Actor Kaviyoor Ponnamma passes away

Actor Kaviyoor Ponnamma passes away : Veteran Malayalam actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma has sadly passed away at Lisie Hospital at the age of 79. She had been battling stage 4 cancer since her diagnosis in May last year and was admitted to the hospital on September 3. Despite the medical team’s efforts, her condition worsened, and she took her last breath on Friday evening.

In a touching farewell, her mortal remains will be available for public homage at the Municipal Townhall in Kalamassery from 9 AM to noon on Saturday. Her cremation is scheduled for 4 PM at her residence in Aluva. Currently, her body rests at the hospital.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences on Facebook, honoring Ponnamma’s immense contributions to both theatre and film.

Ponnamma began her acting journey in theatre at just 14 years old, eventually starring in over 1,000 films. She was renowned for her motherly roles, often portraying the mothers of beloved actors such as Prem Naseer, Sathyan, Mohanlal, and Mammootty—she famously played Mohanlal’s mother in over 50 films!

Her versatility shone through as she took on various roles, even venturing into negative characters. Ponnamma was also a producer, having bankrolled the film “Meghatheertham,” and she received the state award for Best Supporting Actress four times. She was married to the late Mani Swami, a noted producer, director, and scenarist, and together they had a daughter, Bindu. Her son-in-law, Venkatram, is a professor at the University of Michigan.

Born in 1945 to TP Damodaran and Gauriamma in Kaviyoor, Pathanamthitta, Ponnamma was the youngest of seven siblings, including the late actress Kaviyoor Renuka. Her family moved to Ponkunnam in Kottayam when she was just a year old, where her father’s love for music inspired her to pursue singing. She dreamt of becoming a celebrated singer like MS Subbulakshmi.

At 12, she was invited by music director Devarajan to lend her voice to theatre productions, starting with “Mooladhanam,” written by Thoppil Bhasi. When the theatre group needed a lead actress, she took to the stage for the first time at Bhasi’s encouragement.

Ponnamma rose to prominence as a leading actress in KPAC and was involved with other notable theatre groups like Pratibha Arts Club and Kalidasa Kalakendram. Her performances in plays such as “Puthiya Aakasham Puthiya Bhoomi,” “Doctor,” and “Althara” received widespread acclaim.

Her cinematic debut came at 14 in “Sree Rama Pattabhishekam,” directed by Merryland, where she played Mandodari. She soon became a staple in Malayalam cinema, portraying mother figures in classics like “Kudumbini” and “Thommante Makkal.”

Kaviyoor Ponnamma Career Success

Over her illustrious career, Ponnamma graced nearly 1,000 films, working with legendary directors like PN Menon, MT Vasudevan Nair, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, and many more. Some of her notable works include “Asuravithu,” “Nirmalyam,” “Kodiyettam,” and “His Highness Abdullah.”

Kaviyoor Ponnamma leaves behind a rich legacy in Malayalam cinema, and her contributions will be cherished by fans and colleagues alike.