Sat Sep 21 14:36:09 UTC 2024: ## Malayalam Cinema’s Beloved ‘Amma’ Passes Away: Kaviyoor Ponnamma Laid To Rest
**Aluva:** Veteran actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma, fondly known as Malayalam cinema’s ‘Amma’, passed away on [Date]. She was 78. Her mortal remains were laid to rest at her Aluva residence following a private ceremony.
Ponnamma, who had been battling illness for over a month, breathed her last at the Lisie Hospital in Kochi. She had been an integral part of Malayalam cinema for over six decades, with a career spanning hundreds of films.
Born in Kaviyoor, Pathanamthitta in 1945, Ponnamma was the eldest of seven children. She had a natural inclination towards music and honed her skills under the tutelage of L.P.R Varma and Vechoor S Hariharasubrahmanyam. At the age of 14, she entered the world of theatre as a singer with the prominent drama company ‘Pratibha Arts’. She later made her acting debut in Thoppil Bhasi’s play “Mooladhanam”.
Ponnamma entered the world of cinema in 1962 with “Sree Rama Pattabhishekam”, playing Mandodari to Kotarakkara Sreedharan Nair’s Ravana. She became a household name with her performance as the mother of Sathyan and Madhu in “Thommene Makkal” (1965), establishing herself as the ‘Amma’ of Malayalam cinema.
Beyond her acting career, Ponnamma also found success as a playback singer, making her debut in 1963 with the film “Kaattu Maine”. She lent her voice to eight films, including “Velutha Katriine”, “Thiratha Yatra”, “Dharmayudham”, “Ilakangal”, “Chiriyo Chiri”, and “Kaakka Kuyil”.
In 1999, Ponnamma transitioned to television, appearing in numerous popular serials on channels like Doordarshan, Asianet, and Surya.
Her contributions to Malayalam cinema were recognized with numerous accolades including four Kerala State Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress (1971, 1972, 1973, 1994), the Bharat Murali Award, the P.K. Rosi Award, the Kalaratna Award, and a special award from the Kerala State Film Department.
Ponnamma was married to filmmaker Maniswamy, whom she met on the sets of “Rosy” and who was the film’s producer. They married in 1969 and had a daughter, Bindu. The couple later separated but reunited when Maniswamy fell ill in his later years. Ponnamma took care of him until his death in 2011.
The loss of Kaviyoor Ponnamma is deeply mourned by the Malayalam film industry and audiences alike. She will be remembered as a versatile and beloved actress, a talented singer, and a true icon of Malayalam cinema.
First Piper 