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Aranmula Ponnamma

Aranmula Ponnamma (8 April 1914 – 21 February 2011) was an Indian 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.[1][2] In 2005, she was honoured with the J. C. Daniel Award, Kerala government's highest honour for contributions to Malayalam cinema.

Aranmula Ponnamma
Born(1914-04-08)8 April 1914
Aranmula, Quilon division, Kingdom of Travancore
Died21 February 2011(2011-02-21) (aged 96)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
OccupationActress
Years active1943–2004
SpouseKochu Krishna Pillai
ChildrenRajamma
Rajashekharan
Parent(s)Malethu Kesava Pillai
Parukutty Amma
Relatives
Awards2006 - J.C. Daniel Award for Lifetime Achievement
In this Indian name, the toponymic surname is Aranmula. It is not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Ponnamma.

Early life

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Ponnamma was born as one of five children of M. Kesava Pillai of the Malethu house and Parukutty Amma in Aranmula, Old Quilon, Travancore (present-day Pathanamthitta district).[3] She has four siblings, Ramakrishna Pillai, Pankiyamma, Bhaskara Pillai and Thankamma.[4] 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 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.[5]

Family

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She was married to Late Kochu Krishna Pillai. The couple had a daughter, Late Rajamma and a son, Late Rajashekharan. Her granddaughter Radhika Suresh, herself a singer, is married to Suresh Gopi,[6] and the young actor Gokul Suresh is her great grandson.

Career

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Ponnamma's acting debut happened at the age of 29, in a play titled Bhagyalakshmi.[5] Before making her film debut, she went on to perform in plays like Prasanna, Chechi, Jeevithayathra, and Rakthabandham. Her debut role was that of the mother of the character played by Miss Kumari, a prominent actress at that time, in Sasidharan (1950).[2] 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.[7] 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."[2] 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 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.[8][9][10]

Awards

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National Film Awards

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Kerala State Film Awards

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Asianet Film Awards

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  • 1998: Lifetime Achievement Award

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Gourisankaram -
2003 Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam Ammu's grandmother
2000 Indriyam Muthassi
Baalapattangal Ammoomma Short film
Parajayathil Patharatha Karmayogi - Documentary
Malayala Cinemayude Karnavar - Documentary
1997 Janathipathyam Thirumupad's mother
1997 Lelam Revathi Thirunal thampuratti
1996 Kadhapurushan Muthassi
1995 Sindoorarekha Muthassi
1995 Puthukottayile Puthumanavalan Achamma
1995 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 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 Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla Herself
1983 Ahankaram Sreedevi
1983 Pallankuzhi
1983 Enne Njan Thedunnu Parukuttyamma
1983 Bandham Muthassi
1982 Vazhvey Maayam Paatti Tamil film
Dubbed for herself in
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
|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 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 Prathikaram Raju's mother
1971 Muthassi Muthassi
|Kochaniyathi Mohan's Mother
1970 Engirundho Vandhaal Shanthavalli Tamil film
1970 Kurukshethram
1970 Pearl View Pristina
1970 Sthree Devakiyamma
1970 Madhuvidhu Gopi's Mother
1970 Ambalapravu Saraswathiyamma
1970 Lottery Ticket
1970 Dathuputhran Kunjachan's mother
1970 Cross Belt Ammukuttiyamma
1970 Thara Kamalamma
1970 Nilakkatha Chalanangal
1969 Mannippu Dhanam Ammal Tamil Film
1969 Padicha Kallan Saraswathiyamma
1969 Jwala Saraswathiyamma
1969 Poojapushppam -
1969 Susi Thresiamma
|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 Lakshmi
1966 Priyathama -
1966 Tharavattamma Lakshmiyamma
1966 Archana Meenakshiyamma/Rajagopalan's Mother
1966 Koottukar Kunjamma
|Puthri Layamma
|Archana Meenakshiyamma
1965 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 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
|Umminithanka Abhirama
1961 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 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
|Amma Lakshmiyamma
1952 Kaanchana Ponnammal
1952 Aathmashanthi Janakiyamma
1951 Yachakan Anandam
1950 Chechi Kankam
1950 Chandrika Saralabhai
1950 Sasidharan Kalyaniyamma

Television

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Dramas

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  • Bhagyalakshmi
  • Rakthabandham
  • Chechi
  • Jeevithayathra
  • Prasanna
  • Randu Janmam

References

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  1. ^ "Notice of Aranmula Ponnamma's death". Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Matriarch of Mollywood". The Hindu. 12 January 2007.
  3. ^ "Manorama Online |". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  4. ^ "CINIDIARY - A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal". cinidiary.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Aranmula Ponnamma cremated". The New Indian Express. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ Correspondent), (Our. "Kerala's 'screen mother' Ponnamma dies at 96". Khaleej Times. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ Excerpt from www.thehindujobs.com Archived 21 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Aranmula Ponnamma dies at 96". Deccan Herald. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Aranmula Ponnamma dies". The Indian Express. Kerala. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Aranmula Ponnamma passes away". Kerala: SansCinema. 21 February 2011. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
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