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.
Known For
Acting
(2025)
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam
as Ponni
(2025)
(2024)
Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan
as Burma's Mother
(2024)
Brother
as Hemamalini
(2023)
(2023)
Conjuring Kannappan
as Lakshmi
(2022)
Etharkkum Thunindhavan
as Kosalai
(2022)
Viruman
as Muthulakshmi
(2022)
Chup
as Mrs. Menon
(2022)
(2022)
(2021)
MGR Magan
as Rasaathi
(2021)
Bhoomi
as Bhoominathan's Mother
(2021)
Maha Samudram
as Arjun's mother
(2021)
(2019)
Nani's Gang Leader
as Varalakshmi
(2019)
(2018)
The Villain
as Vishalavva
(2018)
Kolamavu Kokila
as Kokila's Mother
(2018)
Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna
as Aiyappan's Mother
(2018)
Inba Twinkle Lilly
as Inbaa
(2018)
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
as Chembammal
(2018)
Mannar Vagaiyara
as Ilaiyarani's mother
(2018)
Junga
as Junga's mother
(2017)
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2
as Bhuvana
(2017)
Magalir Mattum
as Subbu
(2017)
Katha Nayagan
as Thambidurai's Mother
(2016)
Kodi
as Kodi and Anbu's Mother
(2016)
Remo
as Arun's Mother
(2016)
24
as Sathyabama
(2016)
(2016)
Bangalore Naatkal
as Kannan's mother
(2016)
(2016)
Brahmotsavam
as Ajay's Relative
(2016)
(2014)
Velaiyilla Pattathari
as Bhuvana
(2014)
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Sumathi
(2014)
Manam
as Seetharamudu's Mother
(2014)
Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
as Yasothammal
(2014)
(2014)
(2014)
(2013)
(2013)
All in All Azhagu Raja
as Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
(2013)
Kutti Puli
as Dheivaanai
(2013)
Vatthikuchi
as Sakthi's mother
(2012)
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
(2012)
Neerparavai
as Mary
(2012)
Chaarulatha
as Charu and Latha's mother
(2012)
(2011)
Vaanam
as Lakshmi
(2011)
Muthukku Muthaaga
as Pechi
(2011)
(2010)
Kalavani
as Lakshmi
(2010)
Vedam
as Padma
(2010)
Thenmerku Paruvakatru
as Veerayi
(2010)
Komaram Puli
as Puli's Mother
(2010)
Magane En Marumagane
as Jameendar's wife
(2010)
(2010)
(2010)
Bayam Ariyan
as Vinoth's Mother
(2009)
Yavarum Nalam
as Manohar's Mother
(2009)
Colors
as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
(2008)
(2008)
Kuruvi
as Koccha's Wife
(2008)
(2008)
Dindigul Sarathy
as Sarathy's Mother
(2008)
(2008)
(2008)
Paandi
as Sivakami
(2008)
(2007)
Kireedam
as Shakti's Mother
(2007)
Vel
as Vasu and Vel's mother
(2007)
(2007)
Thirumagan
as Jayakodi
(2007)
Pirappu
as Kaliammal, Kannan's adoptive mother
(2007)
(2007)
(2006)
Rakhi
as Gowri's Mother
(2006)
Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam
as Thiru's Mother
(2006)
Em Magan
as Krishna's Mother
(2006)
Adaikalam
as Kasthuri
(2005)
Sivakasi
as Udayappa's wife
(2005)
Raam
as Saradha
(2005)
Thavamai Thavamiruntu
as Sarada
(2004)
(2004)
Adhu
as Meera's Mother
(2004)
Chatrapathy
as Saravanan's Sister
(2003)
(1996)
Meendum Savithri
as Uma
(1995)
Pasumpon
as Malar
(1994)
Seevalaperi Pandi
as Velammal
(1994)
Karuththamma
as Periyakanni
(1993)
Injakkadan Mathai & Sons
as Beena
(1993)
(1993)
Dollar
as Lucy
(1993)
Ente Sreekuttikku
as Nandini
(1992)
(1991)
Aanaval Mothiram
as Annie
(1991)
Ennum Nanmakal
as Indu
(1991)
Cheppukilukkana Changathi
as Manikutty
(1991)
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan
as Mallika
(1991)
(1990)
Anjali
as Dr. Sheela
(1990)
(1989)
Artham
as Manasa
(1989)
(1989)
Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil
as Preethy
(1988)
Dhayam Onnu
as Rita
(1988)
En Jeevan Paaduthu
as Narmada
(1988)
Manasukkul Mathappu
as Seema
(1988)
(1988)
(1987)
Nayakan
as Neela