Porayathu Leela, better known as P. Leela, was a popular Indian playback singer. She was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2006.

Starting at the age of 13, she has sung about 5000 film songs in all the South Indian languages Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. She also sang in one Bengali film and in Sinhala movies. Her songs are known for their emotional touch and classical discipline. She made a name for herself by singing in her mellifluous voice both for the film industry and in carnatic music She considered it an honour to have sung in the same period as M S Subbulakshmi, M L Vasanthakumari and D K Pattammal - three giants of Carnatic music. She has worked under all great music directors and has sung with all the major singers of the South Indian film industry.

In the 1950s Leela was busy singing in all the South Indian languages. Her songs in films like Patala Bhairavi, Missamma, Pelli Chesi Choodu, Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu, Gundamma Katha, Lava kusa are the greatest melodies and remembered even today after many decades. Vijaya productions' first movie, Shaukaru, did not fare well at the box office. However, the film had great melodies by Ghantasala and Leela. In the film Missamma ( made asMissiyamma in Tamil), the songs by S. Rajeswara rao combined with voices of A.M. Raja, P. Leela and P. Susheela have become immortal, casting a magical spell over the listeners. Vijaya productions sixth film made in the 1957, Maya Bazaar (directed by K.V.Reddy) is a true classic. The song "kalyana samaiyal satham (vivaha bhojanammu)" in the film still stands the test of time.. In one of the interviews Leela recalled that while recording the songs of `Maya Bazar, the composer took 28 takes of a song and they used the fifth take. She worked as a music director for a film called ‘Chinnari Pappulu’ (Telugu) in 1968. The film was produced exclusively by women.

Saichand T made this tribute docuentaty on this legendary singer and being shown as a part of 100 years of Indian Cinema.

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