Kaviyoor Ponnamma
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- 10 September 1945 · Kaviyoor, Thiruvalla, Kerala
- Died
- 10 September 2024
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.
Known for
Acting 217
- 2022Aaraattu as Voice (Uncredited)
- 2021Ammachi Koottile Pranayakalam as Pathumma
- 2021Aanum Pennum as Sumathiyamma
- 2019Mamangam as Puthumana Thampuratti
- 2017Achayans as Roy's Mother
- 2017Vedham as Hariharan's mother
- 2016Thoppil Joppan as Marykutty
- 2016Oppam as Jayaraman's valiyammayi
- 2016Pa.Va as Agnes / Sister amma
- 2016Poyi Maranju Parayathe...
- 2014Avatharam as Madhavan's Mother
- 2013Ginger as Vivekanandan's mother
- 2013Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty as Mariyamma
- 2012Mr. Marumakan as Bhavani Amma
- 2011Christian Brothers as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
- 2011Collector as Avinash's and Mahendran's mother
- 2011Ithu Nammude Katha as Saraswathy
- 2009Ividam Swargamanu as Elssama
- 2009Kappalu Muthalali as Devaki
- 2009Meghatheertham
- 20092 Harihar Nagar as Andrew's mother
- 2008Manjadikuru as Devayani
- 2008Gulmohar as Devaki
- 2008Twenty 20 as Bharathi Amma
- 2008Kavyam
- 2007Anchil Oral Arjunan as Sudheendran's mother
- 2006Baba Kalyani as Meenakshiyamma
- 2006Vadakkumnadhan as Rugmavathi Amma
- 2004Mampazhakkalam as Lakshmi
- 2004Natturajavu as Charlie's Mother
- 2004Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty as Devaki
- 2004Runway as Bharathi
- 2004Vismayathumbathu as Sreekumar's Mother
- 2003Pattanathil Sundaran as Bhavaniyamma
- 2003Ammakilikkoodu as Marykutty Teacher
- 2003Hariharan Pilla Happy Aanu as Padmavathiyamma
- 2003Mr. Brahmachari as Subhadramma
- 2002Nandanam as Unni Amma
- 2001Uthaman as Jayaraj's Mother
- 2001Kakkakuyil as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
- 2000Arayannangalude Veedu as Lakshmi
- 1999Njangal Santhushtaranu as Mother of the orphanage
- 1999Pallavur Devanarayanan as Bhageerathi
- 1999The Godman as Amarnath's Mother
- 1999Ezhupunna Tharakan as Kunjannamma
- 1998Kottaram Veettile Apputtan as Appottan's mother
- 1998Poothiruvathira Raavil
- 1998Manjeeradhwani
- 1998Amma Ammayiamma as Sarada
- 1997Itha Oru Snehagatha
- 1995Minnaminuginum Minnukettu
- 1995No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North as Vijayabhaskar's mother
- 1995Karma
- 1995Mannar Mathai Speaking as Meera's Mother
- 1995Saadaram
- 1994Santhanagopalam
- 1994Sukrutham
- 1994Chukkan
- 1994Njan Kodiswaran as Janaki
- 1994Kudumba Visesham as Bharathi
- 1994Thenmavin Kombath as Yeshodhamma
- 1994Vendor Daniel State Licency as Annamma Daniel
- 1993Gandharvam as Graceykutty
- 1993Oru Kadankatha Pole
- 1993Chenkol as Ammu
- 1993Maya Mayooram
- 1993Kalippattam as Sarojam's mother
- 1993Vatsalyam as Janakiyamma
- 1993Kavadiyattam as Sethulakshmi
- 1993Samagamam as Annakutty
- 1993Sopanam as Sethulakshmi Varma
- 1993Ithu Manjukaalam
- 1992Vietnam Colony as Parvathiyammal
- 1992Kudumbasametham as Kochukutty Amma
- 1992Pappayude Swantham Appoos
- 1992Mahanagaram
- 1992Mukhamudra as Lakshmi
- 1992Aayushkalam as Aby Mathew's Mother
- 1992Ponnurukkum Pakshi
- 1991Kizhakkunarum Pakshi as Ananthu' Mother
- 1991Ulladakkam as Sunny's Mother
- 1991Pookkalam Varavayi as Nandan's Mother
- 1991Ezhunnallathu
- 1991Bharatham as Devaki
- 1991Dhanam as Sivasankarans mother
- 1991Sandhesam as Bhanumathi
- 1991Apoorvam Chilar as Sarojam
- 1991Aparahnam as Janakiyamma
- 1990Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu as Nurse Leeladevi
- 1990Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom as Vinayachandran's Mother
- 1990Kattukuthira as Manka
- 1990In Harihar Nagar as Andrews's mother
- 1990Rajavazhcha as Naniyamma
- 1990Midhya as Rajagopal's Mother
- 1990His Highness Abdullah as Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
- 1990Purappadu
- 1989Mazhavilkavadi as Velayudhankutty's Mother
- 1989Ulsavapittennu as Kalyaniyamma
- 1989Dasharatham as Chandradas's mother
- 1989Muthukkudayum Choodi
- 1989Kireedam as Ammu
- 1989Adhipan as Shyam Prakash's mother
- 1989Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal as Devaki
- 1989Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam as Mariamma
- 1989Vandanam as Unnikrishnan's mother
- 1989Jaathakam as Janaki
- 1988Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas
- 1988Mukthi as Madhaviyamma
- 19881921
- 1988Vidaparayan Mathram
- 1988Sathya as Malayali shop-owner
- 1987Oru Maymasa Pulariyil
- 1987Anantaram as Yoginiyamma
- 1987Achuvettante Veedu
- 1987Thaniyavarthanam
- 1987Irupatham Noottandu as Meenakshiyamma
- 1986Ennu Nathante Nimmi as Nirmala's grandmother
- 1986Nakhakshathangal
- 1986Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal as Reetha
- 1986Sukhamo Devi
- 1986Iniyum Kurukshetrum as Kartyayani
- 1986Manasilloru Manimuthu
- 1986Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku as Shanthamma
- 1985Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam as Janakikutty
- 1985Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki
- 1985Angadikkappurathu as Rosi
- 1985Adhyayam Onnu Muthal as Maash
- 1985Makan Ente Makan as Paaruvamma
- 1985Ee Thanalil Ithiri Neram
- 1984Thirakal as Madhaviyamma
- 1984Manithali as Zulfikar's mother
- 1984Kanamarayathu as Mother Superior
- 1984Swanthamevide Bandhamevide as Lakshmi
- 1984Ariyaatha Veethikal as Janakiyamma
- 1984Kodathi as Venu's mother
- 1984Face to Face
- 1983Marakkillorikkalum as Sharada
- 1983Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare as Lakshmi
- 1983Sesham Kazhchayil as Susheela
- 1983Mansoru Maha Samudram as Devaki
- 1983Enikku Vishakunnu as Chinamma
- 1982Chiriyo Chiri
- 1982Beedi Kunjamma as Madhavan's Mother
- 1982Kaaliya Mardhanam
- 1982Ilakkangal as Valiyamma
- 1982Balloon
- 1981Thrishna as Chinnammu
- 1981Vayal
- 1981Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla
- 1981Oppol
- 1980Agni Saram
- 1980Manushya Mrugam as Babu's Mother
- 1980Anthappuram
- 1980Karimpana
- 1980Chamaram as Ravi's Mother
- 1980Kaantha Valayam as Mariyamma
- 1980Thirayum Theeravum as Mohan's mother
- 1980Moorkhan
- 1980Love in Singapore
- 1979The Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan
- 1978Eeta
- 1978Uthrada Rathri
- 1978Kodiyettam as Kamalamma
- 1978Aniyara
- 1978Randilonnu
- 1978Rathinirvedam as Saraswathi
- 1978Avalude Ravukal as Lakshmi
- 1978Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil
- 1977Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana as Dhakshayani
- 1977Oonjaal
- 1977Jagadguru Aadisankaran as Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
- 1977Satyavan Savithri
- 1977Itha Ivide Vare as Kamalakshi
- 1977Sree Murugan as Kamalakshi
- 1977Nirakudam
- 1977Minimol
- 1977Siva Thaandavam
- 1976Amrithavaahini as Lakshmi
- 1976Innale Innu
- 1976Amba Ambika Ambalika as Old Sathyavathi
- 1976Aruthu
- 1976Thulaavarsham
- 1976Appooppan
- 1975Utsavam as Mother of Gopi
- 1975Mattoru Seetha
- 1975Makkal as Leela
- 1975Thiruvonam
- 1975Prayanam as Amminiyamma
- 1975Tourist Bungalow
- 1974Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan as Queen Lakshmi
- 1974Chakravakam as Soshamma
- 1974Devi Kanyakumari as Old Lady
- 1974Ponnapuram Kotta
- 1974Nellu as Savithri Varassyar
- 1973Nirmalyam as Velichapad's Wife
- 1973Divyadharsanam
- 1972Theerthayathra as Kochikkaavu
- 1972Puthrakameshti
- 1972Snehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku
- 1972Gandharavakshetram as Kalamezhuthu Singer
- 1972Sree Guruvayoorappan
- 1972Akkarapacha as Bhageerathi
- 1972Aromalunni as Thumbolarcha
- 1972Manthrakodi as Saraswathi
- 1971Karakanakadal as Tharathi
- 1971Aabhijathyam as Janaki Amma
- 1971Vithukal as Ammini
- 1970Thriveni as Parvathy
- 1970Cross Belt as Bhavani
- 1970Othenante makan as Naani
- 1970Nizhalattam as Ravi's Mother
- 1970Vivahitha
- 1969Aalmaram as Ammini Amma
- 1968Velutha Kathreena as Marthappulayi
- 1967Anweshichu Kandethiyilla
- 1965Odayil Ninnu as Kalyani
- 1965Daham