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