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.
2024
as Mother Finn
2022
as Voice (Uncredited)
2021
2021
as Sumathiyamma
2019
as Puthumana Thampuratti
2017
2017
2016
as Marykutty
2016
as Jayaraman's valiyammayi
2016
as Agnes / Sister amma
2016
2014
as Madhavan's Mother
2013
as Vivekanandan's mother
2013
as Mariyamma
2012
as Bhavani Amma
2011
as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
2011
2009
as Elssama
2009
2009
2009
as Andrew's mother
2008
as Muthassi
2008
as Devaki
2008
as Bharathi Amma
2008
2006
as Kalyaniyamma
2006
2006
as Rugmavathi Amma
2004
as Lakshmi
2004
as Charlie's Mother
2004
2004
as Bharathi
2004
as Sreekumar's Mother
2003
as Bhavaniyamma
2003
as Marykutty Teacher
2003
as Padmavathiyamma
2003
as Ananthan Thampi's Mother
2002
as Unni Amma
2001
as Jayaraj's Mother
2001
as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
2000
as Lakshmi
1999
as Kunjannamma
1999
as Amarnath's Mother
1999
as Bhageerathi
1998
as Appottan's mother
1998
1998
1998
as Sarada
1997
1995
1995
as Vijayabhaskar's mother
1995
1995
as Meera's Mother
1994
1994
1994
1994
as Janaki
1994
as Bharathi
1994
as Yeshodhamma
1994
as Annamma Daniel
1993
as Graceykutty
1993
1993
as Ammu
1993
as Sarojam's mother
1993
1993
as Janakiyamma
1993
as Sethulakshmi
1993
1993
as Annakutty
1993
as Sethulakshmi Varma
1992
1992
1992
as Lakshmi
1992
as Aby Mathew's Mother
1992
1991
as Ananthu' Mother
1991
as Sunny's Mother
1991
as Nandan's Mother
1991
1991
as Devaki
1991
as Sivasankarans mother
1991
as Bhanumathi
1991
as Sarojam
1991
as Janakiyamma
1990
as Nurse Leeladevi
1990
as Vinayachandran's Mother
1990
as Manka
1990
as Andrews's mother
1990
1990
as Rajagopal's Mother
1990
as Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
1990
1989
as Velayudhankutty's Mother
1989
as Chandradas's mother
1989
1989
as Ammu
1989
as Devaki
1989
as Shyam Prakash's mother
1989
as Mariamma
1989
as Unnikrishnan's mother
1989
as Kalyaniyamma
1988
1988
as Madhaviyamma
1988
1988
as Malayali shop-owner
1987
1987
as Yoginiyamma
1987
1987
1987
as Meenakshiyamma
1986
as Nirmala's grandmother
1986
1986
as Reetha
1986
1986
as Kartyayani
1986
1986
as Shanthamma
1985
as Janakikutty
1985
as Rosi
1985
as Maash
1985
as Paaruvamma
1985
1984
as Madhaviyamma
1984
as Zulfikar's mother
1984
as Mother Superior
1984
as Lakshmi
1984
as Janakiyamma
1984
as Venu's mother
1984
1983
as Sharada
1983
as Lakshmi
1983
as Susheela
1983
as Devaki
1982
1982
1982
as Valiyamma
1982
1981
as Chinnammu
1981
1981
1981
1980
1980
as Babu's Mother
1980
1980
1980
as Ravi's Mother
1980
as Mohan's mother
1980
1980
1979
1978
1978
as Kamalamma
1978
1978
1978
as Saraswathi
1978
as Lakshmi
1978
1977
as Dhakshayani
1977
1977
as Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
1977
1977
as Kamalakshi
1977
1977
1976
as Lakshmi
1976
1976
1976
1976
1975
1975
1975
as Amminiyamma
1975
1974
as Queen Lakshmi
1974
as Soshamma
1974
as Old Lady
1974
1974
as Savithri Varassyar
1973
as Velichapad's Wife
1972
as Kochikkaavu
1972
1972
1972
1972
as Kalamezhuthu Singer
1972
as Bhageerathi
1972
as Thumbolarcha
1972
as Saraswathi
1971
as Tharathi
1971
as Janaki Amma
1971
as Ammini
1970
as Parvathy
1970
as Bhavani
1970
as Naani
1970
as Ravi's Mother
1970
1969
as Ammini Amma
1967
1965
as Kalyani
1965