Saranya Ponvannan
April 26, 1970 (55 years old) in Alappuzha, Kerala, India
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
Credits
- 2025 · Bun Butter Jam as
- 2025 · Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam as Ponni
- 2023 · Conjuring Kannappan as Lakshmi
- 2023 · Kushi as
- 2022 · Varalaru Mukkiyam as
- 2022 · Etharkkum Thunindhavan as Kosalai
- 2021 · MGR Magan as Rasaathi
- 2021 · Sashi as
- 2021 · Bhoomi as Bhoominathan's Mother
- 2019 · Nani's Gang Leader as Varalakshmi
- 2019 · Kalavani 2 as
- 2018 · Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna as Aiyappan's Mother
- 2018 · Junga as Junga's mother
- 2018 · Inba Twinkle Lilly as Inbaa
- 2018 · The Villain as Vishalavva
- 2017 · Magalir Mattum as Subbu
- 2017 · Velaiyilla Pattathari 2 as Bhuvana
- 2016 · Achamindri as
- 2016 · Remo as Arun's Mother
- 2016 · Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum as
- 2016 · Brahmotsavam as
- 2016 · Brahmotsavam as Ajay's Relative
- 2016 · Bangalore Naatkal as Kannan's mother
- 2014 · Manam as Seetharamudu's Mother
- 2014 · Ennamo Nadakkudhu as
- 2014 · Naan Sigappu Manithan as Sumathi
- 2013 · Naiyaandi as
- 2013 · Vatthikuchi as Sakthi's mother
- 2012 · Neerparavai as Mary
- 2012 · Oru Kal Oru Kannadi as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
- 2011 · Sadhurangam as
- 2011 · Vaanam as Lakshmi
- 2011 · Muthukku Muthaaga as Pechi
- 2010 · Komaram Puli as Puli's Mother
- 2010 · Magane En Marumagane as Jameendar's wife
- 2010 · Thambikku Indha Ooru as
- 2009 · Yavarum Nalam as Manohar's Mother
- 2009 · Colors as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
- 2008 · Ready as
- 2008 · Kuruvi as Koccha's Wife
- 2008 · Singakutty as
- 2007 · Vel as Vasu and Vel's mother
- 2007 · Kireedam as Shakti's Mother
- 2007 · Jagadam as
- 2006 · Adaikalam as Kasthuri
- 2006 · Rakhi as Gowri's Mother
- 2005 · Sivakasi as Udayappa's wife
- 2005 · Raam as Saradha
- 2003 · Alai as
- 1995 · Pasumpon as Malar
- 1993 · Dollar as Lucy
- 1992 · Kottai Vaasal as
- 1991 · Aanaval Mothiram as Annie
- 1991 · Ennum Nanmakal as Indu
- 1991 · Aakasha Kottayile Sultan as Mallika
- 1990 · Anjali as Dr. Sheela
- 1988 · Sigappu Thali as
- Future · Bha. Bha. Ba. as
- Future · Kallapart as
- 2024 · Brother as Hemamalini
- 2024 · Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan as Burma's Mother
- 2022 · Aruva Sanda as
- 2022 · Chup as Mrs. Menon
- 2022 · Viruman as Muthulakshmi
- 2021 · Maha Samudram as Arjun's mother
- 2018 · Oru Kuprasidha Payyan as Chembammal
- 2018 · Kolamavu Kokila as Kokila's Mother
- 2018 · Mannar Vagaiyara as Ilaiyarani's mother
- 2017 · Katha Nayagan as Thambidurai's Mother
- 2016 · Kodi as Kodi and Anbu's Mother
- 2016 · 24 as Sathyabama
- 2014 · Velaiyilla Pattathari as Bhuvana
- 2014 · Pappali as
- 2014 · Amma Ammamma as
- 2014 · Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal as Yasothammal
- 2013 · All in All Azhagu Raja as Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
- 2013 · Kutti Puli as Dheivaanai
- 2012 · Chaarulatha as Charu and Latha's mother
- 2012 · Mazhaikaalam as
- 2010 · Thenmerku Paruvakatru as Veerayi
- 2010 · Kalavani as Lakshmi
- 2010 · Vedam as Padma
- 2010 · Guru Sishyan as
- 2010 · Bayam Ariyan as Vinoth's Mother
- 2008 · Dindigul Sarathy as Sarathy's Mother
- 2008 · Thenavattu as
- 2008 · Paandi as Sivakami
- 2008 · Nenjathai Killadhe as
- 2008 · Pidichirukku as
- 2007 · Puli Varudhu as
- 2007 · Pirappu as Kaliammal, Kannan's adoptive mother
- 2007 · Thirumagan as Jayakodi
- 2006 · Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam as Thiru's Mother
- 2006 · Em Magan as Krishna's Mother
- 2005 · Thavamai Thavamiruntu as Sarada
- 2004 · Adhu as Meera's Mother
- 2004 · Arul as
- 2004 · Chatrapathy as Saravanan's Sister
- 1996 · Meendum Savithri as Uma
- 1996 · Appaji as
- 1994 · Karuththamma as Periyakanni
- 1994 · Seevalaperi Pandi as Velammal
- 1993 · Injakkadan Mathai & Sons as Beena
- 1993 · Dasarathan as
- 1993 · Ente Sreekuttikku as Nandini
- 1991 · Cheppukilukkana Changathi as Manikutty
- 1991 · Vanakkam Vathiyare as
- 1990 · Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga as
- 1989 · Artham as Manasa
- 1989 · Sakalakala Sammandi as
- 1989 · Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil as Preethy
- 1988 · Melangottu Thalikattu as
- 1988 · Dhayam Onnu as Rita
- 1988 · Manasukkul Mathappu as Seema
- 1988 · En Jeevan Paaduthu as Narmada
- 1987 · Nayakan as Neela
- Future · Jeyikkira Kuthira as