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{{short description|Indian actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Aranmula Ponnamma
| image = Aranmula Ponnamma.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1914|4|8|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Aranmula]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|2|21|1914|4|8|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1943–2004
| spouse = Kochu Krishna Pillai
| children = Rajamma<br>Rajashekharan
| parents = Malethu Kesava Pillai<br />Parukutty Amma
| awards = 2006 - [[Kerala film awards|J.C. Daniel Award for Lifetime Achievement]]
| relatives = {{ubl|[[Suresh Gopi]] (Grandson-in-law)}}
}}

'''Aranmula Ponnamma''' (8 April 1914 – 21 February 2011) was a [[National Film Award (India)|National Award]] winning [[Malayalam film]] actress known for her roles as mother of the protagonist in numerous films in a career spanning over five decades. She is widely described as a mother figure in Malayalam cinema.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/lf/2002/03/09/stories/2002030901030200.htm |title=Notice of Aranmula Ponnamma's death |access-date=13 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220192557/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/lf/2002/03/09/stories/2002030901030200.htm |archive-date=20 February 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="hindu.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/matriarch-of-mollywood/article2271098.ece|title=Matriarch of Mollywood|date=12 January 2007|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> In 2005, she was honoured with the [[J. C. Daniel Award]], [[Government of Kerala|Kerala government]]'s highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

==Early life==
Ponnamma was born as one of five children of Malethu Kesava Pillai and Parukutty Amma in [[Aranmula]], [[Pathanamthitta]], [[Travancore]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=13488595&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203022045/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=13488595&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> She has four siblings, Ramakrishna Pillai, Pankiyamma, Bhaskara Pillai and Thankamma.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinidiary.com/people.php?pigsection=Actor&picata=2&no_of_displayed_rows=3&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=|title=CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal|website=cinidiary.com}}</ref> She started her career at the age of 12 as a [[Carnatic music]] vocalist. She began by singing before meetings organised by the Hindu Mahamandal on the banks of the Pampa river. At the age of 15, she was appointed as a music teacher in a primary school in [[Palai|Pala]], before starting to teach in the senior classes. Later she joined the first batch of students at the Swati Tirunal Music Academy. After the course, she was appointed as the music teacher in Cotton Hill Girls' High School in [[Trivandrum]]. {{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

==Family==
She was married to Late Kochu Krishna Pillai. The couple had a son, Late Rajashekharan and a daughter, Rajamma. Her granddaughter Radhika Suresh is married to [[Suresh Gopi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/kerala-s-screen-mother-8232-ponnamma-dies-at-96|title=Kerala's 'screen mother' Ponnamma dies at 96|first=(Our|last=Correspondent)|website=Khaleej Times}}</ref>

==Career==
Ponnamma's acting debut happened at the age of 29, in a play titled ''Bhagyalakshmi''. She went on to act in plays such as ''Prasanna'', ''Chechi'', ''Jeevithayathra'' and ''Rakthabandham'', before debuting in films. Her debut role was that of the mother of the character played by [[Miss Kumari]], a prominent actress at that time, in ''Sasidharan'' (1950).<ref name="hindu.com" /> The same year she did another role as a mother in the [[Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair]] starrer ''Amma'', which was the first film of noted producer T. E. Vasudevan and also the 18th Malayalam film.<ref>[http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/mp/2002/07/04/stories/2002070400560200.htm Excerpt from www.thehindujobs.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221041631/http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/mp/2002/07/04/stories/2002070400560200.htm |date=21 February 2009 }}</ref> In 1968, she acted in the film ''[[Viruthan Shanku]]'' directed by [[P. Venu]], the first full-length comedy in Malayalam cinema. She was typecasted in mother roles. In her own words: "I did play a negative role in ''Paadunna Puzha'' and that of a wayward woman in ''Yachakan''. But after that I was always cast as the mother. As the mother of two children, I was very comfortable in that role. My role model was my mother, Parukutty Amma, who had to look after her five children on her own after my father, Malethu Kesava Pillai, passed away when I was nine. In fact, in ''Amma'', my fifth film, I was merely acting as my mother."<ref name="hindu.com" /> In her career spanning over 60 years, she acted as the mother or grandmother of first generation actors like [[Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair]], second generation actors like [[Prem Nazir]] and [[Sathyaneshan Nadar|Sathyan]] and third generation actors like [[Mammootty]], [[Mohanlal]] and [[Suresh Gopi]].

She appeared last in the film ''Gourisankaram'' (2004). She died on 21 February 2011, aged 96, at a private hospital in [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/139805/aranmula-ponnamma-dies-96.html|title=Aranmula Ponnamma dies at 96|date=2011-02-21|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|access-date=2011-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://expressbuzz.com/entertainment/malayalam/kerala-aranmula-ponnamma-dies/250122.html |title=Aranmula Ponnamma dies |date=2011-02-21 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |location=[[Kerala]] |access-date=2011-02-21 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="SansCinema_Aranmula_Ponnamma">{{cite news
|url=http://www.sanscinema.com/2011/02/arammula-ponnamma-passes-away/
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716004452/http://www.sanscinema.com/2011/02/arammula-ponnamma-passes-away/
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2011-07-16
|title=Aranmula Ponnamma passes away
|date=2011-02-21
|publisher="SansCinema"
|location=[[Kerala]]
|access-date=2011-02-27
}}</ref>

==Awards==
;[[National Film Awards]]
* 1996: [[National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] - ''[[Kathapurushan]]''
[[Kerala State Film Awards]]
* 2005 : ''[[J. C. Daniel Award]]''
* 1996 : [[Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress|Second Best Actress]] - ''[[Kathapurushan]]''
;[[Asianet Film Awards]]
* 1998 : Lifetime Achievement Award

==Filmography==
{{incomplete list|date=July 2021}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 2003 || [[Gourisankaram]] || - ||
|-
| 2003 || [[Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam]] || Ammu's grandmother ||
|-
| 2000 || [[Indriyam]]|| Muthassi ||
|-
| ||Baalapattangal||- || Short film
|-
| ||Parajayathil Patharatha Karmayogi||- || Documentary
|-
| 1997|| [[Janathipathyam]]||Thirumupad's mother ||
|-
| 1997||[[Lelam]]|| Revathi Thirunal thampuratti ||
|-
| 1996 ||[[Kadhapurushan]] ||Muthassi ||
|-
| 1995 || [[Sindoorarekha]]|| Muthassi ||
|-
| 1995||Puthukottayile Puthumanavalan ||Achamma ||
|-
| 1995 || [[Highway (1995 film)|Highway]]||Vinod's grandmother ||
|-
| 1994 || Tharavadu||Rajani's grandmother ||
|-
| 1994|| Sagaram Sakshi||Devotee||
|-
| 1994 || [[Sudhinam]]|| Bhargavi Amma ||
|-
| 1994 || [[Njan Kodiswaran]] || Muthassi ||
|-
| 1993 || [[Maya Mayooram]]||Narendran's grandmother ||
|-
| 1993||[[Aakashadoothu]] || Annamma ||
|-
| 1993|| [[Kalipattam]]||Venu's grandmother||
|-
| 1992|| Kingini|| Mahesh's grandmother||
|-
| 1992 || [[Savidam]]|| Ramji's cheriyamma ||
|-
| 1991|| [[Adwaytham]]|| Muthassi ||
|-
|1991||[[Vishnulokam]]||Savithri's grandmother ||
|-
| 1990|| Champion Thomas||Valiammachi ||
|-
| 1990|| [[Purappadu (1990 film)|Purappadu]]||Elippennu ||
|-
| 1989 ||[[Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam]] || Saraswathiyamma ||
|-
| 1989|| [[Aazhikkoru Muthu]]|| Prabhakarar's mother||
|-
| 1987|| [[Kanikanum Neram]]||Muthassi||
|-
| 1987 || [[Achuvettante Veedu]]|| Achuthankutty's Mother ||
|-
| 1987 || [[Swargam]]|| Jayan's mother ||
|-
| 1986||[[Rareeram]] || Nandakumar's Mother ||
|-
| 1986||[[Kaveri]] || Balu's Mother ||
|-
| 1985 || [[Madhuvidhu Theerum Munpe]]|| ||
|-
| 1985 ||[[Navadakku Paniyedukku]] || ||
|-
| 1985 || [[Vellam]]|| - ||
|-
| 1985||[[Puzhayozhugum Vazhi]] ||Hari's Mother ||
|-
| 1985||[[Azhiyatha Bandhangal]] ||Meenakshi ||
|-
| 1985|| [[Pathamudayam]]||B. G. Menon's Sister ||
|-
| 1984|| Poomadathe Pennu||Muthassi ||
|-
| 1983 ||[[Ahankaram]] ||Sreedevi ||
|-
| 1983 || [[Pallankuzhi]]|| ||
|-
| 1983 || [[Enne Njan Thedunnu]]|| Parukuttyamma ||
|-
| 1983 || [[Bandham (1983 film)|Bandham]]||Muthassi ||
|-
| 1982 ||[[Vazhvey Maayam]] ||Paatti ||Tamil film<br>Dubbed for herself in <br>Malayalam dubbed version "Premabhishekam" also
|-
| 1982 ||[[Yagam]] || ||
|-
| 1982 ||[[Ee Nadu]] || Parvathiyamma ||
|-
| 1982|| Drohi || ||
|-
|1982 ||Ente Shathrukkal || ||
|-
|1982 ||Ithum Oru Jeevitham ||Madhavi ||
|-
| 1981 || [[Archana Teacher]]||Sukumaran's aunt ||
|-
| 1981 || [[Ira Thedunna Manushyar]]|| ||
|-
| 1981 || [[Manassinte Theerthayathra]]|| Muthassi ||
|-
| 1981||Arikkari Ammu || ||
|-
|1981 ||Dhanya || ||
|-
| 1981||Aakramanam ||Devakiyamma ||
|-
| 1980 ||[[Ambalavilakku]] || Savithri's Mother-in-law ||
|-
| 1980 ||[[Thirayum Theeravum]]|| Muthassi ||
|-
| 1980 ||[[Makaravilakku]] || ||
|-
| 1980||[[Oppol]] || ||
|-
| 1980||[[Theekadal]] || Balakrishnan's Mother ||
|-
| 1980 ||Avan Oru Ahankari || ||
|-
|1980||Swantham Enna Padam ||Sunil's grandmother ||
|-
|1980||Seetha || ||
|-
| 1979 ||[[Lajjavathi]] || ||
|-
| 1979 || [[Rajaveedhi]]|| ||
|-
| 1979|| Bharyaye Aavashyamundu || ||
|-
| 1979 ||Prabhathasandhya || ||
|-
| 1979 || [[Amrithachumbanam]]|| ||
|-
| 1979 ||[[Oru Ragam Pala Thalam]] || ||
|-
| 1979 || [[Venalil Oru Mazha]]|| ||
|-
| 1979 || [[Enikku Njaan Swantham]]|| Madhavankutty's mother ||
|-
| 1979 || [[Tharangam (1979 film)|Tharangam]]||Madhu's mother ||
|-
| 1979 || [[Ivide Kattinu Sugantham]]|| Pushkaran's grandmother ||
|-
| 1979 ||[[Sayoojyam]] ||Saraswathy ||
|-
| 1978 ||[[Aanappachan]] ||Sarojiniyamma ||
|-
| 1978||[[Premashilpi]]||Prakash's mother ||
|-
| 1978||Uthradarathri || -||
|-
| 1978 ||Hemantharathri || -||
|-
| 1978 ||[[Avar Jeevikkunnu]] || ||
|-
| 1978 ||[[Kodiyettam]] || Neighbour ||
|-
| 1978 || [[Rowdy Ramu]]|| Lakshmykuttyamma ||
|-
|1978|| [[Urakkam Varatha Rathrikal]] || ||
|-
| 1978 || [[Naalumanippookkal]]|| ||
|-
| 1978 ||[[Rapadikalude Gatha]] || ||
|-
| 1978 || [[Njan Njan Mathram]]|| ||
|-
| 1978 || [[Padasaram]]||Bhavani ||
|-
| 1978 ||[[Ahalya]] || ||
|-
| 1978 ||[[Kaithappo]] ||- ||
|-
| 1977 || [[Yudhakandam]]|| Amma ||
|-
| 1977 || [[Sathyavan Savithri]]|| - ||
|-
|1977||[[Vidarunna Mottukal]]|| Gopal's mother||
|-
| 1977|| [[Sree Murukan]]||Bharathi ||
|-
| 1976|| [[Hridayam Oru Kshethram]]|| Ramesh's mother ||
|-
| 1975 ||Makkal||Gouriyamma ||
|-
| 1975 || Sathyathinte Nizhalil || -||
|-
| 1975 || Swami Ayyappan || ||
|-
| 1974|| [[Youvanam]]|| Ravi's mother ||
|-
| 1974 ||Devi Kanyakumari || -||
|-
| 1973|| [[Swapnam]]|| Viswanathan's mother ||
|-
| 1973|| [[Ponnapuram Kotta]]|| Kunjikanni ||
|-
| 1972||[[Sree Guruvayoorappan (1972 film)|Sree Guruvayoorappan]] || - ||
|-
| 1972|| [[Prathikaram]]|| Raju's mother ||
|-
| 1971||[[Muthassi (film)|Muthassi]] || Muthassi ||
|-
| 1971||[[Kochaniyathi]] || Mohan's Mother||
|-
| 1970|| [[Engirundho Vandhaal]] ||Shanthavalli ||Tamil film
|-
| 1970|| [[Kurukshethram (1970 film)|Kurukshethram]]|| ||
|-
| 1970||[[Pearl View]] || Pristina ||
|-
| 1970||Sthree ||Devakiyamma ||
|-
| 1970||[[Madhuvidhu]] || Gopi's Mother ||
|-
| 1970||[[Ambalapravu]] || Saraswathiyamma ||
|-
| 1970|| [[Lottery Ticket (1970 film)|Lottery Ticket]]|| ||
|-
| 1970 || [[Dathuputhran]] ||Kunjachan's mother||
|-
| 1970|| [[Cross Belt]]|| Ammukuttiyamma ||
|-
| 1970||[[Thara (film)|Thara]] ||Kamalamma ||
|-
| 1970||[[Nilakkatha Chalanangal]] || ||
|-
| 1969|| [[Mannippu]] || Dhanam Ammal||Tamil Film
|-
| 1969|| [[Padicha Kallan]]||Saraswathiyamma ||
|-
| 1969|| [[Jwala (1969 film)|Jwala]]|| Saraswathiyamma ||
|-
| 1969|| [[Poojapushppam]]|| - ||
|-
| 1969|| Susi||Thresiamma ||
|-
| 1969 ||Vila Kuranja Manushyan || ||
|-
| 1969|| [[Kumara Sambhavam]]|| Minavati ||
|-
| 1968|| [[Adhyapika]]|| - ||
|-
| 1968|| [[Love In Kerala]] ||Mother of Chandran and Shankar ||
|-
| 1968||[[Agnipareeksha]] ||Mohan's Mother ||
|-
| 1968||[[Padunna Puzha]]|| Bhanumathiyamma ||
|-
| 1968||[[Kodugalooramma]] ||Kavunthi ||
|-
| 1968||[[Vidyarthi]] || ||
|-
| 1968||[[Hotel High Range]] || Ramesh's mother ||
|-
| 1968||[[Midumidukki]] ||- ||
|-
| 1968|| [[Viruthan Shanku]]|| Kunjulakshmi ||
|-
| 1967|| [[Lady Doctor]]|| Shoshamma ||
|-
| 1967|| [[Collector Malathi]]||Subhadramma ||
|-
| 1967||[[Agniputhri]] || Saraswathi ||
|-
| 1967||[[Kavalam Chundan]] ||Saraswathi Kunjamma ||
|-
| 1967|| [[Pavapettaval]]|| Bhavaniyamma ||
|-
| 1967|| [[Pareeksha (1967 film)|Pareeksha]]|| Lakshmi ||
|-
| 1966||[[Priyathama]] || - ||
|-
| 1966 ||Tharavattamma ||Lakshmiyamma ||
|-
| 1966 || [[Archana (film)|Archana]] || Meenakshiyamma/Rajagopalan's Mother||
|-
| 1966|| Koottukar|| Kunjamma||
|-
| 1966||[[Puthri]] ||Layamma ||
|-
| 1966||[[Archana (film)|Archana]] || Meenakshiyamma ||
|-
| 1965|| [[Mayavi (1965 film)|Mayavi]]|| Raghu's mother ||
|-
| 1965|| [[Muthalali]]|| Saraswathiyamma ||
|-
| 1965|| Kaliyodam|| Janakiyamma||
|-
| 1965||[[Shakunthala]] ||Gauthami ||
|-
| 1964||[[Atom Bomb]] ||Janaki ||
|-
| 1964|| [[Manavatti]]||Babu's mother ||
|-
| 1964|| Kudumbini||Parukuttiyamma ||
|-
| 1964|| Bharthavu||Kalyaniyamma||
|-
| 1964|| [[Karuthakai]]|| Radha's aunt ||
|-
| 1964|| [[Kalajukittiya Thankam]] ||Sharada||
|-
| 1964||[[School Master (1964 film)|School Master]] ||Jaanu ||
|-
| 1963||[[Kalayum Kaminiyum]] ||Usha's mother ||
|-
| 1963 ||Kaattu Maina || -||
|-
| 1962|| [[Snehadeepam]]|| Kalyani ||
|-
| 1962|| Veluthambi Dalawa||Dalawa's mother||
|-
| 1962||Sreeramapattabhisekham||Kausalya||
|-
| 1962|| [[Kalpadukal]]||Antharjanam ||
|-
| 1962||[[Viyarppinte Vila]] || Amma ||
|-
| 1961||FACT|| ||Documentary
|-
| 1961|| [[Kandam Becha Kottu]]|| Amina ||
|-
| 1961||Umminithanka || Abhirama ||
|-
| 1961||[[Bhakta Kuchela (1961 film)|Bhakta Kuchela]]|| Yashoda||
|-
| 1961|| Jnana Sundari|| Maharani ||
|-
|1961||[[Christmas Rathri]] || Annamma||
|-
| 1960||Poothali ||Madhan Menon's sister ||
|-
| 1958||[[Mariakutty]]||Achamma ||
|-
| 1957|| [[Padathapainkili]]|| Kunjandamma||
|-
| 1957|| [[Thaskaraveeran (1957 film)|Thaskaraveeran]]|| SanthaLa ||
|-
| 1956|| Koodapirappu || -||
|-
| 1956||[[Manthravadi]] ||Susheeladevi ||
|-
| 1956||[[Avar Unarunnu]] || Bharathi ||
|-
| 1955|| [[Aniyathi]]|| Kalyaniyamma ||
|-
| 1955|| Kaalam Maarunnu || ||
|-
| 1954||[[Balyasakhi]] || Parvathiyamma ||
|-
| 1953|| Asai Magan || ||Tamil film
|-
| 1953|| [[Ponkathir]]||Madhu's mother ||
|-
| 1953||[[Ashadeepam]] ||Lakshmiyamma ||
|-
| 1953||[[Lokaneedhi]] ||Devakiyamma ||
|-
| 1952||[[Amma (1952 film)|Amma]] || Lakshmiyamma ||
|-
| 1952||[[Kanchana (1952 film)|Kaanchana]] ||Ponnammal ||
|-
| 1952||[[Aathmashanthi]] ||Janakiyamma ||
|-
| 1951||[[Yachakan]] || Anandam ||
|-
| 1950|| [[Chechi (1950 film)|Chechi]]||Kankam ||
|-
| 1950||[[Chandrika (1950 film)|Chandrika]] || Saralabhai ||
|-
| 1950|| [[Sasidharan]]|| Kalyaniyamma ||
|}

==Television==
*[[Akashadoothu (TV series)|Akashadoothu]] (Surya TV)
*[[Kadamattathu Kathanar (TV series)|Kadamattathu Kathanar]] (Asianet)
*Chuvappu Naada
*Akshayapaathram
*Mangalyasoothram

==Dramas==
* Bhagyalakshmi
* Rakthabandham
* Chechi
* Jeevithayathra
* Prasanna
* Randu Janmam

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|1167045}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131002052320/http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Aranmula%20Ponnamma&limit=110 Aranmula Ponnamma at MSI]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110227182751/http://www.malayalamcinema.com/StarPersonalProfile-5/ARANMULA%2BPONNAMMA.html?newsid=&linkid=5&star_id=120&prof_id=55&cur_page=3&pages=31&linkid=5 Malayalamcinema.com profile]

{{NationalFilmAwardBestSupportingActress}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ponnamma, Aranmula}}
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Indian stage actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Kerala]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actress National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:People from Aranmula]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Indian women television presenters]]
[[Category:Indian television presenters]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam television]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Women of the Kingdom of Travancore]]
[[Category:People of the Kingdom of Travancore]]
[[Category:J. C. Daniel Award winners]]

Aranmula Ponnamma - Revision history

imported>AnomieBOT at 06:22, 19 July 2021