Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Actor
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.
Filmography
Thenmavin Kombath
as Yeshodhamma 1994
In Harihar Nagar
as Andrews's mother 1990
Twenty 20
as Bharathi Amma 2008
Oppam
as Jayaraman's valiyammayi 2016
Sandhesam
as Bhanumathi 1991
2 Harihar Nagar
as Andrew's mother 2009
Mamangam
as Puthumana Thampuratti 2019
Ividam Swargamanu
as Elssama 2009
Vietnam Colony
as Parvathiyammal 1992
Vandanam
as Unnikrishnan's mother 1989
Nandanam
as Unni Amma 2002
Vatsalyam
as Janakiyamma 1993
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal
as Reetha 1986
Bharatham
as Devaki 1991
Dasharatham
as Chandradas's mother 1989
Pappayude Swantham Appoos
1992