Saranya Ponvannan

Saranya Ponvannan (born Sheela Christina) is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam and a few Kannada language films. She also acted in one Hindi movie '' Chup: Revenge of the Artist'' in 2022. Saranya made her acting debut in a lead role in Mani Ratnam's '' Nayakan'' (1987) and went on to play lead roles from 1987 to 1996. Following an eight-year sabbatical, she returned to films in 2003 as a character actor roles. In her career spanning around over 25 years she had won a number of accolades including one National Film Award, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and five Filmfare Award South.

Career

Saranya made her Tamil debut in Mani Ratnam's production '' Nayakan,'' as the female lead opposite Kamal Haasan in 1987. She made her first Telugu appearance in 1989 film '' Neerajanam;'' her Malayalam debut was in the same year with the film '' Artham'' starring opposite Mammootty.

In 1996, she made her Kannada debut with '' Appaji''. After 1996, she quit from acting. In 2000 she appeared playing the lead role in the comedy television series, ''Veettukku Veedu Lootty'', and subsequently accepted some supporting roles in other projects. During 2006 she appeared in family-drama serial ''Mugangal'', which aired on Sun TV.

After a break from films she made a comeback in 2003 Tamil film '' Alai'' opposite Raghuvaran as Silambarasan 's mother. Since then she has been noted for her "mother" roles in films most notably '' Raam'', '' Thavamai Thavamirundhu'' and '' Em Magan'' in the mid-2000s.

Her performance as Veerayi, a widowed mother torn between love and possessiveness, in the 2010 film '' Thenmerku Paruvakaatru'' – her 100th release – earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. Her major breakthrough was 2005 Tamil film '' Thavamai Thavamirundhu'' after which she established herself as a prominent and leading actress in South India. As of 2017, she was one of the highest paid character actresses in the south Indian film industry.

In 2014, she launched Design & School of Fashion Technology (DSOFT), a fashion institute at Virugamakkam, Chennai.

She has also played the role of villain in '' Achamindri'' (2016).

In 2017, she had only three releases. She starred in the sequel of 2014 Tamil film '' Velaiyilla Pattathari,'' reprising the role of Bhuvana, in a cameo appearance. The character had died in the original film, but the filmmakers wanted her to appear in the sequel, because of her part in the former's success.
Her second venture was with Vishnu Vishal in the film '' Katha Nayagan,'' playing the mother of Vishnu Vishal.
Later she starred in '' Magalir Mattum'', a women-centric film, in which she played alongside Jyothika, Oorvasi and Bhanupriya.

In 2018, she was first seen in comedy-family drama '' Mannar Vagaiyara'' as Vemal's mother; her comedy timing was well received, however '' Itly'' was released and opened to negative reviews.
Later she was seen in Vijay Sethupathi's '' Junga'' and Nayanthara's '' Kolamavu Kokila'' as the mother of Kokila who although affected by lung cancer, assists her daughter in smuggling cocaine.

She took on the role of Vishalavva, mother to Kiccha Sudeepa's character in Kannada movie '' The Villain'' directed by Prem in 2018. Later she was seen in Madhupal's Malayalam thriller drama '' Oru Kuprasidha Payyan'' playing Chembammal.

She signed to reprise the role of Lakshmi in '' Kalavani 2''. Her first Telugu release of the year was '' Gang Leader'' where she played the lead role Varalakshmi alongside Nani, Lakshmi, Kartikeya Gummakonda, Priyanka Arul Mohan among others.

After a brief hiatus because of COVID-19 Pandemic, her first release was through OTT in 2021 was Bhoomi alongside Jayam Ravi. Critics cited that the talented actress was restricted to few insignificant scenes. Following Bhoomi, she had two other releases in 2021 - multistarer Telugu film Maha Samudharam and Sasikumar's MGR Magan.

Personal life

Saranya was born in Christian family in Chennai. She is the daughter of Malayalam film director A. B. Raj, who had directed over 75 films. Her family is from Alappuzha, Kerala.
She married actor-director Ponvannan in 1995 who co-starred with her in '' Karuthamma'' (1994), and the couple has two daughters.

Awards

;National Film Awards
* 2011— Best Actress for '' Thenmerku Paruvakaatru''

;Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
* 2006 – Best Supporting Actress for '' Em Magan''
* 2010 – Best Supporting Actress for '' Kalavani''

;Filmfare Awards
Winnings:
* 2005 – Winner— Best Supporting Actress for '' Thavamai Thavamirundhu''
* 2006 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for '' Em Magan''
* 2011 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for '' Thenmerku Paruvakaatru''
* 2012 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for '' Neerparavai''
* 2019 - Winner- Best Supporting Actress for '' Kolamavu Kokila''
Nominations:
* 2005 - Nominated- Best Supporting Actress - Tamil for '' Raam''
* 2012 - Nominated- Best Supporting Actress - Tamil for '' Oru Kal Oru Kannadi''
*2010 – Nominated— Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Telugu for '' Puli''
*2014 – Nominated–Best Supporting Actress - Tamil for '' Velaiyilla Pattathari''
*2016 – Nominated–Best Supporting Actress - Tamil for ''Kodi''

;South Indian International Movie Awards
* 2013 – Winner—Best Actress in a Supporting Role for '' Neerparavai''
* 2014 – Nominated–Best Actress in a Supporting Role for '' Kutti Puli''
* 2015 – Winner—Best Actress in a Supporting Role for '' Velaiyilla Pattathari''
* 2019 – Nominated–Best Actress in a Supporting Role for '' Kolamavu Kokila''

; Ananda Vikatan Awards
*2010 – Winner–Best Supporting Actress for '' Kalavani''
*2014 – Winner–Best Supporting Actress for '' Ennamo Nadakkudhu'' & '' Velaiyilla Pattathari''

;Vijay Awards
* 2011 – Winner— Best Supporting Actress for '' Thenmerku Paruvakaatru''
*2013 - Nominated— Best Supporting Actress for '' Oru Kal Oru Kannadi''
*2015 – Nominated– Best Supporting Actress for '' Velaiyilla Pattathari''

; Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards
*2011 - Winner-Best Supporting Actress for '' Thenmerku Paruvakaatru''
*2013 - Winner-Best Supporting Actress for '' Oru Kal Oru Kannadi''
*2014 - Nominated-Best Supporting Actress for'' Velaiyilla Pattathari''

;Edison Awards
*2011 - Winner-Best Supporting Actress for '' Thenmerku Paruvakaatru''

;JFW Awards
*2014 - Women Achiever of the year

;JFW Movie Awards
*2019 - Best Supporting Actress for '' Kolamavu Kokila''

Filmography

Films

As playback singer

Television

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ponvannan, Saranya
20th-century Indian actresses
Actresses in Tamil cinema
Actresses from Alappuzha
Actresses in Malayalam cinema
Indian film actresses
Living people
Best Actress National Film Award winners
Filmfare Awards South winners
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
Women's Christian College, Chennai alumni
Actresses in Telugu cinema
Actresses in Kannada cinema
Actresses in Tamil television
Year of birth missing (living people)