Saranya Ponvannan biography
Saranya Ponvannan is an Indian actress, born in Alappuzha.
Saranya Ponvannan's screen career began in 1987 with Nayakan, playing Neela.
Saranya Ponvannan has 145 screen credits across Tamil cinema, Kannada cinema, Malayalam cinema and Telugu cinema.
The most recent films are Padaiyaanda Maaveeraa (2025), Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam (2025), Bun Butter Jam (2025).
Honours include Filmfare Awards South and National Film Award for Best Actress.
Coming up next: Gangster Granny (2025).
- Also known as
- Sheela Christina Raj
- Birthplace
- Alappuzha
- Work
- Actor
- Film industries
- Tamil cinema, Kannada cinema, Malayalam cinema, Telugu cinema
- Awards
- Filmfare Awards South
- National Film Award for Best Actress
Saranya Ponvannan filmography
146 screen credits, newest first.
Screen credits
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Padaiyaanda Maaveeraa | Kalyani | Tamil | |
| 2025 | Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam | Ponni | Tamil | |
| 2025 | Gangster Granny | TBA | Tamil | Filming |
| 2025 | Bun Butter Jam | Lalitha | Tamil | |
| 2025 | Bha. Bha. Ba | Vavamani | Malayalam | |
| 2024 | Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan | Rathnam, Burma’s mother | Tamil | |
| 2024 | Brother | Hemamalini Sivagurunathan | Tamil | |
| 2023 | Kushi | Rajalakshmi | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Conjuring Kannapan | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| 2022 | Viruman | Muthulakshmi | Tamil | |
| 2022 | Varalaru Mukkiyam | Malar | Tamil | |
| 2022 | Etharkkum Thunindhavan | Kosalai | Tamil | |
| 2022 | Chup: Revenge of the Artist | Nila's Mother | Hindi | (Bollywood cinema) debut |
| 2022 | Aruvaa Sanda | Valli | Tamil | |
| 2021 | Mahasamudram | Telugu | ||
| 2021 | Maha Samudhram | Arjun's mother | Telugu | |
| 2021 | MGR Magan | Rasathi | Tamil | |
| 2021 | Bhoomi | Bhoominathan's mother | Tamil | |
| 2019 | Kalavani 2 | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| 2019 | Gang Leader | Varalakshmi | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan | Chembakaamal | Malayalam | |
| 2018 | Inba Twinkle Lilly | Tamil | ||
| 2018 | Mannar Vagaiyara | Kalaiyarasi | Tamil | |
| 2018 | The Villain | Vishalavva | Kannada | |
| 2018 | Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna | Japan's mother | Tamil |
Show all 146 credits
| Year | Title | Role | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Kolamavu Kokila | Kokila's mother | Tamil | |
| 2018 | Junga | Junga's mother/ Don amma | Tamil | |
| 2018 | Itly | Inba | Tamil | Lead role |
| 2017 | Velaiyilla Pattathari 2 | Bhuvana | Tamil | |
| 2017 | Magalir Mattum | Subbulakshmi Mangalamoorthy (Subbu) | Tamil | |
| 2017 | Katha Nayagan | Thambidurai's mother | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Remo | SK's Mother | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Kodi | Kodi's & Anbu's mother | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Brahmotsavam | Babu's Aunt | Telugu | |
| 2016 | Bangalore Naatkal | Kannan's mother | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Achamindri | Rajalakhsmi | Tamil | |
| 2016 | 24 | Sathyabhama | Tamil | |
| 2014 | Velaiyilla Pattathari | Bhuvana | Tamil | |
| 2014 | Pappali | Tamil | ||
| 2014 | Naan Sigappu Manithan | Sumathi | Tamil | |
| 2014 | Manam | Seetharamudu's mother | Telugu | |
| 2014 | Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal | Yasothammal | Tamil | |
| 2014 | Ennamo Nadakkudhu | Vijay's mother | Tamil | Ananda Vikatan Awards for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2014 | Amma Ammamma | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| 2013 | Vatthikuchi | Sakthi's mother | Tamil | |
| 2013 | Suvadugal | Tamil | ||
| 2013 | Kutti Puli | Deivanai | Tamil | Nominated, SIIMA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 2013 | All in All Azhagu Raja | Meenakshi | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Neerparavai | Mary | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Chaarulatha | Chaaru & Latha's Mother | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Thaandavam | Sivakumar's Mother | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Oru Kal Oru Kannadi | Shenbagam | Tamil | |
| 2011 | Vaanam | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| 2011 | Muthukku Muthaaga | Pechi | Tamil | |
| 2011 | Sadhurangam | Analaar's wife | Tamil | |
| 2011 | Maharaja | Seetha | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Vedam | Padma | Telugu | |
| 2010 | Thenmerku Paruvakaatru | Veerayi | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Pulliman | Yashoda Panicker | Malayalam | |
| 2010 | Guru Sishyan | Mahalakshmi | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Yaksha | Yaksha's mother | Kannada | |
| 2010 | Thambikku Indha Ooru | Mrs.Kumaraswamy | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Puli | Puli's mother | Telugu | |
| 2010 | Police Quarters | Jayamma | Kannada | |
| 2010 | Naane Ennul Illai | Janaki | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Magane En Marumagane | Ponnarasi's Mother | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Kalavani | Lakshmi Ramasamy | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Bayam Ariyaan | Saraswathi | Tamil | |
| 2009 | Yavarum Nalam | Shanti, Manohar's Mother | Tamil | |
| 2009 | Colours | Dr. Rajalakshmi | Malayalam | |
| 2009 | Vanam Partha Seemayile | Tamil | ||
| 2008 | Thenavattu | Vazhuvanthal | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Pidichirukku | Stella | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Pandi | Sivagami | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Kuruvi | Devi's sister-in-law /Koccha's Wife | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Dindigul Sarathy | Saradha | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Vilaiyattu | Tamil | ||
| 2008 | Singakutty | Kathir's mother | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Ready | Pooja's younger maternal aunt | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Nenjadhai Killadhe | Vasanth's false mother | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Ini Varum Kaalam | Aravind's mother | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Thirumagan | Jayakodi | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Puli Varudhu | Ramesh's Mother | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Vel | Saradha (Velu's & Vasu's Mother) | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Pirappu | Kaliamman | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Kireedam | Rajeshwari | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Jagadam | Seenu's mother | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Emmtan-Magan | Tamil | ||
| 2006 | Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam | Thiru's mother | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Rakhi | Gowri's Mother | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Emtan Magan | Selvi | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Adaikalam | Kasthuri | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Sivakasi | Kayalvizhi | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Raam | Saradha | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Thavamai Thavamirundhu | Saradha Muthiah | Tamil | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress , Tamil |
| 2005 | Ayodhya | Jameela | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Adhu | Meera's mother | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Arul | Arul 's sister | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Varnajalam | Karthiga | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Ramakrishna | Ramakrishna's mother | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Meesai Madhavan | Devi | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Gomathi Nayagam | Tamil | ||
| 2004 | Chatrapathy | Saravanan's sister | Tamil | |
| 2003 | Chantigadu | Savthriyamma | Telugu | |
| 2003 | Alai | Nirmala | Tamil | Comeback film after marriage |
| 1996 | Samayakkondu Sullu | Rukmini | Kannada | |
| 1996 | Neti Savithri | Telugu | ||
| 1996 | Meendum Savithri | Uma | Tamil | |
| 1996 | Easwaramoorthy IN | Lathika | Malayalam | |
| 1996 | Boss | Kannada | ||
| 1996 | Appaji | Rekha | Kannada | |
| 1995 | Pasumpon | Malar | Tamil | |
| 1994 | Karuththamma | Ponnatha | Tamil | |
| 1994 | Seevalaperi Pandi | Velammal | Tamil | |
| 1994 | Dollar | Lusie | Malayalam | |
| 1993 | Magrib | Aarifa | Malayalam | |
| 1993 | Journalist | Ranjini | Malayalam | |
| 1993 | Injakkadan Mathai & Sons | Beena | Malayalam | |
| 1993 | Ente Sreekuttikku | Nandhini | Malayalam | |
| 1993 | Dasarathan | Vasanthi | Tamil | |
| 1993 | Aadarsam | Telugu | ||
| 1992 | Sahasam | Rekha | Telugu | |
| 1992 | Kottai Vaasal | Rekha | Tamil | |
| 1992 | Agni Paarvai | Seetha | Tamil | |
| 1991 | Aakasha Kottayile Sultan | Mallika | Malayalam | |
| 1991 | Vanakkam Vathiyare | Sundari | Tamil | |
| 1991 | Naan Pudicha Mappillai | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| 1991 | Ganga | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Ennum Nanmakal | Indu | Malayalam | |
| 1991 | Cheppukilukkana Changathi | Manikutty | Malayalam | |
| 1991 | Ashwini | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Aanaval Mothiram | Annie | Malayalam | |
| 1990 | Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga | Meena | Tamil | |
| 1990 | Anjali | Dr. Sheela | Tamil | |
| 1989 | Sakalakala Sammandhi | Uma | Tamil | |
| 1989 | Neerajanam | Jaya | Telugu | Telugu Debut |
| 1989 | Karunguyil Kundram | Tamil | ||
| 1989 | Artham | Manasa | Malayalam | Malayalam Debut |
| 1989 | Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil | Preethi | Tamil | |
| 1988 | En Jeevan Paduthu | Narmada | Tamil | |
| 1988 | Sivapputhaali | Keerthana | Tamil | |
| 1988 | Melam Kottu Thaali Kattu | Muthamma | Tamil | |
| 1988 | Manasukkul Mathappu | Dr.Geetha | Tamil | |
| 1988 | Dhaayam Onnu | Preetha | Tamil | |
| 1987 | Nayagan | Tamil | ||
| 1987 | Nayakan | Neela | Tamil | Debut film |