Veteran Malayalam actor Kaviyoor Ponnamma died at a private hospital in Kochi on Friday, hospital sources confirmed. The 80-year-old actor was undergoing treatment for some time.
With a rich legacy of over 1000 movies, Ponnamma was famous for her mother roles. She began her rich and illustrious career as a singer in a drama troupe before veteran playwright Thoppil Bhasi spotted her. He made her the lead lady in his play at the age of 12. She then went on to become the main lead in the dramas organised by the KPAC, a prominent theatre group in Kerala. She won accolades for her performances in ‘Puthiya Aakasham Puthiya Bhoomi’, ‘Doctor’ and ‘Althara.
Ponnamma made her debut in movies in ‘Sreerama Pattabhishekam’ by the renowned Merryland Studios. She went on to do over 1,000 movies, winning over four state awards for best actress.
The veteran actor gained immense fame playing mother to all prominent actors in Malayalam over the last many decades. ‘Karimbana’, ‘Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam’, ‘Thriveni’, ‘Nizhalaattam’ and ‘Thaniyaavarthanam’ were some of the movies which saw Ponnamma play her iconic mother roles.
She was married to movie producer, director, and scenarist the late Mani Swami and the couple have a daughter Bindu. Son-in-law Venkatram is a professor at the University of Michigan in the US.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan mourned her death, stating thatan important chapter in Malayalam cinema comes to a close with her demise. He added that she embodied the essence of motherhood on screen for decades. “Her effortless portrayals of Malayali women have left an indelible mark on our collective memory. Heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and all those who cherish Malayalam cinema,” the Chief Minister said.
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