Kochi: A rare actress known for her portrayal of motherhood both in cinema and life, Kaviyur Ponnamma walked alongside the history of Malayalam cinema as a mother figure for four generations. She transformed her life into both cinema and lived experiences. When the Malayalam film industry added the title “Mother” alongside the name Kaviyur Ponnamma, it became a phrase that traveled with time.
Her cinematic journey began with Prem Naseer and continued alongside the generations of Prithviraj and Fahadh Faasil. In the memories of the golden era of Malayalam cinema, her performances—often filled with pain, joy, and emotion—have repeatedly brought tears to audiences.
From films like “Nalla Divasam,” “Valsalyam,” “Thaniyavarthanam,” “Kireedam,” “Thenmavin Kombath,” “Runway,” “Chenkol,” and “Inharihar Nagar,” she portrayed various facets of motherhood that resonated deeply with the hearts of the audience.
Regardless of the superstars present, many directors have felt that when Kaviyur Ponnamma was cast as a mother, the mother-son roles reached their fullest potential. Despite entering the arts at a very young age, she had no hesitation in acting in mother roles right from the start.
Even when some suggested that she might get typecast or change her name to avoid an aged image, she remained steadfast. Ultimately, these two factors, which were said to harm her career, have instead solidified her place in cinematic history as Kaviyur Ponnamma.
As she continued to portray the mother role, she likely developed a unique connection to that character. The affectionate name “Ponnamma Chechi” and her pride in having acted as the mothers of superstars could very well indicate her deep bond with these roles.
Regardless, we bid farewell to an extraordinary artist who handled and excelled in the mother role more than any other actress in the history of Malayalam cinema.
A number of unique talents who have contributed to making Malayalam cinema one of the finest art forms in the country have left us recently. We can now add the name Kavyur Ponnamma to that list.
