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Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Indian actress (1945–2024) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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Ponnamma was a four-time Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winner. Her sister Kaviyoor Renuka was also an actress. Often called as the "mother to all actors", she acted as mother of almost all actors in her career spanning over decades.[1] 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.[2][3][4][5]
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Early life
Ponnamma was born to T. P. Damodharan and Gauri, as the eldest of seven children, on 10 September 1945 in Kaviyoor, Thiruvalla.[6] She had six siblings among whom Kaviyoor Renuka (d. 2004), her younger sister, was also an actress.[7] Even though she was born in Kaviyoor, her childhood was spent in Ponkunnam where her father was doing business. She began taking singing lessons from age five. Ever since she saw a live concert of M. S. Subbulakshmi, she wanted to be a singer and even "look like her". Her arengettam (singing debut) was held in Kaviyoor when she was 11 years old, where she was first introduced by her stage name "Kaviyoor Ponnamma".[8]
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Career
![[icon]](#/media/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2024) |
As a five-year-old, she learned music and sang in stage shows.[9] 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.[8] 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.[10]
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Personal life and death
Ponnamma was married to film producer Maniswami in 1969. The couple has a daughter Bindhu who is married and settled in the United States.[10] Maniswami died in 2011 after a long illness.
Ponnamma died from cancer at Lissie Hospital in Kochi, Kerala, on 20 September 2024, at the age of 79.[11][12][13][14]
Awards
- Second Best Actress – 1971 – Different films
- Second Best Actress – 1972 – Theertha Yathra
- Second Best Actress – 1973 – Different films
- Second Best Actress – 1994 – Thenmavin Kombathu
- Film City Magazine- Chalachitra Ratnam' Title – 2006
- Pappanamkode Lakshmanan Award – 2006
- O Madhavan Award – 2009
- Bharath Murali Award – 2012
- Kala Ratna award – EV Kala Mandalam – 2013
- PK Rosy Award – 2015
- Good Knight Film and Business Awards – 2017
- Gurupranam – Honour by Malayalam Cine Technicians’ Association (MACTA) – 2013
- Honour by KSFDC – 2015
- Honour by Kerala State Film Awards – 2016
- Felicitation by Kerala State Film Awards – 2017
- Kausalya Vandanam programme Honour – 2017
- Kalaiselvam Award – Government of Tamil Nadu
- Honour by Kaviyoor Panchayat
- DLSA Honour
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Filmography
As an actress
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
As a film playback singer
- 1963 – "Kaavilamme Karinkali" – Kaattumaina
- 1968 – "Methikkalathile" – Velutha Kathreena
- 1972 – "Ambike Jagadambike" – Theerthayaathra
- 1973 – "Mangalaam Kaavile" – Dharmayudham
- 1982 – "Thushaaramanikal" – Illakkangal
- 1982 – "Palathum Paranju" – Chiriyo Chiri
- 1999 – "Unknown" – Pallavur Devanarayanan
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Television
Serials
- 1997 – Mandan Kunju (Doordarshan)
- 1999 – Kalanum Kandakashani (Doordarshan)
- 2000 – Manasi
- 2001 – Akshayapaathram
- 2001 – Swantham Malootty
- 2002 – Akkarappacha (Asianet)
- Nagamma
- 2004 – Dambathya geethangal (Asianet)
- 2004 – Black and White (Asianet)
- 2005 – Krishnakripaasaagaram (Amrita TV)
- 2005 – Amma (Amrita TV)- Telefilm
- 2006 – Manthrakodi (Asianet)
- 2006 – Sthree 2 (Asianet)
- 2006 – Ponnunjal (Asianet)
- 2007 – Sree Ayappanum Vavarum (Surya TV)
- 2007 – Alilathali (Asianet)
- 2007 – Manassariyathe (Surya TV)
- 2007 – Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Darsanam - Devotional show
- 2008 – Meera (Asianet)
- 2008 – Vishudha Thomasleeha (Asianet)
- 2008 – Gajarajan Guruvayoor Kesavan (Surya TV)
- 2008 – Ammathottil (Asianet)
- 2009 – Chandrettanum Shobedathiyum
- 2009 – Pakal Mazha (Amrita TV)
- 2012 – Ramayanam (Mazhavil Manorama)
- 2012 – Kathayile Rajakumari (Mazhavil Manorama)
- 2016 – Amme Mahamayee (Surya TV)
- 2017 – Thatteem Mutteem (Mazhavil Manorama) – Cameo appearance
- 2018 – Gauri (Surya TV)
Other programmes
- Home Sweet Home
- JB Junction
- News Hour
- Movies
- Arabian Dreams
- Cinema Diary
- Ponnamma Manassu
- Comedy Super Nite
- Comedy Super Nite 2
- Kathayillithu Jeevitham
- Kayyoppu
- Ponnamma Manssu Thurakkunnu
- Malayalee House
- On Record
- Mukhamukham
- Samagamam
- FM Rainbow
- Badayi Bungalow
- Female Film Festival
- Women in Action programme
- Onam Cooking Show (Kairali We)
- Thiranottam
- Top Talk
- CN Vlogs Onam 2019
- Kayyur Film
- Nithyaharitham Book release
- Ee Vazhitharayil
- Charithram Enniloode
- International Children’s Film Festival of Kerala (ICFFK)
- Mathrusparsham
- KSFDC
- Valthsallyam
- Mothers’ Day programme
- K.G. Jayan Felicitation
- Aanachamayam
- Thombil Palace Samrakshana Samiti Programme
- Lohithadas Award Function
- 65th Hindu Religious Meet
- Interview (Kairali TV)
- Onam Thoughts (Jaihind TV)
- Ammakkorumma
- Amma Ponnamma
- Cinemayile Amma Ponnamma
- Mohanam 2016
- Limelight
- Anjaloonjal
- Attukal festival
- Oru Vattam Koodi
- Stall at Desam
- Children's day Magic Show
- Prem Nazir film festival
- Media Award Presentation
- Swantham Gramam Sundara Gramam
- Amruthageethangal
- Film Supporting Artistes’ Welfare Association
- Good Knight Film and Business Awards 2017
- Annorikkal
- Nere Chovve
- Lal Salam
- Madhuram Madhuram Onam
- Comedy Stars
- Onathammamar
- Star Singer
- Red FM Malayalam Music Awards
- Thanima Cultural Festival
- Ormayile Ponnonam
- JC Daniel Award - Jury
- Katha Ithuvare
- Amma Nakshathram
- Chapter Day
- Mathrumadhuram Onam
- Prem Nazir Foundation Award
- 50 years of Vellithirayile Perunthachan
- Janaseva Sisu Bhavan Snehaveedu
- Honour to IV Sasi
- Minnalai Television Award Night
- Velicham Intensive Educational Development Project
- Vishu Interview (Jaihind TV)
- Run Kerala, Run
- Golden Jubilee celebrations of the formation of the State
- Krishna Jayanthi
- Hiroshima Day Programme
- Jubilee Fete of the Neeravil Prakash Kala Kendram
- Bharathan's 10th death anniversary
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Drama
As drama actress
- Mooladhanam
- Puthiya Akasham Puthiya Bhoomi
- Janani Janmbhoomi
- Doctor
As a drama singer
- "Vellilam Kaattilolichu Kalikkuvan"
- "Pookkaara Pootharumo" (Doctor)
- "Onappooviliyil" (Mooladhanam)
- "Kaalchilambil" (Mooladhanam)
- "Oru vazhithaarayil" (Althara)
- "Pottichirichu"
- "Mannil Piranna"(Althara)
- "Mulchedikkaattil"(Althara)
- "Vala Vala"(Althara)
- (Yagashala)
- (Maya)
Albums
- Karyasiddhi Pooja
- Ente Malayalam
- Sreeramajapam
- Makam - (Singer)
- Ellam Ente Chottanikkara Amma - (Singer)
- Krishna Krishna Hare Hare - (Singer)
Advertisements
- Sreelakshmi General & Pooja Store Payyoli
- Fawaz Wedding Centre
- Manohar Jewellers
- Kalabhacharthu
- Joy Alukkas Wedding Center
- Santhimadam Villa
- Sreenivas Idli and Dosa Powder
- Mas Curry Powder
- Siva Emu
References
External links
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