Mavelikkara Ponnamma (died 6 September 1995) was an Indian actress in

Malayalam movie Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, ''Elippathayam' ...

s. She was one of the prominent supporting actress in late 1970s and 1990s in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

movies. She is noted for her performance in ''

Ulladakkam ''Ulladakkam'' () is 1991 Indian Malayalam-language psychological thriller film directed by Kamal and written by P. Balachandran from a story by Cheriyan Kalpakavadi. It stars Mohanlal, Shobana and Amala. The film, produced by Suresh Balaje fea ...

'' (1991), ''Aakasha Kottayile Sultan'' (1991) and ''

Ennodu Ishtam Koodamo ''Ennodishtam Koodamo'' () is a 1992 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Kamal, written by Raghunath Paleri and produced by Mudra Sasi. It stars Mukesh, Madhoo, Siddique, J. D. Chakravarthy and Janardhanan. The film m ...

'' (1992).

Personal life

She belongs to the Mavelikkara Palace clan in

Mavelikkara Mavelikkara is a taluk and municipality in the ''Onattukara'' region of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. Located in the southern part of the district on the banks of the Achankovil River. Etymology The name Mavelikara ...

, Kerala. She was married to Raghava Panicker. The couple had a daughter, Sushama Padmanabhan.

Career

She was a government school teacher by profession, but her life was drama and films. She was one of the foremost females to start acting on stage in the 1940s when female roles were done on stage by men. She had acted in more than 500 stage dramas with renowned troupes like ''KPAC'' and ''Kalanilayam''. She had acted with all of the top artistes of her time like ''Sebastian kunju kunju bhagavathar'', ''Augustine joseph'' ( Singer Yesudas's father) ''T. N. Gopinathan Nair'', ''Thoppil Bhasi'', ''O Madhavan'' ( Actor Mukesh's father) etc. She started acting in films in 1963 in the ''Udaya'' movies film ''

Kadalamma ''Kadalamma'' () is a 1963 Indian Malayalam-language film directed and produced by Kunchacko and written by Ponkunnam Varkey. The film stars Sathyan, Rajasri, B. S. Saroja and Maya in the lead roles. The film had musical score by G. Devarajan ...

'' in which she was the heroine and Sathyan was the hero. She acted in few other films during those days like ''

Oru Sundariyude Katha ''Oru Sundariyude Katha'' is a 1972 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Thoppil Bhasi and produced by M. Kunchacko. The film stars Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi, KPAC Lalitha and Adoor Bhasi. The film had musical score by G. Devarajan. This ...

'' with

Prem Nazir Prem Nazir (born Abdul Khader; 7 April 1926 – 16 January 1989) was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading man, leading men of his generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the histo ...

and

Jayabharathi Jayabharathi is an Indian actress. She is a two-time recipient of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress. Jayabharathi's first leading role was given by director P. Bhaskaran for his movie Kattukurangu in 1969. Later she became one of ...

and few other films. However, since her job as a teacher didn't allow her to take long leaves and those days since most of the films were being shot in Madras, she discontinued acting till she retired from government service. She returned to big screen in 1989 with the K P Kumaran directed Award-winning movie ''Rugmini'' which had the story by Madhavikutty. Later she starred in movies like Jayaraj's ''Akasakottayile Sultan''- with Srinivasan, Kamal's ''Ennodishtam Koodamo''- with Mukesh, Madhubhala, Kamal's ''

'' with Mohanlal, Shobhana etc., Siby Malayil's Lohithadas scripted ''Valayam'' with Murali, Manoj K Jayan etc., T.V Chandrans’ ''

Ponthan Mada ''Ponthan Mada'' is a 1994 Indian Malayalam-language film written and directed by T. V. Chandran. The film stars Mammootty and Naseeruddin Shah. It is based on two short stories, ''Ponthan Mada'' and ''Sheema Thampuran'' by C. V. Sreeraman. Th ...

'' with Mammootty, ''Sasinas'' based on Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's life story with Asokhan, ''Kidilol Kidilam'' with Narendra Prasad, Rajan P Dev and Rekha, ''Thalamura'' with Narendra Prasad, Madhu and Anju, '' Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu'' with Urvashi, Ratheesh, Vinayaprasad, Sathyan Anthikkad's ''

Samooham ''Samooham'' ( en, Society) is a 1993 Malayalam drama film, directed by Sathyan Anthikad, with Suhasini, Suresh Gopi, Manoj K. Jayan, Sreenivasan and Sunitha in the lead roles. Plot Sudhakaran runs his paddy field agriculture efficiently desp ...

'' with Suresh Gopi, Suhasini Manirathnam etc. She was the recipient of the Kendra Sahithya Academy Awards and many other noted awards. She died on 6 September 1995 at the Sree Uthradom thirunal hospital due to heart attack.

Partial filmography

As an actress

Gnanambika ''Gnanambika'' is a 1940 Indian Malayalam film, directed by S. Nottani and produced by Annamala Chettiyar. The film stars K. K. Aroor, Alleppey Vincent and Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar in lead roles. The film had musical score by T. K. Ja ...

(1940) *Aniyathi (1955) *Manthravadi (1956) as Kanthimathi *Unniyarcha (1961) *Krishnakuchela (1961) *Umma (1961) as Pathumma *

(1963) *

Ninamaninja Kalpadukal ''Ninamaninja Kalpadukal'' (Bloodstained Footprints) is a 1963 Malayalam language film, directed by N. N. Pisharody and produced by N.K. Karunakara Pillai and Shobhana Parameswaran Nair. The lead role is played by Prem Nazir, with Ambika, Sheel ...

(1963) * Devaalayam (1964) *

Anveshichu Kandethiyilla ''Anweshichu Kandethiyilla'' () is a 1967 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by P. Bhaskaran and written by Parappurath. The film stars K. R. Vijaya, Sathyan and Madhu. Based on Parappurath's novel of the same name, it recounts the qu ...

(1967) * Abhayam (1970) as Saraswathiyamma * Nilakkatha Chalanangal (1970) *

(1972) as Thankachi * Ammanamkili (1986) as Saraswathi Amma * Rugmini (1989) as Sathyabhai *

(1991) as Mental Patient *

Aakaashakottayile Sulthaan ''Aakasha Kottayile Sultan'' () is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Jayaraj and starring Sreenivasan and Saranya Ponvannan in lead roles. Cast * Sreenivasan as Kesavan Kutty * Saranya Ponvannan as Mallika * Innocent as Dr. C ...

(1991) as Mariyamma *

Valayam Valayam is a town in Kozhikode district in the state of Kerala, India. Etymology The Panchayat is said to have acquired its name 'Valayam', meaning 'circle', as the place is surrounded by hills and mountains. The Panchayat was formed in the ...

(1992) as Ammini *

(1992) as Arathi's Grandmother *

Thalamura ''Thalamura'' is a 1993 Indian Malayalam film directed by K. Madhu and starring Mukesh and Madhu in lead roles. Cast * Mukesh as Mundakkal Martin * Madhu as Marcos * Baby Anju as Lakshmi * Jagathy Sreekumar as Appukuttan * N. F. Varghese as ...

(1993) *

(1993) as Sudhakaran's mother *

(1994) * Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu (1994) as Ammachi *Kidilolkkidilam (1995) as Lakshmiyamma * Shashinaas (1995) *Malayala Cinemayude Karnavar - Documentary

As a playback singer

* Priyachandra Mamachandran as Jnaanaambika (1940) * Manojnam as Jnaanaambika (1940) * Maayaarasitham as Jnaanaambika (1940) * Jeevitheshane as Jnaanaambika (1940)

Television career

* Oru Poo Viriyunnu * Cherappayi * Lambo * Manchiyam

Dramas

* Sthree

References

External links

* *
Mavelikkara Ponnamma at MSI
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ponnamma, Mavelikkara 1995 deaths Actresses from Kerala Actresses in Malayalam cinema Indian film actresses Indian women playback singers Year of birth missing People from Alappuzha district Malayalam playback singers 20th-century Indian singers 20th-century Indian actresses Singers from Kerala 20th-century Indian women singers Film musicians from Kerala Women musicians from Kerala Actresses in Malayalam television