As an ardent admirer of Malayalam cinema, I have been utterly captivated by the extraordinary journey of Kaviyoor Ponnamma, a legendary actress who graced our screens for over six decades. Born and bred in the heart of Kerala, she was the eldest child in a family of seven, with her sister, Kaviyoor Renuka, also following the footsteps of acting.
As a devoted admirer, I’m eager to share the story of an extraordinary figure in Malayalam cinema – none other than Kaviyoor Ponnamma. This phenomenal actress has graced over 700 films and collaborated with cinematic greats such as Mohanlal, Kamal Haasan, Mammootty, and many more. Her journey started in the realm of theater dramas and stage shows, but her talent soon reached far beyond that. Unfortunately, she recently lost her battle against stage 4 cancer. Kaviyoor Ponnamma’s legacy will continue to inspire us all.
Who is Kaviyoor Ponnamma?
Born on September 10, 1945, Kaviyoor Ponnamma entered life as the eldest child of T.P. Damodharan and Gauri, residing in Kaviyoor Thiruvalla. She was blessed with six younger siblings. Remarkably, her sister, Kaviyoor Renuka, also embarked on a path in acting.
Originally from Kaviyoor, Ponnamma spent the majority of her childhood in Ponkunnam, where her father established his business. As a child, she developed a passion for singing after witnessing a live performance by M.S. Subbulakshmi. She started learning to sing at just 5 years old and made her singing debut, or Arangetram (a traditional Tamil term for a student’s first stage performance), when she was 11. This is how she earned the stage name ‘Kaviyoor Ponnamma’.
Kaviyoor Ponnamma’s filmography
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share the incredible journey of Kaviyoor Ponnamma, whose voice has been an enchanting melody to my ears. You see, at just 13 years old, this extraordinary talent was noticed by the Kerala People’s Arts Club (KPAC) in 1958, who were on a quest for a gifted girl for their stage production. That very moment marked her debut as a heroine in a stage drama! Ponnamma graced the role of the heroine in the Mooladhanam drama, brilliantly directed by Thoppil Basi.
Later on, at a young age, Kaviyoor Ponnamma first appeared in movies. It’s noteworthy that she made her film industry entrance as a teenager. She portrayed Mandodari in Sreerama Pattabhishekam and later, the mother of two children in Kudumbini.
At 21 years old, Ponnamma found herself applying grey hair product to portray a nurturing mother to men significantly older than herself, as reported by The News Minute. Remarkably, the actress admitted that she had never seen a play before joining theater and hadn’t watched a film until she started acting in them.
Kaviyoor Ponnamma has acted alongside some of Malayalam cinema’s greatest stars, including Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Prem Naseer, on numerous occasions. Notably, she portrayed Mohanlal’s mother in over 50 films, as per Manorama’s report.
Kaviyoor Ponnamma is renowned for a variety of works such as Asuravithu, Velutha Kathrina, Cross Belt, Nellu, Devdas, Makan Ente Makan, Thrishna, Devi Kanyakumari, Kanamarayathu, Oppam, Kireedam, Thenmavin Kombath, Chenkol, Vandanam and many more. It’s important to note that Ponnamma was honored with the prestigious Kerala Film Award for her exceptional acting not just once or twice but a total of 4 times. The actress was recognized with the Second Best Actress award for Theertha Yathra, Thenmavin Kombathu and other films.
Kaviyoor Ponnamma’s personal life and death
In 1969, Kaviyoor Ponnamma got married to film producer Maniswami. They have a daughter named Bindhu, who currently resides in the United States following her marriage. Sadly, Maniswami passed away in 2011 after enduring a chronic health condition for quite some time.
In recent times, Malayalam actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma sadly passed away on September 20 following a struggle with stage 4 cancer in Kochi. At the time of her death, she was 79 years old. The news of her passing left a profound impact on the film industry, as numerous actors shared their sorrow.
Additionally, Mohanlal and Mammootty joined at Kaviyoor Ponnamma’s funeral service, extending their sympathies to her family and bidding farewell to the actress. These two renowned actors stood by her earthly remains for quite some time, visibly moved by the passing of a cherished figure in Malayalam cinema, who they considered as their ‘mom’.
The actor from Neru, expressing his feelings on social media, penned a heartfelt message saying, “These words are penned with the pain of losing my dear Ponnammachechi, who has always shown love towards the character and the person I am, much like a loving grandmother. To our audience in Malayalam, we were not just mother and son, but cherished figures.
Through a long and distinguished career, the late actress made an unforgettable impact on viewers with her diverse acting skills. Although Kaviyooor Ponnamma is no longer with us in body, her enduring legacy will carry on.
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2024-09-26 16:25