Acting · Kaviyoor, Thiruvalla, Kerala · Born September 10, 1945
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.
TVPoacher
2024
as Mother Finn
MovieAaraattu
2022
as Voice (Uncredited)
MovieAmmachi Koottile Pranayakalam
2021
as Pathumma
MovieAanum Pennum
2021
as Sumathiyamma
MovieMamangam
2019
as Puthumana Thampuratti
TVLal Salam
2017
as Self
MovieAchayans
2017
as Roy's Mother
MovieVedham
2017
as Hariharan's mother
MovieThoppil Joppan
2016
as Marykutty
MovieOppam
2016
as Jayaraman's valiyammayi
MoviePa.Va
2016
as Agnes / Sister amma
MoviePoyi Maranju Parayathe...
2016
MovieAvatharam
2014
as Madhavan's Mother
MovieGinger
2013
as Vivekanandan's mother
MovieKadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty
2013
as Mariyamma
MovieMr. Marumakan
2012
as Bhavani Amma
MovieChristian Brothers
2011
as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
MovieCollector
2011
as Avinash's and Mahendran's mother
MovieIthu Nammude Katha
2011
as Saraswathy
MovieIvidam Swargamanu
2009
as Elssama
MovieKappalu Muthalali
2009
as Devaki
MovieMeghatheertham
2009
Movie2 Harihar Nagar
2009
as Andrew's mother
MovieManjadikuru
2008
as Devayani
MovieGulmohar
2008
as Devaki
MovieTwenty 20
2008
as Bharathi Amma
Kavyam
2008
MovieAnchil Oral Arjunan
2007
as Sudheendran's mother
MovieBaba Kalyani
2006
as Meenakshiyamma
MovieVadakkumnadhan
2006
as Rugmavathi Amma
MovieMampazhakkalam
2004
as Lakshmi
MovieNatturajavu
2004
as Charlie's Mother
MovieNjaan Salperu Raman Kutty
2004
as Devaki
MovieRunway
2004
as Bharathi
MovieVismayathumbathu
2004
as Sreekumar's Mother
MoviePattanathil Sundaran
2003
as Bhavaniyamma
MovieAmmakilikkoodu
2003
as Marykutty Teacher
MovieHariharan Pilla Happy Aanu
2003
as Padmavathiyamma
MovieMr. Brahmachari
2003
as Subhadramma
MovieNandanam
2002
as Unni Amma
MovieUthaman
2001
as Jayaraj's Mother
MovieKakkakuyil
2001
as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
MovieArayannangalude Veedu
2000
as Lakshmi
MovieNjangal Santhushtaranu
1999
as Mother of the orphanage
MoviePallavur Devanarayanan
1999
as Bhageerathi
MovieThe Godman
1999
as Amarnath's Mother
MovieEzhupunna Tharakan
1999
as Kunjannamma
MovieKottaram Veettile Apputtan
1998
as Appottan's mother
Poothiruvathira Raavil
1998
MovieManjeeradhwani
1998
MovieAmma Ammayiamma
1998
as Sarada
Itha Oru Snehagatha
1997
MovieMinnaminuginum Minnukettu
1995
MovieNo: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North
1995
as Vijayabhaskar's mother
Karma
1995
MovieMannar Mathai Speaking
1995
as Meera's Mother
Saadaram
1995
MovieSanthanagopalam
1994
MovieSukrutham
1994
Chukkan
1994
MovieNjan Kodiswaran
1994
as Janaki
MovieKudumba Visesham
1994
as Bharathi
MovieThenmavin Kombath
1994
as Yeshodhamma
MovieVendor Daniel State Licency
1994
as Annamma Daniel
MovieGandharvam
1993
as Graceykutty
MovieOru Kadankatha Pole
1993
MovieKalippattam
1993
as Sarojam's mother
MovieChenkol
1993
as Ammu
MovieMaya Mayooram
1993
MovieVatsalyam
1993
as Janakiyamma
MovieKavadiyattam
1993
as Sethulakshmi
MovieIthu Manjukaalam
1993
MovieSamagamam
1993
as Annakutty
MovieSopanam
1993
as Sethulakshmi Varma
MovieVietnam Colony
1992
as Parvathiyammal
Kudumbasametham
1992
as Kochukutty Amma
MoviePappayude Swantham Appoos
1992
MovieMahanagaram
1992
MovieMukhamudra
1992
as Lakshmi
MovieAayushkalam
1992
as Aby Mathew's Mother
MoviePonnurukkum Pakshi
1992
MovieUlladakkam
1991
as Sunny's Mother
Kizhakkunarum Pakshi
1991
as Ananthu' Mother
MoviePookkalam Varavayi
1991
as Nandan's Mother
MovieEzhunnallathu
1991
MovieBharatham
1991
as Devaki
MovieDhanam
1991
as Sivasankarans mother
MovieSandhesam
1991
as Bhanumathi
Apoorvam Chilar
1991
as Sarojam
Aparahnam
1991
as Janakiyamma
MovieEe Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu
1990
as Nurse Leeladevi
MovieKuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom
1990
as Vinayachandran's Mother
MovieKattukuthira
1990
as Manka
MovieIn Harihar Nagar
1990
as Andrews's mother
Rajavazhcha
1990
as Naniyamma
MovieMidhya
1990
as Rajagopal's Mother
MovieHis Highness Abdullah
1990
as Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
Purappadu
1990
MovieMazhavilkavadi
1989
as Velayudhankutty's Mother
MovieUlsavapittennu
1989
as Kalyaniyamma
MovieDasharatham
1989
as Chandradas's mother
MovieMuthukkudayum Choodi
1989
MovieKireedam
1989
as Ammu
MovieAdhipan
1989
as Shyam Prakash's mother
MoviePeruvannapurathe Visheshangal
1989
as Devaki
MovieOru Sayahnathinte Swapnam
1989
as Mariamma
MovieVandanam
1989
as Unnikrishnan's mother
MovieJaathakam
1989
as Janaki
Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas
1988
Mukthi
1988
as Madhaviyamma
Movie1921
1988
MovieSathya
1988
as Malayali shop-owner
Oru Maymasa Pulariyil
1987
MovieAnantaram
1987
as Yoginiyamma
MovieAchuvettante Veedu
1987
MovieThaniyavarthanam
1987
MovieIrupatham Noottandu
1987
as Meenakshiyamma
Ennu Nathante Nimmi
1986
as Nirmala's grandmother
MovieNakhakshathangal
1986
MovieNamukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal
1986
as Reetha
MovieSukhamo Devi
1986
MovieManasilloru Manimuthu
1986
Iniyum Kurukshetrum
1986
as Kartyayani
MovieKshamichu Ennoru Vakku
1986
as Shanthamma
MovieThinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
1985
as Janakikutty
Ente Ammu Ninte Thulasi Avarude Chakki
1985
MovieAngadikkappurathu
1985
as Rosi
MovieAdhyayam Onnu Muthal
1985
as Maash
MovieMakan Ente Makan
1985
as Paaruvamma
MovieEe Thanalil Ithiri Neram
1985
MovieThirakal
1984
as Madhaviyamma
Manithali
1984
as Zulfikar's mother
MovieKanamarayathu
1984
as Mother Superior
Swanthamevide Bandhamevide
1984
as Lakshmi
MovieAriyaatha Veethikal
1984
as Janakiyamma
Kodathi
1984
as Venu's mother
MovieFace to Face
1984
MovieMarakkillorikkalum
1983
as Sharada
Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare
1983
as Lakshmi
MovieSesham Kazhchayil
1983
as Susheela
Mansoru Maha Samudram
1983
as Devaki
Enikku Vishakunnu
1983
as Chinamma
MovieChiriyo Chiri
1982
Beedi Kunjamma
1982
as Madhavan's Mother
Kaaliya Mardhanam
1982
Ilakkangal
1982
as Valiyamma
MovieBalloon
1982
MovieThrishna
1981
as Chinnammu
Vayal
1981
MovieManiyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla
1981
MovieOppol
1981
MovieAgni Saram
1980
Manushya Mrugam
1980
as Babu's Mother
Anthappuram
1980
MovieKarimpana
1980
MovieChamaram
1980
as Ravi's Mother
MovieKaantha Valayam
1980
as Mariyamma
MovieThirayum Theeravum
1980
as Mohan's mother
MovieMoorkhan
1980
Love in Singapore
1980
MovieThe Evil Deeds of Cheriyachan
1979
MovieEeta
1978
MovieUthrada Rathri
1978
MovieKodiyettam
1978
as Kamalamma
Aniyara
1978
Randilonnu
1978
MovieRathinirvedam
1978
as Saraswathi
MovieAvalude Ravukal
1978
as Lakshmi
MovieKudumbam Namukku Sreekovil
1978
MovieAchaaram Ammini Osharam Omana
1977
as Dhakshayani
MovieOonjaal
1977
MovieJagadguru Aadisankaran
1977
as Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
MovieSatyavan Savithri
1977
Itha Ivide Vare
1977
as Kamalakshi
MovieNirakudam
1977
MovieSiva Thaandavam
1977
MovieAmrithavaahini
1976
as Lakshmi
MovieInnale Innu
1976
MovieAruthu
1976
Thulaavarsham
1976
MovieAppooppan
1976
MovieUtsavam
1975
as Mother of Gopi
MovieMattoru Seetha
1975
Makkal
1975
as Leela
MovieThiruvonam
1975
MoviePrayanam
1975
as Amminiyamma
Tourist Bungalow
1975
MovieArakkallan Mukkalkkallan
1974
as Queen Lakshmi
MovieChakravakam
1974
as Soshamma
Devi Kanyakumari
1974
as Old Lady
MoviePonnapuram Kotta
1974
MovieNellu
1974
as Savithri Varassyar
MovieNirmalyam
1973
as Velichapad's Wife
MovieTheerthayathra
1972
as Kochikkaavu
MoviePuthrakameshti
1972
MovieSnehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku
1972
MovieSree Guruvayoorappan
1972
MovieGandharavakshetram
1972
as Kalamezhuthu Singer
Akkarapacha
1972
as Bhageerathi
MovieAromalunni
1972
as Thumbolarcha
MovieManthrakodi
1972
as Saraswathi
MovieKarakanakadal
1971
as Tharathi
MovieAabhijathyam
1971
as Janaki Amma
MovieVithukal
1971
as Ammini
MovieThriveni
1970
as Parvathy
Cross Belt
1970
as Bhavani
MovieOthenante makan
1970
as Naani
MovieNizhalattam
1970
as Ravi's Mother
MovieVivahitha
1970
MovieAalmaram
1969
as Ammini Amma
Velutha Kathreena
1968
as Marthappulayi
MovieAnweshichu Kandethiyilla
1967
MovieOdayil Ninnu
1965
as Kalyani
MovieDaham
1965
