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Leela Naidu

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Leela Naidu
Naidu on a 2011India Poststamp
Born1940[1]
Died28 July 2009 (aged 69)
Mumbai
Occupation(s)Actor, Model[citation needed]
Years active1960–1992
Spouses
  • Tilak Raj Oberoi
    (m.1956, divorced)
  • (m.1969, separated)
Parent
AwardsFemina Miss India

Leela Naidu(1940 – 28 July 2009) was an Indian actress who starred in a small number ofHindiandEnglishfilms, includingYeh Raste Hain Pyar Ke(1963), based on the real-lifeNanavaticase, andThe Householder,Merchant Ivory Productions' first film. She wasFemina Miss Indiain 1954, and was featured in theVoguealong withMaharani Gayatri Deviin the list of "World's Ten Most Beautiful Women", a list she was continuously listed in from the 1950s to the 1960s in prominent fashion magazines worldwide. She is remembered for her stunning classical beauty and subtle acting style.

Early life[edit]

Leela Naidu was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. Her father, Dr.Pattipati Ramaiah Naidu,a well knownnuclear physicist,hailed fromMadanapalle,ChittoorDistrict,Andhra Pradesh,and had worked under the supervision of Nobel LaureateMarie Curiefor his doctoral thesis in Paris. He ran one of Madame Curie's labs in Paris. He was Scientific Advisor toUNESCOfor Southeast Asia, and later, an advisor to the Tata group. Her mother, journalist and Indologist, Dr. Marthe Mange Naidu, was of Swiss-French origin, from Pont d'Avignon, South-France and earned her PhD from theSorbonne.[2][3][4]Naidu was the only surviving child out of eight pregnancies as Marthe had seven miscarriages.

Naidu enjoyed the advantages of birth and the connections of her parents. She grew up in Europe, went to an elite school in Geneva, Switzerland, and in her teens, took acting lessons from Jean Renoir.

Leela metSalvador Dalíin Grand-hotel Opera, Paris where she posed for a painting of the Madonna.[5]

Career[edit]

Leela Naidu was crownedFemina Miss Indiain 1954, and the same year was featured inVoguemagazine's list of the world's ten most beautiful women.[2][6]

Film career[edit]

Naidu made her film debut alongsideBalraj SahniinAnuradha(1962), directed byHrishikesh Mukherjee.Mukherjee cast Naidu in the role after he happened to see one of her pictures taken byKamaladevi Chattopadhyay.[7]Though it was not successful at the box office, the film went on to win theNational Film Award for Best Feature Film,and garnered Naidu critical acclaim. The movie's music, including the songs "Haye Re Woh Din Kewn Na Aaye", "Jaane Kaise Sapnon Mein Kho Gayin Ankhiyan" and "Kaise Din Beete Kaisi Beeti Raatein", were composed by sitar maestroRavi Shankar.[8]Naidu's next film was Nitin Bose'sUmeed(1962), alongsideAshok KumarandJoy Mukherjee.

She played an offbeat role as an adulterous wife inYeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke(1963), directed byR.K. Nayyar.[9]The movie, which co-starredSunil DuttandRehman,was based on the real life caseK. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra.[2][7]Despite its topical nature and controversial theme, the movie flopped; however, some of its songs, notably "Ye Khaamoshiyaan, Ye Tanahaaiyaan", became quite popular.[10]

In 1963, Naidu played the lead role of a rebellious young bride in the firstMerchant Ivory filmThe Householder,directed byJames Ivory.According to Leela in her 2009 semi-biography, Ivory andIsmail Merchanthad approached her about making their first ever feature movie with a story about an archaeologist, but this fell through as the backers did not like the film script. She then suggested to Merchant-Ivory, making a movie about a book calledThe HouseholderbyRuth Prawer Jhabvala,which led to their introduction to Ruth and a fruitful lifelong partnership.Satyajit Raylent his crew, got many of the actors he used in his movies to act in this movie, selected the music and musicians, re-cut and reedited the final version, thus guiding and teaching Merchant-Ivory in movie making technique which they successfully used in their award-winning movies and documentaries in the future.

After watching her performance in the film,Satyajit Rayplanned an English film,The Journey,withMarlon Brando,Shashi Kapoorand Naidu, but the film was never made.[11]She was considered for the role of Rosie inVijay Anand'sGuide(1965), but the role required a trained dancer, and so Naidu lost out toWaheeda Rehman.Her last film in Hindi mainstream cinema wasBaghi(1964), a costume extravaganza co-starringPradeep Kumar,Vijaya ChoudhuryandMumtaz.

Later, Naidu made a guest appearance in the Merchant-Ivory film,The Guru(1969).[12]She returned to cinema in 1985 to play aGoanmatriarch inShyam Benegal's period filmTrikaal.[13]Her appearance inElectric Moon(1992), directed byPradip Krishen,turned out to be her last cinematic role.

She turned downRaj Kapoorfour times when he approached her for casting her in his films. David Lean wanted to cast her as Tonya inDr. Zhivago,Satyajit Ray wanted to make a film with her and Marlon Brando.[14]

Leela Naidu produced a documentary on mentally challenged childrenA Certain Childhood,which was Kumar Shahni's first directorial project under the banner of Leela Naidu Films. Later, she registered under Unicorn Films to make another filmHouseless Bombay,but it was never made. She briefly held a job as an editor at the Bombay-based magazineKey Notes.

In September 2009,Lila,a documentary on Leela Naidu's life, by Bidisha Roy Das and Priyanjana Dutta was released.[15]

Personal life[edit]

In 1956, at the age of 17, she married Tilak Raj Oberoi, son ofMohan Singh Oberoi,the founder of the luxuryOberoi Hotelschain.[16]Tilak Raj, known as "Tikki", was 33 years old at the time.[16][17]Naidu and Oberoi had twin daughters, Maya and Priya. The brief marriage ended in divorce, and Oberoi won custody of the girls. Subsequently, Naidu met philosopherJiddu Krishnamurtiwhile in London, and was deeply attracted to his teachings.[18]In 1969, she was married for the second time, toMumbaipoetDom Moraes.They lived inHong Kong,New York City,New Delhi,and Mumbai for about 25 years. After the relationship ended, Naidu led a somewhat reclusive life inColaba,Mumbai.[19]

Death[edit]

Leela Naidu's separation from her second husband Moraes caused her to retire from public life. She lived alone, in an elegant and large old flat bequeathed to her father by the Tatas, at Sargent House, in old Bombay the by-lane of the Colaba Causeway, Mumbai.[20]Naidu spent most of her last decade indoors but had a steady roster of visitors as she was an excellent conversationalist. She would call her friends and keep in touch with both her daughters and grandsons. Her daughter Priya died of a heart attack on 8 February 2008.

Leela Naidu died in Mumbai on 28 July 2009, due to lung failure after a prolonged bout ofinfluenza,at the age of 69.[21][22]Her funeral was held on 29 July in Chandanwadi Crematorium attended by her daughter Maya, grandchildren and friends.

Books[edit]

  • Leela: A Patchwork Lifeco-authored withJerry Pinto.Penguin Group, 2009.

Filmography[edit]

Films[edit]

Television[edit]

  • Man of the World.... Dr. Bahandi (1 episode – "The Frontier", 1962)
  • ChanningThe Face in the Sun (1 episode – "The Young and the Bold", 1964).... Anna

References[edit]

  1. ^"Leela Naidu: Miss India of 1954 who went on to forge a career as an".Independent.co.uk.21 September 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2019.Retrieved2 September2017.
  2. ^abcThe Times of India(29 July 2009)."Leela Naidu put India on the beauty map".The Times Of India.Archivedfrom the original on 31 July 2009.Retrieved29 July2009.
  3. ^ProfileLata Khubchandani, Prevention Today (India Today). "French Mother"
  4. ^"The Art Of Being Radiant".Outlook. 17 August 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 24 September 2015.Retrieved30 July2015.
  5. ^Pinto, Jerry (6 May 2010).LEELA: A PATCHWORK LIFE.Penguin UK.ISBN9788184752540.Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2023.Retrieved21 October2020.
  6. ^"Actress, beauty queen Leela Naidu dead".Press Trust of India.28 July 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2023.Retrieved29 July2009.
  7. ^abDubey, Bharati (29 July 2009)."Leela Naidu personified grace and beauty".The Times of India.Archivedfrom the original on 31 July 2009.Retrieved29 July2009.
  8. ^A cineaste in the mainstream cinemaArchived1 August 2009 at theWayback MachineRaju Bharatan,Rediff12 September 2000.
  9. ^'The gentleman of the industry'Archived25 May 2011 at theWayback MachineLata Khubchandani,Rediff25 May 2005.
  10. ^A Leela Naidu film: Ya Raste hain Pyar keArchived26 May 2009 at theWayback MachinePassion for Cinema, 10 November 2006.
  11. ^"Satyajit Ray planned film with Leela Naidu, Brando".The Times of India.28 July 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 3 August 2009.Retrieved29 July2009.
  12. ^'He was an adorable producer'Archived4 August 2007 at theWayback MachineLata Khubchandani.Rediff26 May 2005.
  13. ^"Leela was wonderful: Benegal".The Times of India.29 July 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 2 August 2009.Retrieved29 July2009.
  14. ^Suveen K. Sinha (16 June 2010)."A lifelong battle against beauty".Archivedfrom the original on 15 September 2016.Retrieved8 October2016– via Business Standard.
  15. ^Jerry Pinto(28 August 2009)."Sense and sensitivity: A documentary gives us glimpses of Leela Naidu, the person".Live Mint.Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2023.Retrieved27 January2010.
  16. ^ab"Oberoi Mohan Singh".The Most Famous Hotels in the World. 9 November 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2017.Retrieved29 July2009.
  17. ^Leela Naidu: An icon of Indian cinema passes awayArchived7 October 2012 at theWayback MachineThe Daily Star,1 August 2009
  18. ^The Philosopher and the ActressArchived2 August 2009 at theWayback MachineRediff17 February 2001.
  19. ^One of world's 'most beautiful women' diesArchived31 July 2009 at theWayback MachineIndian Express,29 July 2009.
  20. ^Express, The Indian."The Indian Express".archive.indianexpress.The Express Group, India.Retrieved17 March2023.
  21. ^"Veteran Hindi film actress Leela Naidu dies".Times of India.28 July 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 31 July 2009.Retrieved29 July2009.
  22. ^Leela Naidu deadCNN IBN28 July 2009.

External links[edit]