Kaviyoor Ponnamma

Biography

Kaviyoor Ponnamma (10 September 1945 – 20 September 2024) was an Indian actress who appeared in Malayalam films and television. She began her career performing in theatre dramas before foraying into cinema. She also acted in TV serials and commercials and had playback singing credits in few films Ponnamma was a four-time Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winner. Often called as the "mother to all actors", she acted as mother of almost all actors in her career spanning over decades. At the age of 20, she played the mother of older actors Sathyan and Madhu in Thommente Makkal (1965). She particularly gained critical acclaim for acting as the mother of Mohanlal. As a five-year-old, she learned music and sang in stage shows. In 1958, she was spotted by Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) who was looking for a girl who can sing in their stage play. They also gave her the role of heroine in Mooladhanam, her debut stage drama at age 13. It was directed by Thoppil Bhasi. After five years came her first movie Kudumbini, in which she did the title role of the mother of two children. Ponnamma died from cancer at Lissie Hospital in Kochi, Kerala, on 20 September 2024, at the age of 79.

Most Known For

Rathinirvedam

as Saraswathi

Aniyara

Poacher

as Mother Finn

Apoorvam Chilar

as Sarojam

Samagamam

as Annakutty

Lal Salam

as Herself

Ezhunnallathu

Nizhalattam

as Ravi's Mother

The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan

Prayanam

as Amminiyamma

Avalude Ravukal

as Lakshmi

Oonjaal

Thoppil Joppan

as Marykutty

Chamaram

as Ravi's Mother

Mamangam

as Puthumana Thampuratti

Sathya

as Malayali shop-owner

Aabhijathyam

as Janaki Amma

Kakkakuyil

as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty

Natturajavu

as Charlie's Mother

Devi Kanyakumari

as Old Lady