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.
Acted in
Poacher
2024
as Mother Finn
Aaraattu
2022
as Voice (Uncredited)
Ammachi Koottile Pranayakalam
2021
Aanum Pennum
2021
as Sumathiyamma
Mamangam
2019
as Puthumana Thampuratti
Achayans
2017
Vedham
2017
Thoppil Joppan
2016
as Marykutty
Oppam
2016
as Jayaraman's valiyammayi
Pa.Va
2016
as Agnes / Sister amma
Poyi Maranju Parayathe...
2016
Avatharam
2014
as Madhavan's Mother
Ginger
2013
as Vivekanandan's mother
Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty
2013
as Mariyamma
Mr. Marumakan
2012
as Bhavani Amma
Christian Brothers
2011
as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
Collector
2011
Ividam Swargamanu
2009
as Elssama
Kappalu Muthalali
2009
Meghatheertham
2009
2 Harihar Nagar
2009
as Andrew's mother
Manjadikuru
2008
as Muthassi
Gulmohar
2008
as Devaki
Twenty 20
2008
as Bharathi Amma
Kavyam
2008
Baba Kalyani
2006
as Kalyaniyamma
Aanachandam
2006
Vadakkumnadhan
2006
as Rugmavathi Amma
Mampazhakkalam
2004
as Lakshmi
Natturajavu
2004
as Charlie's Mother
Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty
2004
Runway
2004
as Bharathi
Vismayathumbathu
2004
as Sreekumar's Mother
Pattanathil Sundaran
2003
as Bhavaniyamma
Ammakilikkoodu
2003
as Marykutty Teacher
Hariharan Pilla Happy Aanu
2003
as Padmavathiyamma
Mr. Brahmachari
2003
as Ananthan Thampi's Mother
Nandanam
2002
as Unni Amma
Uthaman
2001
as Jayaraj's Mother
Kakkakuyil
2001
as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
Arayannangalude Veedu
2000
as Lakshmi
Pallavur Devanarayanan
1999
as Bhageerathi
The Godman
1999
as Amarnath's Mother
Ezhupunna Tharakan
1999
as Kunjannamma
Kottaram Veettile Apputtan
1998
as Appottan's mother
Poothiruvathira Raavil
1998
Manjeeradhwani
1998
Amma Ammayiamma
1998
as Sarada
Itha Oru Snehagatha
1997
Minnaminuginum Minnukettu
1995
No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North
1995
as Vijayabhaskar's mother
Karma
1995
Mannar Mathai Speaking
1995
as Meera's Mother
Santhanagopalam
1994
Sukrutham
1994
Chukkan
1994
Njan Kodiswaran
1994
as Janaki
Kudumba Visesham
1994
as Bharathi
Thenmavin Kombath
1994
as Yeshodhamma
Vendor Daniel State Licency
1994
as Annamma Daniel
Gandharvam
1993
as Graceykutty
Oru Kadankatha Pole
1993
Kalippattam
1993
as Sarojam's mother
Chenkol
1993
as Ammu
Maya Mayooram
1993
Vatsalyam
1993
as Janakiyamma
Kavadiyattam
1993
as Sethulakshmi
Ithu Manjukaalam
1993
Samagamam
1993
as Annakutty
Sopanam
1993
as Sethulakshmi Varma
Pappayude Swantham Appoos
1992
Mahanagaram
1992
Mughamudra
1992
as Lakshmi
Aayushkalam
1992
as Aby Mathew's Mother
Ponnurukkum Pakshi
1992
Ulladakkam
1991
as Sunny's Mother
Kizhakkunarum Pakshi
1991
as Ananthu' Mother
Pookkalam Varavayi
1991
as Nandan's Mother
Ezhunnallathu
1991
Bharatham
1991
as Devaki
Dhanam
1991
as Sivasankarans mother
Sandhesam
1991
as Bhanumathi
Apoorvam Chilar
1991
as Sarojam
Aparahnam
1991
as Janakiyamma
Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu
1990
as Nurse Leeladevi
Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom
1990
as Vinayachandran's Mother
Kattukuthira
1990
as Manka
In Harihar Nagar
1990
as Andrews's mother
Rajavazhcha
1990
Midhya
1990
as Rajagopal's Mother
His Highness Abdullah
1990
as Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
Purappadu
1990
Mazhavilkavadi
1989
as Velayudhankutty's Mother
Dasharatham
1989
as Chandradas's mother
Muthukkudayum Choodi
1989
Kireedam
1989
as Ammu
Adhipan
1989
as Shyam Prakash's mother
Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal
1989
as Devaki
Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam
1989
as Mariamma
Vandanam
1989
as Unnikrishnan's mother
Ulsavapittennu
1989
as Kalyaniyamma
Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas
1988
Mukthi
1988
as Madhaviyamma
1921
1988
Sathya
1988
as Malayali shop-owner
Oru Maymasa Pulariyil
1987
Anantaram
1987
as Yoginiyamma
Achuvettante Veedu
1987
Thaniyavarthanam
1987
Irupatham Noottandu
1987
as Meenakshiyamma
Ennu Nathante Nimmi
1986
as Nirmala's grandmother
Nakhakshathangal
1986
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal
1986
as Reetha
Sukhamo Devi
1986
Manasilloru Manimuthu
1986
Iniyum Kurukshetrum
1986
as Kartyayani
Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku
1986
as Shanthamma
Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
1985
as Janakikutty
Angadikkappurathu
1985
as Rosi
Adhyayam Onnu Muthal
1985
as Maash
Makan Ente Makan
1985
as Paaruvamma
Ee Thanalil Ithiri Neram
1985
Thirakal
1984
as Madhaviyamma
Manithali
1984
as Zulfikar's mother
Kanamarayathu
1984
as Mother Superior
Swanthamevide Bandhamevide
1984
as Lakshmi
Ariyaatha Veethikal
1984
as Janakiyamma
Kodathi
1984
as Venu's mother
Face to Face
1984
Marakkillorikkalum
1983
as Sharada
Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare
1983
as Lakshmi
Sesham Kazhchayil
1983
as Susheela
Mansoru Maha Samudram
1983
as Devaki
Chiriyo Chiri
1982
Kaaliya Mardhanam
1982
Ilakkangal
1982
as Valiyamma
Balloon
1982
Thrishna
1981
as Chinnammu
Vayal
1981
Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla
1981
Oppol
1981
Agni Saram
1980
Manushya Mrugam
1980
as Babu's Mother
Anthappuram
1980
Karimpana
1980
Chamaram
1980
as Ravi's Mother
Thirayum Theeravum
1980
as Mohan's mother
Moorkhan
1980
Love in Singapore
1980
The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan
1979
Eeta
1978
Kodiyettam
1978
as Kamalamma
Aniyara
1978
Randilonnu
1978
Rathinirvedam
1978
as Saraswathi
Avalude Ravukal
1978
as Lakshmi
Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil
1978
Acharam Ammini osaram Omana
1977
as Dhakshayani
Oonjaal
1977
Jagadguru Aadisankaran
1977
as Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
Satyavan Savithri
1977
Itha Ivide Vare
1977
as Kamalakshi
Nirakudam
1977
Siva Thaandavam
1977
Amrithavaahini
1976
as Lakshmi
Innale Innu
1976
Aruthu
1976
Thulaavarsham
1976
Appooppan
1976
Mattoru Seetha
1975
Thiruvonam
1975
Prayanam
1975
as Amminiyamma
Tourist Bungalow
1975
Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan
1974
as Queen Lakshmi
Chakravakam
1974
as Soshamma
Devi Kanyakumari
1974
as Old Lady
Ponnapuram Kotta
1974
Nellu
1974
as Savithri Varassyar
Nirmalyam
1973
as Velichapad's Wife
Theerthayathra
1972
as Kochikkaavu
Puthrakameshti
1972
Snehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku
1972
Sree Guruvayoorappan
1972
Gandharavakshetram
1972
as Kalamezhuthu Singer
Akkarapacha
1972
as Bhageerathi
Aromalunni
1972
as Thumbolarcha
Manthrakodi
1972
as Saraswathi
Karakanakadal
1971
as Tharathi
Aabhijathyam
1971
as Janaki Amma
Vithukal
1971
as Ammini
Thriveni
1970
as Parvathy
Cross Belt
1970
as Bhavani
Othenante makan
1970
as Naani
Nizhalattam
1970
as Ravi's Mother
Vivahitha
1970
Aalmaram
1969
as Ammini Amma
Anweshichu Kandethiyilla
1967
Odayil Ninnu
1965
as Kalyani
Daham
1965