Saranya Ponvannan
Acting • Born 1970-04-26
Biography
Sheela better known by her stage name Saranya is an Indian film actress who has predominantly appeared in Tamil language films. Saranya made her debut in a lead role in Mani Ratnam's Nayagan and went on to play lead roles in a few films during the late 1980s. Following an eight-year sabbatical, she returned to feature films as a character artiste, essaying supporting roles, particularly playing mother characters to lead artists. For her performances in films including Raam (2005), Thavamai Thavamirundhu (2005), Em Magan (2006) and Kalavani (2010), she has received notable critical praise and several accolades, including three Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress, while her performance in Thenmerku Paruvakaatru fetched her the National Film Award for Best Actress in 2011.Saranya is the daughter of Malayalam film director A. B. Raj. She is married to a fellow actor, Ponvannan.
Filmography
120 credits
Maha Samudram
Movie • 2021
Arjun's mother
Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan
Movie • 2024
Burma's Mother
Kallapart
Movie
Nayakan
Movie • 1987
Neela
Arul
Movie • 2004
Vaanam
Movie • 2011
Lakshmi
Varalaru Mukkiyam
Movie • 2022
Singakutty
Movie • 2008
Puli Varudhu
Movie • 2007
Kireedam
Movie • 2007
Shakti's Mother
Pirappu
Movie • 2007
Kaliammal, Kannan's adoptive mother
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
Movie • 2012
Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
Chatrapathy
Movie • 2004
Saravanan's Sister
En Jeevan Paaduthu
Movie • 1988
Narmada
Thenmerku Paruvakatru
Movie • 2010
Veerayi
Em Magan
Movie • 2006
Krishna's Mother
Vedam
Movie • 2010
Padma
Dindigul Sarathy
Movie • 2008
Sarathy's Mother
Kalavani
Movie • 2010
Lakshmi
Sadhurangam
Movie • 2011
Chaarulatha
Movie • 2012
Charu and Latha's mother
Neerparavai
Movie • 2012
Mary
Vatthikuchi
Movie • 2013
Sakthi's mother
Brahmotsavam
Movie • 2016
Colors
Movie • 2009
Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
Viruman
Movie • 2022
Muthulakshmi
Kutti Puli
Movie • 2013
Dheivaanai
Kushi
Movie • 2023
All in All Azhagu Raja
Movie • 2013
Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
Naiyaandi
Movie • 2013
Artham
Movie • 1989
Manasa
Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
Movie • 2014
Yasothammal
Pasumpon
Movie • 1995
Malar
Naan Sigappu Manithan
Movie • 2014
Sumathi
Muthukku Muthaaga
Movie • 2011
Pechi
Paandi
Movie • 2008
Sivakami
Thavamai Thavamiruntu
Movie • 2005
Sarada
Bayam Ariyan
Movie • 2010
Vinoth's Mother
Sivakasi
Movie • 2005
Udayappa's wife
Manam
Movie • 2014
Seetharamudu's Mother
Velaiyilla Pattathari
Movie • 2014
Bhuvana
Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam
Movie • 2006
Thiru's Mother
Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum
Movie • 2016
Ennamo Nadakkudhu
Movie • 2014
Raam
Movie • 2005
Saradha
Conjuring Kannappan
Movie • 2023
Lakshmi
Amma Ammamma
Movie • 2014
Dasarathan
Movie • 1993
Vel
Movie • 2007
Vasu and Vel's mother
Pappali
Movie • 2014
Adaikalam
Movie • 2006
Kasthuri
Chup
Movie • 2022
Mrs. Menon
Magane En Marumagane
Movie • 2010
Jameendar's wife
Manasukkul Mathappu
Movie • 1988
Seema
Melangottu Thalikattu
Movie • 1988
Dhayam Onnu
Movie • 1988
Rita
Anjali
Movie • 1990
Dr. Sheela
Kottai Vaasal
Movie • 1992
Vanakkam Vathiyare
Movie • 1991
Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil
Movie • 1989
Preethy
Karuththamma
Movie • 1994
Periyakanni
Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
Movie • 1990
Seevalaperi Pandi
Movie • 1994
Velammal
Alai
Movie • 2003
Rakhi
Movie • 2006
Gowri's Mother
Thenavattu
Movie • 2008
Guru Sishyan
Movie • 2010
Ente Sreekuttikku
Movie • 1993
Nandini
Cheppukilukkana Changathi
Movie • 1991
Manikutty
Ennum Nanmakal
Movie • 1991
Indu
Injakkadan Mathai & Sons
Movie • 1993
Beena
Aruva Sanda
Movie • 2022
24
Movie • 2016
Sathyabama
Bangalore Naatkal
Movie • 2016
Kannan's mother
Thambikku Indha Ooru
Movie • 2010
Jagadam
Movie • 2007
Remo
Movie • 2016
Arun's Mother
Bha. Bha. Ba.
Movie • 2025
Vaavamani
Mannar Vagaiyara
Movie • 2018
Ilaiyarani's mother
Achamindri
Movie • 2016
Jeyikkira Kuthira
Movie
Brother
Movie • 2024
Hemamalini
Kodi
Movie • 2016
Kodi and Anbu's Mother
Aanaval Mothiram
Movie • 1991
Annie
Pidichirukku
Movie • 2008
Magalir Mattum
Movie • 2017
Subbu
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2
Movie • 2017
Bhuvana
Dollar
Movie • 1993
Lucy
Katha Nayagan
Movie • 2017
Thambidurai's Mother
Komaram Puli
Movie • 2010
Puli's Mother
Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna
Movie • 2018
Aiyappan's Mother
Kuruvi
Movie • 2008
Koccha's Wife
Sigappu Thali
Movie • 1988
Inba Twinkle Lilly
Movie • 2018
Inbaa
Nenjathai Killadhe
Movie • 2008
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan
Movie • 1991
Mallika
Brahmotsavam
Movie • 2016
Ajay's Relative
Kolamavu Kokila
Movie • 2018
Kokila's Mother
Junga
Movie • 2018
Junga's mother
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
Movie • 2018
Chembammal
Thirumagan
Movie • 2007
Jayakodi
Kalavani 2
Movie • 2019
Nani's Gang Leader
Movie • 2019
Varalakshmi
The Villain
Movie • 2018
Vishalavva
Adhu
Movie • 2004
Meera's Mother
Meendum Savithri
Movie • 1996
Uma
Ready
Movie • 2008
Sakalakala Sammandi
Movie • 1989
Bhoomi
Movie • 2021
Bhoominathan's Mother
Yavarum Nalam
Movie • 2009
Manohar's Mother
MGR Magan
Movie • 2021
Rasaathi
Sashi
Movie • 2021
Etharkkum Thunindhavan
Movie • 2022
Kosalai
Mazhaikaalam
Movie • 2012
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam
Movie • 2025
Ponni
Bun Butter Jam
Movie • 2025
Lalitha
Appaji
Movie • 1996
Raju Bhai
Movie • 2007
Naan Pudicha Mappillai
Movie • 1991
Meesai Madhavan
Movie • 2004
Devi, Vignesh's mother