Did you know Kaviyoor Ponnamma was only 20 when she first played a mother to older actors Sathyan and Madhu in ‘Thommante Makkal’?

Veteran Malayalam actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma passed away at the age of 79. She breathed her last on Friday, September 20, in a private hospital in Kochi. The veteran actress is known for her quintessential mother roles to many actors, including legends like Sathyan, Prem Nazir, Mohanlal, and Mammootty. But did you know that she was only 20 years old when she first played the role of mother? Well, it gets even more interesting, because she essayed the role of a mother to actors Sathyan and Madhu, who were older than her!

Kaviyoor Ponnamma, who went on to become the quintessential mother of Malayalam cinema, first played a mother in the 1965 film ‘Thommante Makkal’. Her ability to bring depth, warmth, and authenticity to the maternal roles made her a promising actor.

'Thommante Makka' released in 1965 is a comedy-drama written and directed by J Sasikumar, with dialogues by PJ Antony. Sathyan, Madhu, Sheela, and Kaviyoor Ponnamma played the lead roles. The film was a success at the box office and it was later remade in 1984 as 'Swanthamevide Bandhamevide'.


Though Kaviyoor Ponnamma played mother roles in many films, she always brought a rare authenticity to each of them. Her combination as mother-son with Mohanlal is widely adored by the movie buffs in Kerala. They have played mother and son in over 50 films, including ‘Kireedam’, ‘Bharatham’, and ‘Dasharatham’ among others.

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