Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Acting • Born 1945-09-10 – Died 2024-09-10
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
209 credits
Muthukkudayum Choodi
Movie • 1989
Vayal
Movie • 1981
Ammachi Koottile Pranayakalam
Movie • 2021
Pathumma
Mansoru Maha Samudram
Movie • 1983
Devaki
Vandanam
Movie • 1989
Unnikrishnan's mother
Thriveni
Movie • 1970
Parvathy
Chakravakam
Movie • 1974
Soshamma
Ithu Manjukaalam
Movie • 1993
Ennu Nathante Nimmi
Movie • 1986
Nirmala's grandmother
Santhanagopalam
Movie • 1994
Mukhamudra
Movie • 1992
Lakshmi
Mr. Marumakan
Movie • 2012
Bhavani Amma
Kireedam
Movie • 1989
Ammu
Nandanam
Movie • 2002
Unni Amma
Ulsavapittennu
Movie • 1989
Kalyaniyamma
Ividam Swargamanu
Movie • 2009
Elssama
Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty
Movie • 2013
Mariyamma
Gandharvam
Movie • 1993
Graceykutty
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal
Movie • 1986
Reetha
Chiriyo Chiri
Movie • 1982
No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North
Movie • 1995
Vijayabhaskar's mother
Mampazhakkalam
Movie • 2004
Lakshmi
Baba Kalyani
Movie • 2006
Meenakshiyamma
Bharatham
Movie • 1991
Devaki
1921
Movie • 1988
Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare
Movie • 1983
Lakshmi
Kodiyettam
Movie • 1978
Kamalamma
Manithali
Movie • 1984
Zulfikar's mother
Kodathi
Movie • 1984
Venu's mother
Kottaram Veettile Apputtan
Movie • 1998
Appottan's mother
The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan
Movie • 1979
Devi Kanyakumari
Movie • 1974
Old Lady
Manjadikuru
Movie • 2008
Devayani
Makan Ente Makan
Movie • 1985
Paaruvamma
Kanamarayathu
Movie • 1984
Mother Superior
Ariyaatha Veethikal
Movie • 1984
Janakiyamma
Sesham Kazhchayil
Movie • 1983
Susheela
Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku
Movie • 1986
Shanthamma
Mukthi
Movie • 1988
Madhaviyamma
Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
Movie • 1985
Janakikutty
Ee Thanalil Ithiri Neram
Movie • 1985
Mahanagaram
Movie • 1992
Sukrutham
Movie • 1994
Thrishna
Movie • 1981
Chinnammu
Vatsalyam
Movie • 1993
Janakiyamma
Anantaram
Movie • 1987
Yoginiyamma
Pallavur Devanarayanan
Movie • 1999
Bhageerathi
The Godman
Movie • 1999
Amarnath's Mother
Arayannangalude Veedu
Movie • 2000
Lakshmi
Midhya
Movie • 1990
Rajagopal's Mother
Ezhupunna Tharakan
Movie • 1999
Kunjannamma
Mannar Mathai Speaking
Movie • 1995
Meera's Mother
Kavyam
Movie • 2008
Vismayathumbathu
Movie • 2004
Sreekumar's Mother
Natturajavu
Movie • 2004
Charlie's Mother
Mr. Brahmachari
Movie • 2003
Subhadramma
Hariharan Pilla Happy Aanu
Movie • 2003
Padmavathiyamma
Kakkakuyil
Movie • 2001
Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
Kalippattam
Movie • 1993
Sarojam's mother
Chenkol
Movie • 1993
Ammu
Maya Mayooram
Movie • 1993
Ulladakkam
Movie • 1991
Sunny's Mother
Dhanam
Movie • 1991
Sivasankarans mother
Kizhakkunarum Pakshi
Movie • 1991
Ananthu' Mother
Ponnurukkum Pakshi
Movie • 1992
Adhipan
Movie • 1989
Shyam Prakash's mother
Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal
Movie • 1989
Devaki
Sukhamo Devi
Movie • 1986
Manasilloru Manimuthu
Movie • 1986
Iniyum Kurukshetrum
Movie • 1986
Kartyayani
Adhyayam Onnu Muthal
Movie • 1985
Maash
Swanthamevide Bandhamevide
Movie • 1984
Lakshmi
Itha Oru Snehagatha
Movie • 1997
Avalude Ravukal
Movie • 1978
Lakshmi
Randilonnu
Movie • 1978
Thaniyavarthanam
Movie • 1987
Nirmalyam
Movie • 1973
Velichapad's Wife
In Harihar Nagar
Movie • 1990
Andrews's mother
Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu
Movie • 1990
Nurse Leeladevi
Itha Ivide Vare
Movie • 1977
Kamalakshi
Rajavazhcha
Movie • 1990
Cross Belt
Movie • 1970
Bhavani
His Highness Abdullah
Movie • 1990
Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
Sandhesam
Movie • 1991
Bhanumathi
Pattanathil Sundaran
Movie • 2003
Bhavaniyamma
Thenmavin Kombath
Movie • 1994
Yeshodhamma
Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty
Movie • 2004
Devaki
Manushya Mrugam
Movie • 1980
Babu's Mother
Runway
Movie • 2004
Bharathi
Kavadiyattam
Movie • 1993
Sethulakshmi
Thulaavarsham
Movie • 1976
Amma Ammayiamma
Movie • 1998
Sarada
Mazhavilkavadi
Movie • 1989
Velayudhankutty's Mother
Karma
Movie • 1995
Apoorvam Chilar
Movie • 1991
Sarojam
Vadakkumnadhan
Movie • 2006
Rugmavathi Amma
Pookkalam Varavayi
Movie • 1991
Nandan's Mother
Minnaminuginum Minnukettu
Movie • 1995
Irupatham Noottandu
Movie • 1987
Meenakshiyamma
Kudumba Visesham
Movie • 1994
Bharathi
Chukkan
Movie • 1994
Aayushkalam
Movie • 1992
Aby Mathew's Mother
Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom
Movie • 1990
Vinayachandran's Mother
Purappadu
Movie • 1990
Anweshichu Kandethiyilla
Movie • 1967
2 Harihar Nagar
Movie • 2009
Andrew's mother
Twenty 20
Movie • 2008
Bharathi Amma
Christian Brothers
Movie • 2011
Joseph Vadakkan's mother
Face to Face
Movie • 1984
Pa.Va
Movie • 2016
Agnes / Sister amma
Thoppil Joppan
Movie • 2016
Marykutty
Ponnapuram Kotta
Movie • 1974
Oppam
Movie • 2016
Jayaraman's valiyammayi
Prayanam
Movie • 1975
Amminiyamma
Rathinirvedam
Movie • 1978
Saraswathi
Aniyara
Movie • 1978
Oru Maymasa Pulariyil
Movie • 1987
Nellu
Movie • 1974
Savithri Varassyar
Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla
Movie • 1981
Vedham
Movie • 2017
Odayil Ninnu
Movie • 1965
Kalyani
Gulmohar
Movie • 2008
Devaki
Collector
Movie • 2011
Achayans
Movie • 2017
Roy's Mother
Njan Kodiswaran
Movie • 1994
Janaki
Poyi Maranju Parayathe...
Movie • 2016
Ginger
Movie • 2013
Vivekanandan's mother
Avatharam
Movie • 2014
Madhavan's Mother
Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan
Movie • 1974
Queen Lakshmi
Othenante makan
Movie • 1970
Naani
Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil
Movie • 1978
Eeta
Movie • 1978
Sree Guruvayoorappan
Movie • 1972
Oru Kadankatha Pole
Movie • 1993
Ilakkangal
Movie • 1982
Valiyamma
Kappalu Muthalali
Movie • 2009
Devaki
Dasharatham
Movie • 1989
Chandradas's mother
Nizhalattam
Movie • 1970
Ravi's Mother
Manthrakodi
Movie • 1972
Saraswathi
Puthrakameshti
Movie • 1972
Snehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku
Movie • 1972
Aromalunni
Movie • 1972
Thumbolarcha
Gandharavakshetram
Movie • 1972
Kalamezhuthu Singer
Aabhijathyam
Movie • 1971
Janaki Amma
Aalmaram
Movie • 1969
Ammini Amma
Kattukuthira
Movie • 1990
Manka
Vithukal
Movie • 1971
Ammini
Thirayum Theeravum
Movie • 1980
Mohan's mother
Theerthayathra
Movie • 1972
Kochikkaavu
Amrithavaahini
Movie • 1976
Lakshmi
Chamaram
Movie • 1980
Ravi's Mother
Karakanakadal
Movie • 1971
Tharathi
Samagamam
Movie • 1993
Annakutty
Jagadguru Aadisankaran
Movie • 1977
Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
Daham
Movie • 1965
Innale Innu
Movie • 1976
Acharam Ammini osaram Omana
Movie • 1977
Dhakshayani
Sathya
Movie • 1988
Malayali shop-owner
Ammakilikkoodu
Movie • 2003
Marykutty Teacher
Ezhunnallathu
Movie • 1991
Sopanam
Movie • 1993
Sethulakshmi Varma
Uthaman
Movie • 2001
Jayaraj's Mother
Nakhakshathangal
Movie • 1986
Kaaliya Mardhanam
Movie • 1982
Marakkillorikkalum
Movie • 1983
Sharada
Meghatheertham
Movie • 2009
Thirakal
Movie • 1984
Madhaviyamma
Angadikkappurathu
Movie • 1985
Rosi
Tourist Bungalow
Movie • 1975
Akkarapacha
Movie • 1972
Bhageerathi
Mamangam
Movie • 2019
Puthumana Thampuratti
Karimpana
Movie • 1980
Manjeeradhwani
Movie • 1998
Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam
Movie • 1989
Mariamma
Vendor Daniel State Licency
Movie • 1994
Annamma Daniel
Oppol
Movie • 1981
Moorkhan
Movie • 1980
Love in Singapore
Movie • 1980
Agni Saram
Movie • 1980
Aparahnam
Movie • 1991
Janakiyamma
Thiruvonam
Movie • 1975
Mattoru Seetha
Movie • 1975
Aruthu
Movie • 1976
Appooppan
Movie • 1976
Siva Thaandavam
Movie • 1977
Nirakudam
Movie • 1977
Satyavan Savithri
Movie • 1977
Poothiruvathira Raavil
Movie • 1998
Anthappuram
Movie • 1980
Achuvettante Veedu
Movie • 1987
Balloon
Movie • 1982
Vivahitha
Movie • 1970
Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas
Movie • 1988
Oonjaal
Movie • 1977
Aanum Pennum
Movie • 2021
Sumathiyamma
Pappayude Swantham Appoos
Movie • 1992
Aaraattu
Movie • 2022
Voice (Uncredited)
Njangal Santhushtaranu
Movie • 1999
Mother of the orphanage
Jaathakam
Movie • 1989
Janaki
Anchil Oral Arjunan
Movie • 2007
Sudheendran's mother
Utsavam
Movie • 1975
Mother of Gopi
Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki
Movie • 1985
Uthrada Rathri
Movie • 1978
Vietnam Colony
Movie • 1992
Parvathiyammal
Saadaram
Movie • 1995
Beedi Kunjamma
Movie • 1982
Madhavan's Mother
Kudumbasametham
Movie • 1992
Kochukutty Amma
Poacher
TV • 2024
Mother Finn
Lal Salam
TV • 2017
Herself