Kochi: Legendary Malayalam actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma passed away at Lisie Hospital in Kochi on Friday. She was 79 years old. Ponnamma, who had been battling stage 4 cancer since May last year, had been admitted to the hospital on September 3. According to hospital authorities, her condition worsened, and she breathed her last on Friday evening.
Her body will be placed at the Kalamassery Municipal Town Hall on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the public to pay their respects. The cremation will take place at her home in Aluva at 4 p.m. Currently, her remains are kept at the hospital.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences on Facebook, highlighting her remarkable contributions to Malayalam cinema and theatre.
A Star of Over 1,000 Films
Kaviyoor Ponnamma started her acting journey at just 14, beginning in theatre. She went on to act in more than 1,000 films. Ponnamma was known for playing motherly roles, often cast alongside top actors like Prem Nazir, Sathyan, Madhu, Soman, Mammootty, and Mohanlal. Notably, she played Mohanlal's mother in over 50 movies.
Despite being famous for motherly roles, Ponnamma also took on various other characters, including negative roles. She produced the film Meghatheertham and won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress four times.
Her personal life was also linked to the film industry. She was married to film director and scriptwriter Mani Swami, who passed away earlier. The couple had a daughter, Bindu, and a son-in-law, Venkatram, who is a professor at the University of Michigan in the United States.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in 1945 to TP Damodaran and Gauriamma in Kaviyoor, Pathanamthitta, Ponnamma was raised in a family of six siblings, including the late actress Kaviyoor Renuka. Her family later moved to Ponkunnam in Kottayam when she was just one year old.
Ponnamma showed an early interest in music, inspired by her father, and initially dreamed of becoming a singer like the famous MS Subbulakshmi. At the age of 12, music director Devarajan invited her to sing for a play. This opportunity led her to her first acting role when the theatre group needed a lead actress for a performance. At the encouragement of Thoppil Bhasi, a prominent playwright, she took on the role and thus began her acting career.
She went on to perform with prominent theatre groups, including the Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC), where her roles in plays like Puthiya Aakasham Puthiya Bhoomi and Doctor were highly praised.
Entry into Films
Ponnamma made her film debut at 14, encouraged by Thankappan Master, a dance teacher at Kalidasa Kalakendram. Her first movie was Sree Rama Pattabhishekam, where she played Mandodari. She took on her first motherly role in the film Kudumbini and continued playing similar roles in several other movies.
Some of her most iconic films include Asuravithu, Nirmalyam, Avalude Raavukal, Kodiyettam, Oppol, Kireedam, Bharatham, and His Highness Abdullah. She worked with acclaimed filmmakers like PN Menon, MT Vasudevan Nair, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Padmarajan, and Mohan.
Her contribution to Malayalam cinema, both on stage and on screen, left a lasting legacy.