Dindigul I. Leoni

Kalaimamani Dindigul I. Leoni also known as Dindigul Leoni or simply known as Leoni (Tamil: திண்டுக்கல் ஐ. லியோனி) (born 22 November 1954[1]) is a pattimandram anchor, social debates anchor, school teacher, orator, actor, television personality and political activist.[2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5]

Dindigul I. Leoni
திண்டுக்கல் ஐ. லியோனி
Born (1954-11-22) 22 November 1954
Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian
CitizenshipIndian
Occupationorator, educator, debates anchor
TelevisionKalaignar TV
TitleKalaimamani
Political partyDravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Spouse(s)Dr.Palaniammal
Amudha
ChildrenAhalya
Siva Kumar
Sathish Kumar
RelativesC. S. Amudhan
(son-in-law)

Career

Leoni initially served as a school teacher at the 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.[6] He received the prestigious state award Kalaimamani in 2010 for his stage speeches from the Government of Tamil Nadu.[7]

He has campaigned for Tamil Nadu based political party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, 2014 Indian general election and in 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.[8][9]

He made his acting debut in 1997 Tamil film Ganga Gowri in a supporting role playing the role of Arun Vijay'a father. He then made a comeback to film acting after a long gap of 23 years in 2020 for the unreleased film Aalambana.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

Filmography

References
  1. "Profile of Actor Dindigul I Leoni - Tamil Movie Data Base of Tamilstar.com". www.tamilstar.com. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  2. Bodiwala, Community Contributor Suresh. "Mr. Dindigul I. Leoni, Kalaignar TV fame joins Chicago Tamil Sangam to celebrate "Pongal Vizha 2015"". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  3. "Speakers fall silent as virus ruins election fever". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  4. Bureau, N. T. (20 October 2018). "Case registered against pattimandram anchor Dindigul Leoni". News Today | First with the news. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  5. Palani, Dhiwaharan. "C.S Amudhan Bashes People Who Accused That He Is Belong To DMK !! Says Had A Scene That Trolled "SEYAL" !! | Chennai Memes". Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  6. "Dindigul Leoni interview - time with COVID-19".
  7. "Tamil Nadu Govt announces Kalaimamani awards". The Hindu. PTI. 28 January 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 July 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "அம்மா பிரதமரானால் எதிர்க்கட்சி மாப்ளைங்க வாலைச் சுருட்டிக்கணும் : திண்டுக்கல் ஐ.லியோனி பேட்டி". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  9. "திமுக ஆட்சியில்தான் விழுப்புரம் வளர்ச்சி: திண்டுக்கல் ஐ.லியோனி". Dinamani. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  10. Dinamalar (17 February 2020). "23 வருடங்களுக்கு பிறகு மீண்டும் நடிக்க வந்த திண்டுக்கல் ஐ.லியோனி | after 23 years, i.leoni came back to acting". தினமலர் - சினிமா (in Tamil). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  11. "Dindigul Leoni files case over WhatsApp message". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2 September 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 July 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. Jan 16, Pradeep Kumar | TNN |; 2018; Ist, 00:07. "How Pattimandram took a political tone | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 July 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. "Yogi Babu & Karunakaran's 'Panni Kutty' trailer - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
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