Kaviyoor Ponnamma, widely cherished as the quintessential mother figure in Malayalam cinema, has left an irreplaceable void with her passing. Her funeral, conducted with official honours, took place at her residence in Aluva, where her brother Manoj lit the pyre. Fans and well-wishers gathered to pay their final respects to the veteran actress, who passed away at 5:33 p.m. yesterday while receiving cancer treatment at Lissy Hospital.
Having appeared in over 600 films, Ponnamma was a stalwart of Malayalam cinema, revered for her maternal roles. She had stepped away from the limelight in recent years due to health issues. After being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in May, her condition became critical, and she was hospitalized once more on September 3. She spent her last days at her brother’s home, Sreepadam, in Aluva.
Born on September 10, 1945, in Kaviyoor, near Thiruvalla, Ponnamma was the daughter of TP Damodaran and Gowri Damodaran. She was married to the late film producer MK Maniswamy and is survived by her daughter Bindu, who resides in the United States. Ponnamma’s contributions to the film industry earned her several prestigious accolades, including four Kerala State Film Awards. She also made a mark in television serials, enriching her legacy across multiple platforms.
