&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=For these Jews, Mumbai is the chosen land |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/11spec.htm |website=www.rediff.com}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
When Samson was nine years of age, her father sent her to [[Kalakshetra]] to learn Indian classical dance and music under the founder, [[Rukmini Devi Arundale]] and she studied in the Besant Theosophical High School at the same time.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;rediff2003&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; She completed her B.A. from [[Sophia College for Women]] and this is where she was inspired to make her career in Bharatnatyam.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/sophia-at-75-its-legacy-how-it-always-brought-our-dreams-to-life-say-alumni/story-XnocpprcS0QeDFcyVz5NFL_amp.html |title=Sophia at 75: Its legacy? How it always brought our dreams to life, say alumni |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=20 June 2017}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; After completing her B.A., Samson continued to learn [[Bharatanatyam]] at Kalakshetra.&amp;lt;ref name=cct/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1993/11/1993-11-02.shtml Noted students of Kalakshetra] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312002731/http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1993/11/1993-11-02.shtml |date=12 March 2008 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
Starting her career as a Bharatanatyam soloist, Samson taught at [[Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra]], Delhi, and [[Gandharva Mahavidyalaya]], Delhi. Over the years, she started performing across India and abroad including [[Europe]], [[Africa]] and the [[Americas]].&amp;lt;ref name=cct&amp;gt;[http://www.ccrtindia.gov.in/leela-samson.htm Artiste&amp;#039;s Profile: Leela Samson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710033820/http://ccrtindia.gov.in/leela-samson.htm |date=10 July 2011 }}, Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Government of India.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1995, Samson formed Spanda, a dance group to review the traditional vocabulary of Bharatanatyam. Two documentary films – &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Sanchari&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Flowering Tree&amp;#039;&amp;#039; – have been made on her works.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguin.co.in:443/|title=Penguin Books|website=Penguin Random House India}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Her notable disciples included [[Joyce Paul Poursabahian]] and [[Justin McCarthy (dancer)|Justin McCarthy]], who now teaches at Sri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;index&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; She has taught and mentored performers including the late Kamaljit Bhasin Maalik (Meeto), Jin Shan Shan (Eesha), Navtej Singh Johar and Anusha Subramanyam.{{fact|date=October 2025}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
She authored a biography of Rukmini Devi Arundale. She has taught Bharatanatyam across the world, including at the [[Royal Opera House]], [[Covent Garden]], London,&amp;lt;ref name=cct/&amp;gt; and the annual Milapfest in Manchester.{{fact|date=October 2025}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Awards==&lt;br /&gt;
Samson has received the [[Padma Shri]] (1990),&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=Padma Awards |publisher=[[Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Ministry of Communications and Information Technology]] |url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/padma_awards.php}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; the Sanskriti, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Nritya Choodamani&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Kalaimamani]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2005) given by [[Government of Tamil Nadu]],&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[https://web.archive.org/web/20061029105424/http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/15/stories/2006021513330100.htm Kalaimamani Awards for 123 persons announced] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Hindu&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, 15 February 2006.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (1999–2000) for contributions to [[Bharatanatyam]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web |url=http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=SNA: List of Akademi Awardees |publisher=[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] Official website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217185616/http://www.sangeetnatak.org/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archive-date=17 February 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
She was also nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress-Tamil at the 63rd Filmfare Awards South.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Controversy==&lt;br /&gt;
Samson is known for her proximity to the [[Nehru-Gandhi family|Nehru-Gandhi]] of the [[Indian National Congress]],&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/buzzword/samson-is-sonia-choice |title=Samson is Sonia&amp;#039;s choice |work=Sunday Guardian |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020831/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/buzzword/samson-is-sonia-choice |url-status=dead }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;tune&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; as she was the dance tutor of [[Priyanka Vadra]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;tnie&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article298014.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117135956/http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article298014.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 January 2015 |title=A silent rebel against extremism |date=5 September 2010 |work=The New Indian Express}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;tune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/missing-invitations/770840/ |title=Dancing to her tune |date=3 April 2011 |work=The Indian Express}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Samson held six key positions in the 10 years of Congress-led [[United Progressive Alliance]] regime. Many papers including the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Indian Express]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; alleged favouritism regarding her appointment as the chairperson of the censor board by UPA govt in 2011:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{blockquote|Leela Samson&amp;#039;s appointment as chairperson of the Censor Board has raised the question as to whether the well-known Bharatanatyam dancer will have time to devote to her new assignment. Last year, Samson was appointed chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, another prestigious position. The academy is the apex body for the performing arts. Samson is also ex-officio head of the south zone cultural centre. Apart from these commitments, she has a full-time job as director of Kalakshetra in Chennai. Samson, who was once Priyanka Gandhi&amp;#039;s dance teacher, has no particular connection with the world of cinema. After her appointment, Samson candidly admitted that she seldom watches films.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;tune&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Samson&amp;#039;s tenures at Kalakshetra, Sangeet Natak Akademi and the censor board were mired with many controversies amid allegations of corruption,&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;pil&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20120514-leela-samson-quits-kalakshetra-after-pil-questions-continuance-758300-2012-05-04 |title=The Dance of Controversy |date=4 May 2012 |work=India Today}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; illegal appointments and arbitrary awarding of contracts,&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;pioneer&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/leelas-kala-as-kalakshetra-director-questioned.html |title=Leela&amp;#039;s Kala as Kalakshetra Director Questioned |date=14 July 2013 |work=Daily Pioneer}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; as well as financial irregularities.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;dirt&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/the-dirt-beneath-the-charm/article3371588.ece |title=The Dirt beneath the Charm |date=1 May 2012 |work=The Hindu}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Samson was criticised by the [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]] when she passed the 2014 [[Aamir Khan]]-starrer movie &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[PK (film)|PK]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; without any cuts, even after two board members resigned after it was granted certification, due to content allegedly designed to ridicule [[Hinduism|Hindu]] religious philosophy and hurt Hindu sentiments. Veteran [[Bollywood]] actor and a former chairperson of the censor board [[Anupam Kher]] criticised Samson for playing politics by making partisan allegations while tendering her resignation.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;pkmsg&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/if-pk-was-cleared-why-not-msg-vhp-accuses-leela-samson-of-playing-politics-2054531.html |title=If PK was cleared, why not MSG? VHP accuses Leela Samson of &amp;#039;playing politics&amp;#039; |date=20 January 2015 |work=Firstpost}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anupam-kher-criticises-censor-board-chairman-leela-samson-for-resigning-from-her-post/523648-8-66.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119212452/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anupam-kher-criticises-censor-board-chairman-leela-samson-for-resigning-from-her-post/523648-8-66.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2015 |title=Anupam Kher criticizes Censor Board chairman Leela Samson for resigning from her post |date=19 January 2015 |publisher=CNN-IBN}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; This criticism was made highlighting the history of CBFC under her leadership which agreed to make cuts in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Entertainment (2014 film)|Entertainment]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; after protests by Muslim groups&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/oped/censor-board-and-its-uncensored-leelas.html |title=Censor Board and its uncensored leelas |work=Daily Pioneer}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and also agreed to make cuts in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; after protests by Christian groups,&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-catholic-groups-get-objectionable-kamaal-dhamaal-malamaal-scenes-out-1747250 |title=Catholic groups get objectionable &amp;#039;Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal&amp;#039; scenes out |work=DNA India}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; personally assuring them that &amp;quot;necessary action had been taken&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=http://www.kemmannu.com/index.php?action=flashnews&amp;amp;type=269we|title=Kemmannu.com &amp;amp;#124; Censor Board Assures Objectionable Scenes Deleted from &amp;#039;Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal&amp;#039; (KDM)|website=www.kemmannu.com}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In December 2019, [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] filed a case of corruption and criminal breach of trust against Samson and three other Kalakshetra colleagues for financial irregularities.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cbi-books-ex-sangeet-natak-akademi-chairperson-leela-samson-over-irregularities/articleshow/72591891.cms |title=CBI registers corruption case against Leela Samson,3 other Kalakshetra officials |date=14 December 2019 |work=TOI}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 23 December 2022, as a comment on a facebook post, Leela had accused a male faculty of Kakakshetra of molesting young girls of the institute. She alleged that the male faculty was in inappropriate relationsship with an intern, Athena Sadiq. The faculty as well as Athena denied the allegations and filed a criminal defamation case against Leela. The case was settled in June 2025 after a mediation. As per terms of settlement, the XVI additional civil court ordered Leela to pay her Rs. 8 lakh to Athena and publish a regret post on Fecebook.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2025-06-17 |title=Kalakshetra row: Leela Samson expresses regret over FB post |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Jun/17/kalakshetra-row-leela-samson-expresses-regret-over-fb-post |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=EdexLive |date=2025-06-17 |title=Leela Samson expresses regret for 2022 post which triggered Kalakshetra sexual harassment row |url=https://www.edexlive.com/news/2025/Jun/17/leela-samson-expresses-regret-for-2022-post-which-triggered-kalakshetra-sexual-harassment-row |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=EdexLive |language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Leela posted on Facebook,&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;blockquote&amp;gt;On December 23, 2022, I put a post on Athena, former student and presently Tutor at the Kalakshetra Foundation, on Facebook. I had wrongly mentioned her name in connection with a male faculty. I regret the error and no further comments will be made by me on her in the future.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/blockquote&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
It is also alleged that before making the regret post on the Facebook, Leela reduced the visibility of her post by reducing her 2000 facebook friends of her account to just 5 friends.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web |date=2025-06-16 |title=Former Kalakshetra Director Leela Samson Expresses &amp;#039;Regret&amp;#039; For Wrongly Linking A Female Student With A Male Faculty - The Commune |url=https://thecommunemag.com/former-kalakshetra-director-leela-samson-expresses-regret-after-wrongly-naming-student-in-facebook-post/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |language=en-US}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Works==&lt;br /&gt;
* Samson, Leela (1987). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Rhythm in Joy: Classical Indian Dance Traditions&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. New Delhi: Lustre Press.&lt;br /&gt;
* Samson, Leela (2010). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Rukmini Devi: A Life&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Delhi: Penguin Books, India, {{ISBN|0-670-08264-3}}.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264007|title=First Light &amp;amp;#124; Jaya Jaitly|website=www.outlookindia.com}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Filmography ==&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable sortable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Language !! Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| 2015 || &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[O Kadhal Kanmani]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Bhavani || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ||Debut Tamil film&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| 2017 ||  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[OK Jaanu]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Charu Srivastava || [[Hindi]] ||Debut Hindi film&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| 2018 || &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[America Mappillai]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; ||Vasantha ||rowspan=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;|Tamil ||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;| 2019 || &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Adithya Varma]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Adithya&amp;#039;s grandmother ||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Sillu Karupatti]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Yashoda || Anthology film; Segment: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Turtles&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | 2020 ||  &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Putham Pudhu Kaalai]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Bhairavi || [[Amazon Prime]] anthology film; Segment: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Reunion&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Kaali Khuhi]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Dadi || Hindi || [[Netflix]] Original&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;| 2021 || &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Bhramam]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; ||Irene Dicotta|| [[Malayalam]] ||Debut Malayalam film&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Shyam Singha Roy]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Psychologist || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ||Debut Telugu film&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| 2022 || &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Priyan Ottathilanu]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; ||Priscilla&amp;#039;s mother||Malayalam ||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;| 2023 || &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Music School (film)|Music School]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; ||Devika Reddy || Hindi&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;Telugu ||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Vaan Moondru]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;  || Chitra || rowspan=2|Tamil ||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Leo (2023 Indian film)|Leo]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Public Prosecutor  ||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot; |2024||&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Jananam 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu&amp;#039;&amp;#039;|| Gowri || rowspan=2|Malayalam||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Jai Ganesh (film)|Jai Ganesh]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;|| Uma Moorthi||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Andhagan]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || D&amp;#039;Susa || Tamil ||&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Bhale Unnade]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Ravethi || Telugu || &lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |2025||&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Red Flower]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; ||  || rowspan=2| Tamil || &lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Yellow (2025 film)|Yellow]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; || Kalyani || |&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Awards and nominations==&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable sortable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|- style=&amp;quot;background:#B0C4DE;&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
! scope=&amp;quot;col&amp;quot; | Year&lt;br /&gt;
! scope=&amp;quot;col&amp;quot; | Award&lt;br /&gt;
! scope=&amp;quot;col&amp;quot; | Category&lt;br /&gt;
! scope=&amp;quot;col&amp;quot; | Film&lt;br /&gt;
! scope=&amp;quot;col&amp;quot; | Result&lt;br /&gt;
! scope=&amp;quot;col&amp;quot; | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;|2015&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Filmfare Awards South]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil|Best Supporting Actress – Tamil]]&lt;br /&gt;
| rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;| &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[O Kadhal Kanmani]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
|{{nom}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Who will win the award for Best Supporting Actor (Female) - Tamil? |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/who-will-win-the-award-for-best-supporting-actor-female-tamil-13856.html |access-date=4 October 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards|Best Supporting Actress]]&lt;br /&gt;
|{{won}}&lt;br /&gt;
||-&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==External links==&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.leelasamsondance.com/ Leela Samson Official Website]&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.narthaki.com/info/intervw/intrvw64.html &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Her Majesty&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, Richard Turner interviewed Leela Samson (August 2003)]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Commons category}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Authority control}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{DEFAULTSORT:Samson, Leela}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Bene Israel]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian classical choreographers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian dance teachers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Bharatanatyam dancers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Dance writers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:1951 births]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Living people]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian Jews]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Women writers from Tamil Nadu]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian arts administrators]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Kalakshetra Foundation alumni]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Recipients of the Kalaimamani Award]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:People from Nilgiris district]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian women choreographers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Dancers from Tamil Nadu]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Women educators from Tamil Nadu]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:20th-century Indian women educators]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:20th-century Indian non-fiction writers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Educators from Tamil Nadu]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Women artists from Tamil Nadu]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Sophia College for Women alumni]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Serzeqy</name></author>
	</entry>
</feed>