Mollywood mourns the loss of legendary actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma

She was often regarded as the 'mother' of Malayalam cinema

Mohanlal, Mammootty and others offered their final respects

The Malayalam film industry mourns the loss of legendary actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma, often regarded as the ‘mother’ of Malayalam cinema. Prominent actors Mohanlal, Mammootty, Siddique, Kunchacko Boban, and Manoj K. Jayan, along with directors Renji Panicker and B. Unnikrishnan, gathered at Kalamassery Municipal Town Hall to offer their final respects.

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Ponnamma, who had been battling cancer, passed away on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. at Lisie Hospital in Ernakulam. A public viewing was held at the Kalamassery Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. The funeral took place at her residence in Karumaloor, near Aluva, at 4 p.m. today.

Survived by her daughter Bindu, who lives in the United States, and her son-in-law Venkataram, a professor at the University of Michigan, Ponnamma’s family mourns a profound loss. Her late husband, Mani Swamy, was a director and screenwriter, and her sister, actress Kaviyoor Renuka, also predeceased her.

Ponnamma began her career in theatre at age 15 and transitioned into cinema four years later. Her debut role at 21 saw her playing a mother, a persona she would embody throughout her career. With over 800 films to her credit, she was an iconic figure in Malayalam cinema for over six decades.