Saranya Ponvannan
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1970-04-26 (55 years old)
Place of Birth
Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Saranya Ponvannan
Biography
Sheela better known by her stage name Saranya is an Indian film actress who has predominantly appeared in Tamil language films. Saranya made her debut in a lead role in Mani Ratnam's Nayagan and went on to play lead roles in a few films during the late 1980s. Following an eight-year sabbatical, she returned to feature films as a character artiste, essaying supporting roles, particularly playing mother characters to lead artists. For her performances in films including Raam (2005), Thavamai Thavamirundhu (2005), Em Magan (2006) and Kalavani (2010), she has received notable critical praise and several accolades, including three Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress, while her performance in Thenmerku Paruvakaatru fetched her the National Film Award for Best Actress in 2011.Saranya is the daughter of Malayalam film director A. B. Raj. She is married to a fellow actor, Ponvannan.
Acting
(2025)
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam
as Ponni
(2025)
(2024)
Brother
as Hemamalini
(2024)
Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan
as Burma's Mother
(2023)
(2023)
Conjuring Kannappan
as Lakshmi
(2022)
Etharkkum Thunindhavan
as Kosalai
(2022)
(2022)
(2022)
Chup
as Mrs. Menon
(2022)
Viruman
as Muthulakshmi
(2021)
MGR Magan
as Rasaathi
(2021)
Bhoomi
as Bhoominathan's Mother
(2021)
(2021)
Maha Samudram
as Arjun's mother
(2019)
(2019)
Nani's Gang Leader
as Varalakshmi
(2018)
The Villain
as Vishalavva
(2018)
Mannar Vagaiyara
as Ilaiyarani's mother
(2018)
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
as Chembammal
(2018)
Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna
as Aiyappan's Mother
(2018)
Junga
as Junga's mother
(2018)
Inba Twinkle Lilly
as Inbaa
(2018)
Kolamavu Kokila
as Kokila's Mother
(2017)
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2
as Bhuvana
(2017)
Magalir Mattum
as Subbu
(2017)
Katha Nayagan
as Thambidurai's Mother
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)
Bangalore Naatkal
as Kannan's mother
(2016)
Remo
as Arun's Mother
(2016)
(2016)
Brahmotsavam
as Ajay's Relative
(2016)
Kodi
as Kodi and Anbu's Mother
(2016)
24
as Sathyabama
(2014)
Velaiyilla Pattathari
as Bhuvana
(2014)
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Sumathi
(2014)
Manam
as Seetharamudu's Mother
(2014)
(2014)
Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
as Yasothammal
(2014)
(2014)
(2013)
Vatthikuchi
as Sakthi's mother
(2013)
(2013)
All in All Azhagu Raja
as Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
(2013)
Kutti Puli
as Dheivaanai
(2012)
Neerparavai
as Mary
(2012)
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
(2012)
(2012)
Chaarulatha
as Charu and Latha's mother
(2011)
Muthukku Muthaaga
as Pechi
(2011)
Vaanam
as Lakshmi
(2011)
(2010)
Komaram Puli
as Puli's Mother
(2010)
(2010)
Magane En Marumagane
as Jameendar's wife
(2010)
(2010)
Vedam
as Padma
(2010)
Thenmerku Paruvakatru
as Veerayi
(2010)
Bayam Ariyan
as Vinoth's Mother
(2010)
Kalavani
as Lakshmi
(2009)
Colors
as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
(2009)
Yavarum Nalam
as Manohar's Mother
(2008)
(2008)
(2008)
Kuruvi
as Koccha's Wife
(2008)
(2008)
Paandi
as Sivakami
(2008)
Dindigul Sarathy
as Sarathy's Mother
(2008)
(2008)
(2007)
Vel
as Vasu and Vel's mother
(2007)
(2007)
Kireedam
as Shakti's Mother
(2007)
(2007)
Pirappu
as Kaliammal, Kannan's adoptive mother
(2007)
Thirumagan
as Jayakodi
(2006)
Rakhi
as Gowri's Mother
(2006)
Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam
as Thiru's Mother
(2006)
Adaikalam
as Kasthuri
(2006)
Em Magan
as Krishna's Mother
(2005)
Raam
as Saradha
(2005)
Sivakasi
as Udayappa's wife
(2005)
Thavamai Thavamiruntu
as Sarada
(2004)
Adhu
as Meera's Mother
(2004)
Chatrapathy
as Saravanan's Sister
(2004)
(2003)
(1996)
(1996)
Meendum Savithri
as Uma
(1995)
Pasumpon
as Malar
(1994)
Seevalaperi Pandi
as Velammal
(1994)
Karuththamma
as Periyakanni
(1993)
Dollar
as Lucy
(1993)
Injakkadan Mathai & Sons
as Beena
(1993)
Ente Sreekuttikku
as Nandini
(1993)
(1992)
(1991)
Ennum Nanmakal
as Indu
(1991)
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan
as Mallika
(1991)
Aanaval Mothiram
as Annie
(1991)
Cheppukilukkana Changathi
as Manikutty
(1991)
(1990)
Anjali
as Dr. Sheela
(1990)
(1989)
Artham
as Manasa
(1989)
(1989)
Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil
as Preethy
(1988)
(1988)
Dhayam Onnu
as Rita
(1988)
Manasukkul Mathappu
as Seema
(1988)
(1988)
En Jeevan Paaduthu
as Narmada
(1987)
Nayakan
as Neela