Kaviyoor Ponnamma
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.
Acting
Movie
Kireedam
as Ammu
1989
Movie
Thenmavin Kombath
as Yeshodhamma
1994
Movie
In Harihar Nagar
as Andrews's mother
1990
Movie
Oppam
as Jayaraman's valiyammayi
2016
Movie
Twenty 20
as Bharathi Amma
2008
Movie
Sandhesam
as Bhanumathi
1991
Movie
2 Harihar Nagar
as Andrew's mother
2009
Movie
Mamangam
as Puthumana Thampuratti
2019
Movie
Vietnam Colony
as Parvathiyammal
1992
Movie
Ividam Swargamanu
as Elssama
2009
Movie
Vandanam
as Unnikrishnan's mother
1989
Movie
Nandanam
as Unni Amma
2002
Movie
Vatsalyam
as Janakiyamma
1993
Movie
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal
as Reetha
1986
Movie
Bharatham
as Devaki
1991
Movie
Dasharatham
as Chandradas's mother
1989
Movie
Pappayude Swantham Appoos
1992
Movie
Mannar Mathai Speaking
as Meera's Mother
1995
Movie
Chenkol
as Ammu
1993
Movie
His Highness Abdullah
as Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
1990
Movie
Christian Brothers
as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
2011
Movie
Thoppil Joppan
as Marykutty
2016
Movie
Kakkakuyil
as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
2001
Movie
Runway
as Bharathi
2004