Kalaimamani
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (2005) Winner
Leela Samson
リーラ・サムソン
Rīra Samson
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1951-05-06 （Coonoor, The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India）
- Nationality
- India
- Languages
- English, Tamil, Hindi
- Residence History
- Delhi → Chennai
Career
- Occupations
- Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, instructor, actress, writer
- Active Years
- 1975-
- Affiliations
- Kalakshetra, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Central Board of Film Certification
- Influenced By
- Rukmini Devi Arundale
- Influenced
- Joyce Paul Poursabahian
- Nominations
- Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actress – Tamil - O Kadhal Kanmani
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia College for Women | — | — | B.A. | — | India |
Sophia College for Women
Degree:
B.A.
Country:
India
Where she was inspired to pursue Bharatanatyam
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Padma Shri | Bharatanatyam | — | Government of India | Won |
| 2000 | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award | Bharatanatyam | — | Sangeet Natak Akademi | Won |
| 2005 | Kalaimamani | Bharatanatyam | — | Government of Tamil Nadu | Won |
| 2015 | Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards Best Supporting Actress | O Kadhal Kanmani | — | Norway Tamil Film Festival | Won |
Padma Shri
1990
Work:
Bharatanatyam
Organization:
Government of India
Result:
Won
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
2000
Work:
Bharatanatyam
Organization:
Sangeet Natak Akademi
Result:
Won
Kalaimamani
2005
Work:
Bharatanatyam
Organization:
Government of Tamil Nadu
Result:
Won
Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards Best Supporting Actress
2015
Work:
O Kadhal Kanmani
Organization:
Norway Tamil Film Festival
Result:
Won
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Rhythm in Joy: Classical Indian Dance Traditions
1987 DanceA book exploring classical Indian dance traditions.
Indian classical dance
Rukmini Devi: A Life
2010 BiographyBiography of Rukmini Devi Arundale, founder of Kalakshetra.
DanceCulture
Bibliography
- Rhythm in Joy: Classical Indian Dance Traditions (1987)
- Rukmini Devi: A Life (2010)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- technical virtuosityreinterpretation of tradition
- Recurring Motifs
- dance traditions
Legacy
Renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, teacher, and actress from India. Served as director of Kalakshetra and chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi, recipient of Padma Shri and other awards.
In Popular Culture
- Appeared in several Tamil, Hindi, and other Indian films.
Trivia
- Father from the Jewish Bene Israel community, mother from Gujarati Roman Catholic community.
- Served as dance tutor to Priyanka Vadra.
- Founded the dance ensemble Spanda in 1995.