Dindigul I. Leoni also known as Dindigul Leoni or simply known as Leoni ( ta , திண்டுக்கல் ஐ. லியோனி) (born 22 November 1954) is a pattimandram anchor, social

debate Debate is a process that involves formal discourse on a particular topic, often including a moderator and audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for often opposing viewpoints. Debates have historically occurred in public meetings, a ...

s anchor, school

teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

orator An orator, or oratist, is a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled. Etymology Recorded in English c. 1374, with a meaning of "one who pleads or argues for a cause", from Anglo-French ''oratour'', Old French ''orateur'' (14th ...

, actor, television personality and political activist. He received the adjective Dindigul which refers to his birthplace. He is well known for his

political satire Political satire is satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where Political discourse analysis, political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing ...

and humorous speech and also for his

tongue-in-cheek The idiom tongue-in-cheek refers to a humorous or sarcastic statement expressed in a serious manner. History The phrase originally expressed contempt, but by 1842 had acquired its modern meaning. Early users of the phrase include Sir Walter Scott ...

remarks. He currently serves as a talk show moderator in a pattimandram program telecast in

Kalaignar TV Kalaignar is an Indian general entertainment satellite television channel based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The channel was launched on 15 September 2007 as Kalaignar in respect of former Chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi. Malaysia ...

. His son-in-law

C. S. Amudhan C. S. Amudhan (born 19 July 1977) is an Indian filmmaker and lyricist from the Tamil film industry. Career Amudhan made his cinematic debut as a lyricist with ''Minnale'' (2001), where he wrote the song "Maddy Maddy". He made his directorial d ...

is a filmmaker.

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

. He eventually rose to fame and prominence in the state for his speeches in the television show. He received the state award

Kalaimamani The Kalaimamani is the highest civilian award in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. These awards are given by the ''Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram'' (literature, music and theatre), a unit of the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of ...

in 2010 for his stage speeches from the

Government of Tamil Nadu Government of Tamil Nadu is the subnational government for the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is seated at Fort St George, Chennai. The legislature of Tamil Nadu was bicameral until 1986, when it was replaced by a unicameral legislature, lik ...

. He has campaigned for

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...

based political party

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (; DMK) is a political party based in the state of Tamil Nadu where it is currently the ruling party having a comfortable majority without coalition support and the union territory of Puducherry where it is curre ...

2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election The Fourteenth Legislative Assembly Election was held on 13 April 2011 to elect members from 234 constituencies in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Results were released on 13 May 2011. Two major parties Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All In ...

2014 Indian general election General elections were held in India in nine phases from 7 April to 12 May 2014 to elect the members of the 16th Lok Sabha. With 834 million registered voters, they were the largest-ever elections in the world until being surpassed by the 2019 ...

and in

2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election The Fifteenth Legislative Assembly Election was held on 16 May 2016 for the 232 seats (except Thanjavur and Aravakurichi for which held on 26 October 2016) of the Legislative Assembly in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. AIADMK under J. Jayal ...

. He made his acting debut in 1997

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

film '' Ganga Gowri'' in a supporting role playing the role of

Arun Vijay Arun Vijay (born 19 November 1977), formerly known as Arun Kumar, is an Indian actor who works primarily in Tamil cinema. He also starred in a few films in Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. Born as Arun Kumar and being the only son of veteran actor ...

's father. He then made a comeback to film acting after a long gap of 23 years in 2020 for the unreleased film '' Aalambana''.

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. In January 2018, during a pattimandram show telecast during

Diwali Diwali (), Dewali, Divali, or Deepavali ( IAST: ''dīpāvalī''), also known as the Festival of Lights, related to Jain Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, and Bandna, is a religious celebration in Indian religions. It is ...

season he made references citing

Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under Narendra Modi ...

to "sleeper cells". He was criticised for his alleged political attacks on BJP.

Filmography

;Films * '' Ganga Gowri'' (1997) * ''

Panni Kutty ''Panni Kutty'' () is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by Anucharan Murugaiyan. The film stars Yogi Babu and Karunakaran, and also features Singampuli, Ramar, Thangadurai, Dindigul I. Leoni, Lakshmipriya and T. P. Gajendran ...

'' (2022) * ''Aalambana'' (TBA) ;Television * ''

Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal ''Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal'' () is a 1989 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language romantic drama film, written and directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Rahman (actor), Rahman (credited as Raghu) and Geetha (actress), Geetha, with Sowcar Janak ...

'' (2021) -

Zee Tamil Zee Tamil is an Indian Tamil language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The channel started broadcasting on 2008 and is available internationally. The channel broadcasts from Guindy, Chennai, T ...

(replaced by Jayaraj)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Leoni, Dindigul I. 1954 births Living people People from Dindigul district Male actors in Tamil cinema Indian male actors Indian television personalities Tamil male actors Television personalities from Tamil Nadu Indian educators Recipients of the Kalaimamani Award