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
- Collector as Avinash's and Mahendran's mother
- Christian Brothers as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
- Ithu Nammude Katha as Saraswathy
2009
- Evidam Swargamanu as Elssama
- Meghatheertham
- 2 Harihar Nagar as Andrew's mother
- Kappalu Muthalali as Devaki
2008
- Twenty 20 as Bharathi Amma
- Manjadikuru as Devayani
- Gulmohar as Devaki
- Kavyam
2007
- Anchil Oral Arjunan as Sudheendran's mother
2006
- Vadakkumnadhan as Rugmavathi Amma
- Baba Kalyani as Meenakshiyamma
2004
- Runway as Bharathi
- Mampazhakkalam as Lakshmi
- Natturajavu as Charlie's Mother
- Vismayathumbathu as Sreekumar's Mother
- Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty as Devaki
2003
- Mr. Brahmachari as Subhadramma
- Ammakilikkoodu as Marykutty Teacher
- Hariharan Pilla Happy Aanu as Padmavathiyamma
- Pattanathil Sundaran as Bhavaniyamma
2002
- Nandanam as Unni Amma
2001
- Kakkakuyil as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
- Uthaman as Jayaraj's Mother
2000
- Arayannangalude Veedu as Lakshmi
1999
- The Godman as Amarnath's Mother
- Pallavur Devanarayanan as Bhageerathi
- Ezhupunna Tharakan as Kunjannamma
- Njangal Santhushtaranu as Mother of the orphanage
1998
- Priyuralu
- Kottaram Veettile Apputtan as Appottan's mother
- Amma Ammayiamma as Sarada
- Poothiruvathira Raavil
1997
1995
- No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North as Vijayabhaskar's mother
- Mannar Mathai Speaking as Meera's Mother
- Minnaminuginum Minnukettu
- Saadaram
- Karma
1994
- Thenmavin Kombath as Yeshodhamma
- Vendor Daniel State Licency as Annamma Daniel
- Njan Kodiswaran as Janaki
- Kudumba Visesham as Bharathi
- Sukrutham
- Chukkan
- Santhanagopalam
1993
- Chenkol as Ammu
- Kalippattam as Sarojam's mother
- Gandharvam as Graceykutty
- Vatsalyam as Janakiyamma
- Kavadiyattam as Sethulakshmi
- Samagamam as Annakutty
- Maya Mayooram
- Sopanam as Sethulakshmi Varma
- Ithu Manjukaalam
- Oru Kadankatha Pole
1992
- Vietnam Colony as Parvathiyammal
- Pappayude Swantham Appoos
- Aayushkalam as Aby Mathew's Mother
- Mahanagaram
- Kudumbasametham as Kochukutty Amma
- Mukhamudra as Lakshmi
- Ponnurukkum Pakshi
1991
- Ezhunnallathu
- Bharatham as Devaki
- Kizhakkunarum Pakshi as Ananthu' Mother
- Sandhesam as Bhanumathi
- Dhanam as Sivasankarans mother
- Pookkalam Varavayi as Nandan's Mother
- Ulladakkam as Sunny's Mother
- Apoorvam Chilar as Sarojam
- Aparahnam as Janakiyamma
1990
- In Harihar Nagar as Andrews's mother
- His Highness Abdullah as Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
- Purappadu
- Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom as Vinayachandran's Mother
- Kattukuthira as Manka
- Midhya as Rajagopal's Mother
- Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu as Nurse Leeladevi
- Rajavazhcha as Naniyamma
1989
- Kireedam as Ammu
- Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal as Devaki
- Adhipan as Shyam Prakash's mother
- Ulsavapittennu as Kalyaniyamma
- Vandanam as Unnikrishnan's mother
- Dasharatham as Chandradas's mother
- Mazhavilkavadi as Velayudhankutty's Mother
- Jaathakam as Janaki
- Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam as Mariamma
- Muthukkudayum Choodi
1988
- Vidaparayan Mathram
- Sathya as Malayali shop-owner
- 1921
- Mukthi as Madhaviyamma
- Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas
1987
- Thaniyavarthanam
- Irupatham Noottandu as Meenakshiyamma
- Anantaram as Yoginiyamma
- Achuvettante Veedu
- Oru Maymasa Pulariyil
1986
- Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal as Reetha
- Sukhamo Devi
- Manasilloru Manimuthu
- Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku as Shanthamma
- Iniyum Kurukshetrum as Kartyayani
- Nakhakshathangal
- Ennu Nathante Nimmi as Nirmala's grandmother
1985
- Ee Thanalil Ithiri Neram
- Angadikkappurathu as Rosi
- Adhyayam Onnu Muthal as Maash
- Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam as Janakikutty
- Makan Ente Makan as Paaruvamma
- Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki
1984
- Swanthamevide Bandhamevide as Lakshmi
- Kanamarayathu as Mother Superior
- Manithali as Zulfikar's mother
- Ariyaatha Veethikal as Janakiyamma
- Kodathi as Venu's mother
- Face to Face
- Thirakal as Madhaviyamma
1983
- Enikku Vishakunnu as Chinamma
- Sesham Kazhchayil as Susheela
- Marakkillorikkalum as Sharada
- Mansoru Maha Samudram as Devaki
- Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare as Lakshmi
1982
- Kaaliya Mardhanam
- Beedi Kunjamma as Madhavan's Mother
- Chiriyo Chiri
- Ilakkangal as Valiyamma
- Balloon
1981
- Oppol
- Thrishna as Chinnammu
- Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla
- Vayal
1980
- Manushya Mrugam as Babu's Mother
- Karimpana
- Thirayum Theeravum as Mohan's mother
- Moorkhan
- Love in Singapore
- Chamaram as Ravi's Mother
- Agni Saram
- Anthappuram
- Kaantha Valayam as Mariyamma
1978
- Rathinirvedam as Saraswathi
- Aniyara
- Avalude Ravukal as Lakshmi
- Eeta
- Kodiyettam as Kamalamma
- Randilonnu
- Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil
- Uthrada Rathri
1977
- Minimol
- Satyavan Savithri
- Itha Ivide Vare as Kamalakshi
- Oonjaal
- Siva Thaandavam
- Jagadguru Aadisankaran as Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
- Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana as Dhakshayani
- Nirakudam
- Sree Murugan as Kamalakshi
1976
- Amba Ambika Ambalika as Old Sathyavathi
- Innale Innu
- Amrithavaahini as Lakshmi
- Appooppan
- Thulaavarsham
- Aruthu
1975
- Tourist Bungalow
- Mattoru Seetha
- Thiruvonam
- Makkal as Leela
- Utsavam as Mother of Gopi
- Prayanam as Amminiyamma
1974
- Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan as Queen Lakshmi
- Nellu as Savithri Varassyar
- Chakravakam as Soshamma
- Devi Kanyakumari as Old Lady
1973
- Ponnapuram Kotta
- Nirmalyam as Velichapad's Wife
- Divyadharsanam
1972
- Akkarapacha as Bhageerathi
- Manthrakodi as Saraswathi
- Snehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku
- Puthrakameshti
- Aromalunni as Thumbolarcha
- Sree Guruvayoorappan
- Gandharavakshetram as Kalamezhuthu Singer
- Theerthayathra as Kochikkaavu
1971
- Karakanakadal as Tharathi
- Vithukal as Ammini
- Aabhijathyam as Janaki Amma
1970
- Vivahitha
- Thriveni as Parvathy
- Cross Belt as Bhavani
- Nizhalattam as Ravi's Mother
- Othenante makan as Naani
1969
- Aalmaram as Ammini Amma
1968
- Velutha Kathreena as Marthappulayi
1965
- Odayil Ninnu as Kalyani
- Daham