Saranya Ponvannan
Acting Born Apr 26, 1970 Alappuzha, Kerala, India 122 credits
Biography
Saranya Ponvannan, born Sheela, is an Indian film actress known primarily for her work in Tamil cinema. She made her professional debut in a lead role in the Mani Ratnam film Nayagan and continued to perform in lead roles throughout the late 1980s. After an eight-year sabbatical, she transitioned into a career as a character artiste, frequently portraying mother figures to lead performers. Her work in films such as Raam, Thavamai Thavamirundhu, Em Magan, and Kalavani earned her critical praise. Over the course of her career, she has received several accolades, including three Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in these and other projects.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi KobamBha. Bha. Ba.Bun Butter Jam
Mazhai Pidikatha ManithanBrother
KushiConjuring Kannappan
ChupEtharkkum ThunindhavanVirumanVaralaru MukkiyamAruva Sanda
SashiBhoomiMaha SamudramMGR Magan
Kalavani 2Nani's Gang Leader
JungaInba Twinkle LillyMarainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam EnnaMannar VagaiyaraOru Kuprasidha Payyan
Katha NayaganVelaiyilla Pattathari 2Magalir Mattum
AchamindriTamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum24KodiBrahmotsavam
Ennamo NadakkudhuManamPappaliVelaiyilla PattathariIdhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
VatthikuchiNaiyaandiAll in All Azhagu RajaKutti Puli
ChaarulathaNeerparavaiOru Kal Oru KannadiMazhaikaalam
Muthukku MuthaagaSadhurangamVaanam
Thenmerku ParuvakatruThambikku Indha OoruVedamKomaram PuliMagane En Marumagane
Yavarum NalamColors
SingakuttyKuruviReadyDindigul SarathyThenavattu
Raju BhaiThirumaganVelKireedamJagadam
Thiruvilaiyaadal AarambamRakhiEm MaganAdaikalam
SivakasiRaamThavamai Thavamiruntu
ChatrapathyMeesai MadhavanArulAdhu
Alai
Meendum SavithriAppaji
Pasumpon
KaruththammaSeevalaperi Pandi
DollarDasarathanInjakkadan Mathai & SonsEnte Sreekuttikku
Kottai VaasalAgni Paarvai
Aanaval MothiramEnnum NanmakalNaan Pudicha MappillaiAakasha Kottayile SultanCheppukilukkana Changathi
AnjaliUlagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
ArthamSakalakala SammandiAndru Peytha Mazhaiyil
Full Filmography
122 titles- Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure (2026) as Padmamma
- Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam (2025) as Ponni
- Bha. Bha. Ba. (2025) as Vaavamani
- Bun Butter Jam (2025) as Lalitha
- Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan (2024) as Burma's Mother
- Brother (2024) as Hemamalini
- Kushi (2023)
- Conjuring Kannappan (2023) as Lakshmi
- Chup (2022) as Mrs. Menon
- Etharkkum Thunindhavan (2022) as Kosalai
- Viruman (2022) as Muthulakshmi
- Varalaru Mukkiyam (2022)
- Aruva Sanda (2022)
- Sashi (2021)
- Bhoomi (2021) as Bhoominathan's Mother
- Maha Samudram (2021) as Arjun's mother
- MGR Magan (2021) as Rasaathi
- Kalavani 2 (2019)
- Nani's Gang Leader (2019) as Varalakshmi
- Junga (2018) as Junga's mother
- Inba Twinkle Lilly (2018) as Inbaa
- Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna (2018) as Aiyappan's Mother
- Mannar Vagaiyara (2018) as Ilaiyarani's mother
- Oru Kuprasidha Payyan (2018) as Chembammal
- The Villain (2018) as Vishalavva
- Kolamavu Kokila (2018) as Kokila's Mother
- Katha Nayagan (2017) as Thambidurai's Mother
- Velaiyilla Pattathari 2 (2017) as Bhuvana
- Magalir Mattum (2017) as Subbu
- Achamindri (2016)
- Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum (2016)
- 24 (2016) as Sathyabama
- Kodi (2016) as Kodi and Anbu's Mother
- Brahmotsavam (2016)
- Brahmotsavam (2016) as Ajay's Relative
- Bangalore Naatkal (2016) as Kannan's mother
- Remo (2016) as Arun's Mother
- Ennamo Nadakkudhu (2014)
- Manam (2014) as Seetharamudu's Mother
- Pappali (2014)
- Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014) as Bhuvana
- Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal (2014) as Yasothammal
- Naan Sigappu Manithan (2014) as Sumathi
- Amma Ammamma (2014)
- Vatthikuchi (2013) as Sakthi's mother
- Naiyaandi (2013)
- All in All Azhagu Raja (2013) as Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
- Kutti Puli (2013) as Dheivaanai
- Chaarulatha (2012) as Charu and Latha's mother
- Neerparavai (2012) as Mary
- Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012) as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
- Mazhaikaalam (2012)
- Muthukku Muthaaga (2011) as Pechi
- Sadhurangam (2011)
- Vaanam (2011) as Lakshmi
- Thenmerku Paruvakatru (2010) as Veerayi
- Thambikku Indha Ooru (2010)
- Vedam (2010) as Padma
- Komaram Puli (2010) as Puli's Mother
- Magane En Marumagane (2010) as Jameendar's wife
- Bayam Ariyan (2010) as Vinoth's Mother
- Kalavani (2010) as Lakshmi
- Guru Sishyan (2010) as Mahalakshmi
- Yavarum Nalam (2009) as Manohar's Mother
- Colors (2009) as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
- Singakutty (2008)
- Kuruvi (2008) as Koccha's Wife
- Ready (2008)
- Dindigul Sarathy (2008) as Sarathy's Mother
- Thenavattu (2008)
- Paandi (2008) as Sivakami
- Nenjathai Killadhe (2008)
- Pidichirukku (2008)
- Raju Bhai (2007)
- Thirumagan (2007) as Jayakodi
- Vel (2007) as Mrs Thiyagarajan
- Kireedam (2007) as Shakti's Mother
- Jagadam (2007)
- Puli Varudhu (2007)
- Pirappu (2007) as Kaliammal, Kannan's adoptive mother
- Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam (2006) as Saradha
- Rakhi (2006) as Gowri's Mother
- Em Magan (2006) as Krishna's Mother
- Adaikalam (2006) as Kasthuri
- Sivakasi (2005) as Kayalvizhi
- Raam (2005) as Saradha
- Thavamai Thavamiruntu (2005) as Sarada
- Chatrapathy (2004) as Saravanan's Sister
- Meesai Madhavan (2004) as Devi, Vignesh's mother
- Arul (2004)
- Adhu (2004) as Meera's Mother
- Alai (2003)
- Meendum Savithri (1996) as Uma
- Appaji (1996)
- Pasumpon (1995) as Malar
- Karuththamma (1994) as Periyakanni
- Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) as Velammal
- Dollar (1993) as Lucy
- Dasarathan (1993)
- Injakkadan Mathai & Sons (1993) as Beena
- Ente Sreekuttikku (1993) as Nandini
- Kottai Vaasal (1992)
- Agni Paarvai (1992) as Seetha
- Aanaval Mothiram (1991) as Annie
- Ennum Nanmakal (1991) as Indu
- Naan Pudicha Mappillai (1991)
- Aakasha Kottayile Sultan (1991) as Mallika
- Cheppukilukkana Changathi (1991) as Manikutty
- Vanakkam Vathiyare (1991)
- Anjali (1990) as Dr. Sheela
- Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga (1990)
- Artham (1989) as Manasa
- Sakalakala Sammandi (1989)
- Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil (1989) as Preethy
- Sigappu Thali (1988)
- Dhayam Onnu (1988) as Rita
- Melangottu Thalikattu (1988)
- Manasukkul Mathappu (1988) as Seema
- En Jeevan Paaduthu (1988) as Narmada
- Nayakan (1987) as Neela
- Kallapart
- Jeyikkira Kuthira
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Saranya Ponvannan best known for?
Saranya Ponvannan is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure (2026), Conjuring Kannappan (2023), Varalaru Mukkiyam (2022), Sashi (2021).
When and where was Saranya Ponvannan born?
Saranya Ponvannan was born on April 26, 1970 in Alappuzha, Kerala, India.
How many credits does Saranya Ponvannan have?
Saranya Ponvannan has accumulated over 122 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1987 to 2026.
What is Saranya Ponvannan's background in cinema and television?
Saranya Ponvannan, born Sheela, is an Indian film actress known primarily for her work in Tamil cinema. She made her professional debut in a lead role in the Mani Ratnam film Nayagan and continued to perform in lead roles throughout the late 1980s. After an eight-year sabbatical, she transitioned into a career as a cha...
Saranya Ponvannan by the numbers
122credits
122films
0TV series
1987–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Nayakan (1987) as Neela — aged about 17
- Aanaval Mothiram (1991) as Annie — aged about 21
- Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) as Velammal — aged about 24
- Sashi (2021) — aged about 51
- Yavarum Nalam (2009) as Manohar's Mother — aged about 39
- Pasumpon (1995) as Malar — aged about 25
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