Acting
Saranya Ponvannan
Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi cinema · 119 credits
Born
26 April 1970 (age 56)
Birthplace
Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Also known as Sheela
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
Filmography
Bha. Bha. Ba.
as Vaavamani
Bun Butter Jam
as Lalitha
Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan
as Burma's Mother
Brother
as Hemamalini
Conjuring Kannappan
as Lakshmi
Viruman
as Muthulakshmi
Chup
as Mrs. Menon
Etharkkum Thunindhavan
as Kosalai
Maha Samudram
as Arjun's mother
Bhoomi
as Bhoominathan's Mother
MGR Magan
as Rasaathi
Nani's Gang Leader
as Varalakshmi
Mannar Vagaiyara
as Ilaiyarani's mother
Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna
as Aiyappan's Mother
Kolamavu Kokila
as Kokila's Mother
Junga
as Junga's mother
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
as Chembammal
The Villain
as Vishalavva
Magalir Mattum
as Subbu
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2
as Bhuvana
Katha Nayagan
as Thambidurai's Mother
Brahmotsavam
Actor, as Ajay's Relative
24
as Sathyabama
Bangalore Naatkal
as Kannan's mother
Remo
as Arun's Mother
Kodi
as Kodi and Anbu's Mother
Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
as Yasothammal
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Sumathi
Manam
as Seetharamudu's Mother
Velaiyilla Pattathari
as Bhuvana
Vatthikuchi
as Sakthi's mother
Kutti Puli
as Dheivaanai
All in All Azhagu Raja
as Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
Chaarulatha
as Charu and Latha's mother
Neerparavai
as Mary
Vaanam
as Lakshmi
Muthukku Muthaaga
as Pechi
Thenmerku Paruvakatru
as Veerayi
Vedam
as Padma
Kalavani
as Lakshmi
Bayam Ariyan
2010
Bayam Ariyan
as Vinoth's Mother
Magane En Marumagane
as Jameendar's wife
Guru Sishyan
as Mahalakshmi
Komaram Puli
as Puli's Mother
Pulliman
as Yashoda Panicker
Colors
as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
Yavarum Nalam
as Manohar's Mother
Dindigul Sarathy
as Sarathy's Mother
Kuruvi
as Koccha's Wife
Kireedam
as Shakti's Mother
Pirappu
as Kaliammal
Vel
as Mrs Thiyagarajan
Thirumagan
as Jayakodi
Em Magan
as Krishna's Mother
Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam
as Saradha
Rakhi
as Gowri's Mother
Sivakasi
as Kayalvizhi
Raam
as Saradha
Arul
Actor
Chatrapathy
as Saravanan's Sister
Adhu
as Meera's Mother
Meesai Madhavan
as Devi, Vignesh's mother
Alai
Actor
Karuththamma
as Periyakanni
Dollar
as Lucy
Anjali
as Dr. Sheela
Artham
as Manasa
Nayakan
as Neela