Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Born: 1945-09-10 in Kaviyoor, Thiruvalla, Kerala
Died: 2024-09-10
Known For: Acting
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
2024
- Poacher as Mother Finn
2022
- Aaraattu as Voice (Uncredited)
2021
- Aanum Pennum as Sumathiyamma
- Ammachi Koottile Pranayakalam as Pathumma
2019
- Mamangam as Puthumana Thampuratti
2016
- Oppam as Jayaraman's valiyammayi
- Thoppil Joppan as Marykutty
- Pa.Va as Agnes / Sister amma
- Poyi Maranju Parayathe...
2014
- Avatharam as Madhavan's Mother
2013
- Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty as Mariyamma
- Ginger as Vivekanandan's mother
2012
- Mr. Marumakan as Bhavani Amma
2011
- Christian Brothers as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
- Ithu Nammude Katha as Saraswathy
- Collector as Avinash's and Mahendran's mother
2009
- 2 Harihar Nagar as Andrew's mother
- Ividam Swargamanu as Elssama
- Kappalu Muthalali as Devaki
- Meghatheertham
2008
- Twenty 20 as Bharathi Amma
- Gulmohar as Devaki
- Manjadikuru as Devayani
- Kavyam
2007
- Anchil Oral Arjunan as Sudheendran's mother
2006
- Vadakkumnadhan as Rugmavathi Amma
- Baba Kalyani as Meenakshiyamma
2004
- Natturajavu as Charlie's Mother
- Mampazhakkalam as Lakshmi
- Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty as Devaki
- Runway as Bharathi
- Vismayathumbathu as Sreekumar's Mother
2003
- Hariharan Pilla Happy Aanu as Padmavathiyamma
- Mr. Brahmachari as Subhadramma
- Pattanathil Sundaran as Bhavaniyamma
- Ammakilikkoodu as Marykutty Teacher
2002
- Nandanam as Unni Amma
2001
- Uthaman as Jayaraj's Mother
- Kakkakuyil as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
2000
- Arayannangalude Veedu as Lakshmi
1999
- Njangal Santhushtaranu as Mother of the orphanage
- Pallavur Devanarayanan as Bhageerathi
- The Godman as Amarnath's Mother
- Ezhupunna Tharakan as Kunjannamma
1998
- Kottaram Veettile Apputtan as Appottan's mother
- Amma Ammayiamma as Sarada
- Manjeeradhwani
- Poothiruvathira Raavil
1997
1995
- No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North as Vijayabhaskar's mother
- Minnaminuginum Minnukettu
- Saadaram
- Mannar Mathai Speaking as Meera's Mother
- Karma
1994
- Sukrutham
- Thenmavin Kombath as Yeshodhamma
- Santhanagopalam
- Vendor Daniel State Licency as Annamma Daniel
- Chukkan
- Njan Kodiswaran as Janaki
- Kudumba Visesham as Bharathi
1993
- Chenkol as Ammu
- Maya Mayooram
- Kavadiyattam as Sethulakshmi
- Vatsalyam as Janakiyamma
- Ithu Manjukaalam
- Gandharvam as Graceykutty
- Oru Kadankatha Pole
- Sopanam as Sethulakshmi Varma
- Kalippattam as Sarojam's mother
- Samagamam as Annakutty
1992
- Mukhamudra as Lakshmi
- Vietnam Colony as Parvathiyammal
- Pappayude Swantham Appoos
- Ponnurukkum Pakshi
- Aayushkalam as Aby Mathew's Mother
- Mahanagaram
- Kudumbasametham as Kochukutty Amma
1991
- Sandhesam as Bhanumathi
- Kizhakkunarum Pakshi as Ananthu' Mother
- Dhanam as Sivasankarans mother
- Pookkalam Varavayi as Nandan's Mother
- Ulladakkam as Sunny's Mother
- Bharatham as Devaki
- Aparahnam as Janakiyamma
- Apoorvam Chilar as Sarojam
- Ezhunnallathu
1990
- Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu as Nurse Leeladevi
- Rajavazhcha as Naniyamma
- His Highness Abdullah as Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
- Purappadu
- Kattukuthira as Manka
- Midhya as Rajagopal's Mother
- Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom as Vinayachandran's Mother
- In Harihar Nagar as Andrews's mother
1989
- Kireedam as Ammu
- Dasharatham as Chandradas's mother
- Vandanam as Unnikrishnan's mother
- Jaathakam as Janaki
- Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal as Devaki
- Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam as Mariamma
- Adhipan as Shyam Prakash's mother
- Muthukkudayum Choodi
- Mazhavilkavadi as Velayudhankutty's Mother
- Ulsavapittennu as Kalyaniyamma
1988
- Sathya as Malayali shop-owner
- 1921
- Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas
- Mukthi as Madhaviyamma
1987
- Thaniyavarthanam
- Irupatham Noottandu as Meenakshiyamma
- Anantaram as Yoginiyamma
- Oru Maymasa Pulariyil
- Achuvettante Veedu
1986
- Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal as Reetha
- Ennu Nathante Nimmi as Nirmala's grandmother
- Nakhakshathangal
- Sukhamo Devi
- Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku as Shanthamma
- Iniyum Kurukshetrum as Kartyayani
- Manasilloru Manimuthu
1985
- Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam as Janakikutty
- Adhyayam Onnu Muthal as Maash
- Makan Ente Makan as Paaruvamma
- Ee Thanalil Ithiri Neram
- Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki
- Angadikkappurathu as Rosi
1984
- Kanamarayathu as Mother Superior
- Ariyaatha Veethikal as Janakiyamma
- Manithali as Zulfikar's mother
- Thirakal as Madhaviyamma
- Face to Face
- Kodathi as Venu's mother
- Swanthamevide Bandhamevide as Lakshmi
1983
- Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare as Lakshmi
- Sesham Kazhchayil as Susheela
- Mansoru Maha Samudram as Devaki
- Marakkillorikkalum as Sharada
1982
- Chiriyo Chiri
- Ilakkangal as Valiyamma
- Beedi Kunjamma as Madhavan's Mother
- Balloon
- Kaaliya Mardhanam
1981
- Thrishna as Chinnammu
- Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla
- Oppol
- Vayal
1980
- Moorkhan
- Anthappuram
- Karimpana
- Kaantha Valayam as Mariyamma
- Manushya Mrugam as Babu's Mother
- Love in Singapore
- Thirayum Theeravum as Mohan's mother
- Agni Saram
- Chamaram as Ravi's Mother
1978
- Rathinirvedam as Saraswathi
- Eeta
- Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil
- Avalude Ravukal as Lakshmi
- Randilonnu
- Kodiyettam as Kamalamma
- Aniyara
- Uthrada Rathri
1977
- Satyavan Savithri
- Siva Thaandavam
- Nirakudam
- Itha Ivide Vare as Kamalakshi
- Oonjaal
- Jagadguru Aadisankaran as Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
- Acharam Ammini osaram Omana as Dhakshayani
1976
- Thulaavarsham
- Amrithavaahini as Lakshmi
- Appooppan
- Innale Innu
- Aruthu
1975
- Thiruvonam
- Utsavam as Mother of Gopi
- Mattoru Seetha
- Prayanam as Amminiyamma
- Tourist Bungalow
1974
- Nellu as Savithri Varassyar
- Ponnapuram Kotta
- Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan as Queen Lakshmi
- Chakravakam as Soshamma
- Devi Kanyakumari as Old Lady
1973
- Nirmalyam as Velichapad's Wife
1972
- Gandharavakshetram as Kalamezhuthu Singer
- Theerthayathra as Kochikkaavu
- Sree Guruvayoorappan
- Akkarapacha as Bhageerathi
- Aromalunni as Thumbolarcha
- Snehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku
- Manthrakodi as Saraswathi
- Puthrakameshti
1971
- Karakanakadal as Tharathi
- Vithukal as Ammini
- Aabhijathyam as Janaki Amma
1970
- Thriveni as Parvathy
- Cross Belt as Bhavani
- Vivahitha
- Othenante makan as Naani
- Nizhalattam as Ravi's Mother
1969
- Aalmaram as Ammini Amma
1965
- Odayil Ninnu as Kalyani
- Daham