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.
Acted in 175
2020s
- 2024
Poacher
Mother Finn · 1 episode
- 2022
Aaraattu
Voice (Uncredited)
- 2021
Ammachi Koottile Pranayakalam
Pathumma
Aanum Pennum
Sumathiyamma
2010s
- 2019
Mamangam
Puthumana Thampuratti
- 2017
Achayans
Roy's Mother
Vedham
Hariharan's mother
- 2016
Oppam
Jayaraman's valiyammayi
Pa.Va
Agnes / Sister amma
- 2014
Avatharam
Madhavan's Mother
- 2013
Ginger
Vivekanandan's mother
Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty
Mariyamma
- 2012
Mr. Marumakan
Bhavani Amma
- 2011
Christian Brothers
Joseph Vadakkan's mother
Collector
Avinash's and Mahendran's mother
2000s
- 2009
Evidam Swargamanu
Elssama
Kappalu Muthalali
Devaki
Meghatheertham
Movie
2 Harihar Nagar
Andrew's mother
- 2008
Manjadikuru
Devayani
Gulmohar
Devaki
- 2007
Anchil Oral Arjunan
Sudheendran's mother
- 2006
Baba Kalyani
Meenakshiyamma
Vadakkumnadhan
Rugmavathi Amma
- 2004
Mampazhakkalam
Lakshmi
Natturajavu
Charlie's Mother
Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty
Devaki
Runway
Bharathi
Vismayathumbathu
Sreekumar's Mother
- 2003
Pattanathil Sundaran
Bhavaniyamma
Ammakilikkoodu
Marykutty Teacher
Hariharan Pilla Happy Aanu
Padmavathiyamma
Mr. Brahmachari
Subhadramma
- 2002
Nandanam
Unni Amma
- 2001
Uthaman
Jayaraj's Mother
Akashathile Paravakal
Muthassi
Kakkakuyil
Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
- 2000
Arayannangalude Veedu
Lakshmi
1990s
- 1999
Njangal Santhushtaranu
Mother of the orphanage
Ezhupunna Tharakan
Kunjannamma
The Godman
Amarnath's Mother
Pallavur Devanarayanan
Bhageerathi
- 1998
Kottaram Veettile Apputtan
Appottan's mother
Priyuralu
Movie
Amma Ammayiamma
Sarada
- 1997
Itha Oru Snehagatha
Movie
- 1995
Minnaminuginum Minnukettu
Movie
No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North
Vijayabhaskar's mother
Mannar Mathai Speaking
Meera's Mother
- 1994
Santhanagopalam
Movie
Sukrutham
Movie
Njan Kodiswaran
Janaki
Kudumba Visesham
Bharathi
Thenmavin Kombath
Yeshodhamma
Vendor Daniel State Licency
Annamma Daniel
- 1993
Gandharvam
Graceykutty
Oru Kadankatha Pole
Movie
Chenkol
Ammu
Kalippattam
Sarojam's mother
Maya Mayooram
Movie
Vatsalyam
Janakiyamma
Kavadiyattam
Sethulakshmi
Ithu Manjukaalam
Movie
Samagamam
Annakutty
Sopanam
Sethulakshmi Varma
- 1992
Vietnam Colony
Parvathiyammal
Pappayude Swantham Appoos
Movie
Mahanagaram
Movie
Mukhamudra
Lakshmi
Aayushkalam
Aby Mathew's Mother
Ponnurukkum Pakshi
Movie
- 1991
Sandhesam
Bhanumathi
Kizhakkunarum Pakshi
Ananthu' Mother
Ulladakkam
Sunny's Mother
Ezhunnallathu
Movie
Bharatham
Devaki
Dhanam
Sivasankarans mother
- 1990
Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu
Nurse Leeladevi
Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom
Vinayachandran's Mother
Kattukuthira
Manka
In Harihar Nagar
Andrews's mother
Midhya
Rajagopal's Mother
His Highness Abdullah
Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
1980s
- 1989
Mazhavilkavadi
Velayudhankutty's Mother
Ulsavapittennu
Kalyaniyamma
Dasharatham
Chandradas's mother
Muthukkudayum Choodi
Movie
Kireedam
Ammu
Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal
Devaki
Adhipan
Shyam Prakash's mother
Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam
Mariamma
Vandanam
Unnikrishnan's mother
Jaathakam
Janaki
- 1988
1921
Movie
Sathya
Malayali shop-owner
- 1987
Anantaram
Yoginiyamma
Achuvettante Veedu
Movie
Thaniyavarthanam
Movie
Irupatham Noottandu
Meenakshiyamma
- 1986
Nakhakshathangal
Movie
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal
Reetha
Sukhamo Devi
Movie
Manasilloru Manimuthu
Movie
Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku
Shanthamma
- 1985
Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
Janakikutty
Angadikkappurathu
Rosi
Adhyayam Onnu Muthal
Maash
Makan Ente Makan
Paaruvamma
Ee Thanalil Ithiri Neram
Movie
- 1984
Thirakal
Madhaviyamma
Kanamarayathu
Mother Superior
Ariyaatha Veethikal
Janakiyamma
Face to Face
Movie
- 1983
Marakkillorikkalum
Sharada
Sesham Kazhchayil
Susheela
- 1982
Chiriyo Chiri
Movie
Balloon
Movie
- 1981
Thrishna
Chinnammu
Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla
Movie
Oppol
Movie
- 1980
Agni Saram
Movie
Karimpana
Movie
Chamaram
Ravi's Mother
Kaantha Valayam
Mariyamma
Thirayum Theeravum
Mohan's mother
Moorkhan
Movie
1970s
- 1979
The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan
Movie
- 1978
Eeta
Movie
Uthrada Rathri
Movie
Kodiyettam
Kamalamma
Rathinirvedam
Saraswathi
Avalude Ravukal
Lakshmi
Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil
Movie
- 1977
Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana
Dhakshayani
Oonjaal
Movie
Jagadguru Aadisankaran
Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
Satyavan Savithri
Movie
Nirakudam
Movie
Siva Thaandavam
Movie
- 1976
Amrithavaahini
Lakshmi
Innale Innu
Movie
Aruthu
Movie
Appooppan
Movie
- 1975
Utsavam
Mother of Gopi
Mattoru Seetha
Movie
Thiruvonam
Movie
Prayanam
Amminiyamma
- 1974
Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan
Queen Lakshmi
Chakravakam
Soshamma
Nellu
Savithri Varassyar
- 1973
Nirmalyam
Velichapad's Wife
Ponnapuram Kotta
Movie
- 1972
Theerthayathra
Kochikkaavu
Puthrakameshti
Movie
Snehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku
Movie
Sree Guruvayoorappan
Movie
Gandharavakshetram
Kalamezhuthu Singer
Aromalunni
Thumbolarcha
Manthrakodi
Saraswathi
- 1971
Karakanakadal
Tharathi
Aabhijathyam
Janaki Amma
Vithukal
Ammini
- 1970
Thriveni
Parvathy
Othenante makan
Naani
Nizhalattam
Ravi's Mother
Vivahitha
Movie
1960s
- 1969
Aalmaram
Ammini Amma
- 1967
Anweshichu Kandethiyilla
Movie
- 1965
Odayil Ninnu
Kalyani
Daham
Movie
Appearances1
2010s
- 2017
