Fri Sep 20 15:51:42 UTC 2024: ## Veteran Actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma Passes Away at 80
**Kochi:** Renowned Malayalam film and theatre actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma, known for her memorable portrayal of motherly roles, passed away at the age of 80 on [Date of Death]. She was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi.
Ponnamma had been in critical condition for the past few days due to age-related health issues. She was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit for observation. Though she had stepped back from acting for a while, she had been living a peaceful life at her home in Karumalloor, Vadakkanpara.
Her funeral will be held at her residence in Aluva on [Date of Funeral] at 4 pm. The body will be kept for public viewing at the Kalamassery Municipal Town Hall from 9 am to 12 pm.
A prominent figure in the Malayalam art scene for over six decades, Ponnamma began her journey in theatre. She won four state film awards for Best Supporting Actress (1971, 1972, 1973, 1994) and also directed the film “Meghatheertham.” She lent her voice to eight films and appeared in over 25 television serials.
Born on January 6th, 1944, in Kaviyoor, Pathanamthitta, to T.P Damodaran and Gauriamma, Ponnamma moved to Ponkunnam, Kottayam district when she was a year old. Her passion for music, inherited from her father, led her to pursue musical training from a young age. She dreamt of becoming a renowned singer like M.S. Subbulakshmi.
At the age of 12, music director G. Devarajan invited her to sing in a play. Her debut performance was in Thoppil Bhasi’s “Mooladhanam,” where she also ended up playing the lead role due to the absence of an actress. This marked the beginning of her journey as a prominent actress in the K.P.A.C. theatre group.
She further honed her skills with other theatre groups, namely Prabha Arts Club and Kalidasa Kala Kendram, winning accolades for her performances in plays like “Puthiya Akasham Puthiya Bhoomi,” “Doctor,” “Althara,” and “Janani Janmabhoomi.”
At 14, dance instructor Tankappan Master convinced her to try her hand at acting in films. Her debut film, “Sreerama Pattabhishekam” by Meriland, saw her portraying Mandodari. Ponnamma’s first lead role in “Rosy” led to her meeting producer Maniswami, who she later married in 1969. Their relationship ended after a few years following the birth of their daughter, Bindu. However, Ponnamma continued to care for Maniswami until his death in 2011.
Her acting career took off, seeing her collaborate with leading Malayalam directors such as P.N. Menon, Vincent, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Ramu Kariat, K.S. Sethumadhavan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, John Abraham, Padmarajan, and Mohan. She made her mark with memorable performances in numerous films, including “Kudumbini,” her first portrayal of a mother.
She became a familiar face as the mother of several Malayalam movie stars like Sathyan, Madhu, Prem Nazir, Soman, Sukumar, Mammootty, and Mohanlal. Her versatility allowed her to excel in diverse roles, from maternal figures to negative characters, in over 1000 films in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu.
Some of her notable works include “Thommene Makkal,” where she played the mother of Sathyan and Madhu, and films like “Theerthayatra,” “Nirmalyam,” “Nell,” “Asuravith,” “Velutha Katrina,” “Cross Belt,” “Avalude Raavugal,” “Kodiyettam,” “Kariimpan,” “Nizhalattam,” “Taniyavarthanam,” “His Highness Abdullah,” “Kireedam,” “Chenkol,” “Bharatam,” “Baba Kalyani,” “Vadakkanathan,” and many more. Her last film was “Aanum Pennum.”
Ponnamma is survived by her six siblings, including late actress Kaviyoor Renuka, daughter Bindu, and son-in-law Venkataraman, a professor at the University of Michigan, USA. Her passing is a significant loss to the Malayalam film industry, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and a timeless presence on the silver screen.
First Piper 