Saranya Ponvannan
Born
Sheela Christina

Alappuzha, Kerala, India
OccupationActress
Years active1987–1996 (as a leading actress)
2000 (television)
2003–present (as a character artist)
SpousePonvannan (m. 1995)
Children2
ParentA. B. Raj (Father)

Saranya Ponvannan (born Sheela Christina[1]) is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam and a few Kannada language films. She also acted in 1 Hindi movie Chup: Revenge of the Artist in 2022. Saranya made her acting debut in a lead role in Mani Ratnam's Nayakan (1987) and went on to play lead roles from 1987 to 1996. Following an eight-year sabbatical, she returned to films in 2003 as a character actor roles. In her career spanning around over 25 years she had won a number of accolades including 1 National Film Award, 2 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and a record of 5 Filmfare Award South among other film awards.

Career

Saranya made her Tamil debut in Mani Ratnam's production Nayakan, as the female lead opposite Kamal Haasan in 1987.[2][3] She made her first Telugu appearance in 1989 film Neerajanam; her Malayalam debut was in the same year with the film Artham starring opposite Mammootty.[4]

In 1996, she made her Kannada debut with Appaji. After 1996, she quit from acting. In 2000 she appeared playing the lead role in the comedy television series, Veettukku Veedu Lootty, and subsequently accepted some supporting roles in other projects.[2] During 2006 she appeared in family-drama serial Mugangal, which aired on Sun TV.

After a break from films she made a comeback in 2003 Tamil film Alai opposite Raghuvaran as Silambarasan 's mother. Since then she has been noted for her "mother" roles in films most notably Raam, Thavamai Thavamirundhu and Em Magan in the mid-2000s.[3]

Her performance as Veerayi, a widowed mother torn between love and possessiveness, in the 2010 film Thenmerku Paruvakaatru – her 100th release – earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress.[5] Her major breakthrough was 2005 Tamil film Thavamai Thavamirundhu after which she established herself as a prominent and leading actress in South India. As of 2017, she was one of the highest paid character actresses in the south Indian film industry.[5]

In 2014, she launched Design & School of Fashion Technology (DSOFT), a fashion institute at Virugamakkam, Chennai.[6][7]

She has also played the role of villain in Achamindri (2016).[8][9]

In 2017, she had only three releases. She starred in the sequel of 2014 Tamil film Velaiyilla Pattathari, reprising the role of Bhuvana, in a cameo appearance. The character had died in the original film, but the filmmakers wanted her to appear in the sequel, because of her part in the former's success. Her second venture was with Vishnu Vishal in the film Katha Nayagan, playing the mother of Vishnu Vishal.[10] Later she starred in Magalir Mattum, a women-centric film, in which she played alongside Jyothika, Oorvasi and Bhanupriya.[11]

In 2018, she was first seen in comedy-family drama Mannar Vagaiyara as Vemal's mother; her comedy timing was well received, however Itly was released and opened to negative reviews.[12] Later she was seen in Vijay Sethupathi's Junga and Nayanthara's Kolamavu Kokila as the mother of Kokila[4] who although affected by lung cancer, assists her daughter in smuggling cocaine.

She took on the role of Vishalavva, mother to Kiccha Sudeepa's character in Kannada movie The Villain directed by Prem in 2018. Later she was seen in Madhupal's Malayalam thriller drama Oru Kuprasidha Payyan playing Chembammal.

She signed to reprise the role of Lakshmi in Kalavani 2. Her first Telugu release of the year was Gang Leader where she played the lead role Varalakshmi alongside Nani, Lakshmi, Kartikeya Gummakonda, Priyanka Arul Mohan among others.

After a brief hiatus because of COVID-19 Pandemic, her first release was through OTT in 2021 was Bhoomi alongside Jayam Ravi. Critics cited that the talented actress was restricted to few insignificant scenes. Following Bhoomi, she had two other releases in 2021 - multistarer Telugu film Maha Samudharam and Sasikumar's MGR Magan.

Personal life

She was born in a Christian family at Alappuzha, Kerala and is the daughter of Malayalam film director A. B. Raj who directed over 75 films. Saranya married actor-director Ponvannan in 1995 and the couple has two daughters.[13]

Awards

National Film Awards
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
Filmfare Awards

Winnings:

Nominations:

South Indian International Movie Awards
  • 2013 – Winner—Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Neerparavai
  • 2014 – Nominated–Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kutti Puli
  • 2015 – Winner—Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Velaiyilla Pattathari
  • 2019 – Nominated–Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kolamavu Kokila
Ananda Vikatan Awards
Vijay Awards
Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards
Edison Awards
JFW Awards
  • 2014 - Women Achiever of the year
JFW Movie Awards

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Language Notes
1987NayakanNeelaTamilDebut film
1988Manasukkul MathappuDr.GeethaTamil
En Jeevan PaduthuNarmadaTamil
Melam Kottu Thaali KattuMuthammaTamil
SivapputhaaliKeerthanaTamil
Dhaayam OnnuPreethaTamil
1989Andru Peytha MazhaiyilPreethiTamil
Sakalakala SammandhiUmaTamil
Karunguyil KundramTamil
NeerajanamJayaTelugu
ArthamManasaMalayalam
1990AnjaliDr. SheelaTamil
Ulagam Pirandhadhu EnakkagaMeenaTamil
1991Vanakkam VathiyareSundariTamil
Naan Pudicha MappillaiLakshmiTamil
AshwiniTelugu
Ganga Telugu
Aakasha Kottayile SultanMallikaMalayalam
Cheppukilukkana ChangathiManikuttyMalayalam
Aanaval MothiramAnnieMalayalam
Ennum NanmakalInduMalayalam
1992Agni PaarvaiSeethaTamil
Kottai VaasalRekhaTamil
SahasamRekhaTelugu
1993DasarathanVasanthiTamil
MagribAarifaMalayalam
JournalistRanjiniMalayalam
Ente SreekuttikkuNandhiniMalayalam
Injakkadan Mathai & SonsBeenaMalayalam
1994DollarLusieMalayalam
KaruththammaPonnathaTamil
Seevalaperi PandiVelammalTamil
1995PasumponMalarTamil
1996AppajiRekhaKannada
Meendum SavithriUmaTamil
Neti Savithri Telugu
BossKannada
Easwaramoorthy INLathikaMalayalam
Samayakkondu SulluRukminiKannada
2003AlaiNirmalaTamilComeback film after marriage
ChantigaduSavthriyammaTelugu
2004VarnajalamKarthigaTamil
ArulArul 's sisterTamil
AdhuMeera's motherTamil
ChatrapathySaravanan's sisterTamil
RamakrishnaRamakrishna's motherTamil
Meesai MadhavanDeviTamil
Gomathi NayagamTamil
2005AyodhyaJameelaTamil
RaamSaradhaTamil
SivakasiKayalvizhiTamil
Thavamai ThavamirundhuSaradha MuthiahTamilFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
2006Emtan MaganSelviTamilFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
Tamil Nadu State Film Best Supporting Actress Award
Thiruvilaiyaadal AarambamThiru's motherTamil
RakhiGowri's MotherTelugu
AdaikalamKasthuriTamil
2007ThirumaganJayakodiTamil
JagadamSeenu's motherTelugu
KireedamRajeshwariTamil
PirappuKaliammanTamil
VelSaradha (Velu's & Vasu's Mother)Tamil
Puli VarudhuRamesh's MotherTamil
2008PidichirukkuStellaTamil
Nenjadhai KilladheVasanth's false motherTamil
SingakuttyKathir's motherTamil
VilaiyattuTamil
KuruviDevi's sister-in-law /Koccha's WifeTamil
PandiSivagamiTamil
ReadyPooja's motherTelugu
ThenavattuVazhuvanthalTamil
Dindigul SarathySaradhaTamil
Ini Varum KaalamAravind's motherTamil
2009Yavarum NalamShanti, Manohar's MotherTamil
ColoursDr. RajalakshmiMalayalam
Vanam Partha SeemayileTamil
2010Police QuartersJayammaKannada
Bayam AriyaanSaraswathiTamil
PullimanYashoda PanickerMalayalam
KalavaniLakshmi RamasamyTamilAnanda Vikatan Awards for Best Supporting Actress
Tamil Nadu State Film Best Supporting Actress Award
Guru SishyanMahalakshmiTamil
Magane En MarumaganePonnarasi's MotherTamil
Thambikku Indha OoruMrs.KumaraswamyTamil
VedamPadmaTelugu
PuliPuli's motherTeluguNominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Telugu
Naane Ennul IllaiJanakiTamil
YakshaYaksha's motherKannada
Thenmerku ParuvakaatruVeerayiTamilNational Film Award for Best Actress
Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actress
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Tamil
Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress
Edison Award for Best Supporting Actress
2011Muthukku MuthaagaPechiTamil
VaanamLakshmiTamil
SadhurangamAnalaar's wifeTamil
MaharajaSeethaTamil
2012Oru Kal Oru KannadiShenbagamTamilNorway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Tamil
Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actress
ChaarulathaChaaru & Latha's MotherTamil
Kannada
ThaandavamSivakumar's MotherTamil
NeerparavaiMaryTamilFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Tamil
SIIMA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2013VatthikuchiSakthi's motherTamil
Kutti PuliDeivanaiTamilNominated, SIIMA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
All in All Azhagu RajaMeenakshiTamil
SuvadugalTamil
2014Idhu Kathirvelan KadhalYasothammalTamil
Naan Sigappu ManithanSumathiTamil
Ennamo NadakkudhuVijay's motherTamilAnanda Vikatan Awards for Best Supporting Actress
ManamSeetharamudu's motherTelugu
PappaliTamil
Velaiyilla PattathariBhuvanaTamilSIIMA for Best Supporting Actress Tamil
Ananda Vikatan Awards for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Tamil
Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated, Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress
Amma AmmammaLakshmiTamil
2016Bangalore NaatkalKannan's motherTamil
24SathyabhamaTamil
BrahmotsavamBabu's AuntTelugu
RemoSiva's & Remo's motherTamil
KodiKodi's & Anbu's motherTamilNominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Tamil
AchamindriRajalakhsmiTamil
2017Velaiyilla Pattathari 2BhuvanaTamil
Katha NayaganThambidurai's motherTamil
Magalir MattumSubbulakshmiTamil
2018Mannar VagaiyaraKalaiyarasiTamil
ItlyInbaTamilLead role
JungaJunga's mother/ Don ammaTamil
Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam EnnaJapan's motherTamil
Kolamavu KokilaKokila's motherTamilFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil

Nominated - SIIMA for Best Supporting Actress Tamil

The VillainVishalavvaKannada
Oru Kuprasidha PayyanChembakaamalMalayalam
2019Kalavani 2LakshmiTamil
Gang LeaderVaralakshmiTelugu
2021BhoomiBhoominathan's motherTamil
Maha Samudhram Arjun's mother Telugu
MGR MaganRasathiTamil
2022Etharkkum ThunindhavanKosalaiTamil
VirumanMuthulakshmiTamil
Chup: Revenge of the ArtistNila's MotherHindiHindi film debut
Varalaru MukkiyamKarthik's motherTamil
Aruvaa SandaValliTamil
2023 KushiRajalakshmiTelugu
Conjuring KannapanLakshmi Tamil
2024 Idi Muzhakkam †TBATamilFilming
Gangster Granny †TBATamilFilming
Brother †TBATamilFilming
Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan †TBATamilPost-production
Kallapart †TamilDelayed

As playback singer

YearFilmSongLanguageComposerNote
2014Ennamo Nadakkudhu"Meesa Kokku"TamilPremgi AmarenDebut as Singer[16]
2017Magalir Mattum"Time Passukkosaram"TamilGhibranAlso lead actor[17]

Television

YearTelevision seriesChannelNote
1991PennDD PodhigaiEpisode 7 (Lead)
1992Ninaivu KurippugalDD PodhigaiHost
2000-2003Veetuku Veedu LootyJaya TVMeena (Lead role) 183 Episodes
2006-2007MugangalSun TVLead role 177 Episodes
2022Amudhavum AnnalakshmiyumZee TamilHerself (for promotion in promo)
Along with Sneha, Sangeetha
Maari
Meenakshi Ponnunga

References

  1. ↑ "Distinguished Alumnae". Women's Christian College. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Back into form with a bang". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 25 November 2006. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  3. 1 2 Ashok Kumar, S.R. (15 December 2005). "An actress who plays her roles with aplomb". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 13 May 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. 1 2 Nair, Vidya (14 October 2018). "Screen-mother to Superstar". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Best actor – female: Saranya Ponvannan takes it in her stride". The Times of India. 20 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  6. ↑ Subhakeerthana, S (14 May 2018). "Saranya Ponvannan: Nobody calls me 'madam' on the sets, I'm always their 'Amma'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  7. ↑ Anantharam, Chitra Deepa (16 October 2017). "Meet the multi-talented Amma". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  8. ↑ Krishnakumar, Ranjani (13 August 2018). "Ms. En Scene: In Praise Of Saranya Ponvannan, The Mother That I Never Had". Silverscreen. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  9. ↑ Subramamian, Anupama (23 December 2016). "Saranya Ponvannan: From adorable mom to angry woman". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "Kathanayagan review: This Vishnu Vishal film produces intermittent smiles rather than laughs". The Indian Express. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  11. ↑ Kumar, Karthik (14 September 2017). "Magalir Mattum movie review: Not without flaws but a film made with a lot of heart". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  12. ↑ Subramanian, Anupama (30 June 2018). "Itly movie review: Potential riotous laugh let down by weak writing". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "I never expected the National Award". Rediff. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "Nominees of Idea Filmfare Awards South". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  15. ↑ Dhananjayan, G (2014). PRIDE OF TAMIL CINEMA: 1931 TO 2013. Chennai: Blue Ocean Publishers. p. 511. ISBN 9789384301057.
  16. ↑ Rinku, Gupta (25 October 2013). "Saranya croons for Ennamo Nadakuthu". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  17. ↑ quintdaily (11 August 2017). "VIP 2 Review: Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 Theatrical Response & Rating – QuintDaily".
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