Saranya Ponvannan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 26, 1970
- Birthplace
- 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.
Filmography
Jeyikkira Kuthira TBA
Actor
Kallapart TBA
Actor
Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure 2026
as Padmamma
Bha. Bha. Ba. 2025
as Vaavamani
Bun Butter Jam 2025
as Lalitha
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam 2025
as Ponni
Brother 2024
as Hemamalini
Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan 2024
as Burma's Mother
Conjuring Kannappan 2023
as Lakshmi
Kushi 2023
Actor
Aruva Sanda 2022
Actor
Varalaru Mukkiyam 2022
Actor
Chup 2022
as Mrs. Menon
Viruman 2022
as Muthulakshmi
Etharkkum Thunindhavan 2022
as Kosalai
MGR Magan 2021
as Rasaathi
Maha Samudram 2021
as Arjun's mother
Sashi 2021
Actor
Bhoomi 2021
as Bhoominathan's Mother
Nani's Gang Leader 2019
as Varalakshmi
Kalavani 2 2019
Actor
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan 2018
as Chembammal
Kolamavu Kokila 2018
as Kokila's Mother
Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna 2018
as Aiyappan's Mother
Junga 2018
as Junga's mother
Inba Twinkle Lilly 2018
as Inbaa
The Villain 2018
as Vishalavva
Mannar Vagaiyara 2018
as Ilaiyarani's mother
Magalir Mattum 2017
as Subbu
Katha Nayagan 2017
as Thambidurai's Mother
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2 2017
as Bhuvana
Achamindri 2016
Actor
Kodi 2016
as Kodi and Anbu's Mother
Remo 2016
as Arun's Mother
Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum 2016
Actor
Brahmotsavam 2016
Actor, as Ajay's Relative
24 2016
as Sathyabama
Bangalore Naatkal 2016
as Kannan's mother
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2014
as Bhuvana
- Pappali
Pappali 2014
Actor
- Amma Ammamma
Amma Ammamma 2014
Actor
Manam 2014
as Seetharamudu's Mother
- Ennamo Nadakkudhu
Ennamo Nadakkudhu 2014
Actor
Naan Sigappu Manithan 2014
as Sumathi
Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal 2014
as Yasothammal
All in All Azhagu Raja 2013
as Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
Naiyaandi 2013
Actor
Kutti Puli 2013
as Dheivaanai
Vatthikuchi 2013
as Sakthi's mother
Neerparavai 2012
as Mary
Chaarulatha 2012
as Charu and Latha's mother
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi 2012
as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
Mazhaikaalam 2012
Actor
- Sadhurangam
Sadhurangam 2011
Actor
Vaanam 2011
as Lakshmi
Muthukku Muthaaga 2011
as Pechi
Thenmerku Paruvakatru 2010
as Veerayi
Komaram Puli 2010
as Puli's Mother
Kalavani 2010
as Lakshmi
Vedam 2010
as Padma
Magane En Marumagane 2010
as Jameendar's wife
Guru Sishyan 2010
as Mahalakshmi
- Bayam Ariyan
Bayam Ariyan 2010
as Vinoth's Mother
Pulliman 2010
as Yashoda Panicker
Thambikku Indha Ooru 2010
Actor
Yavarum Nalam 2009
as Manohar's Mother
Colors 2009
as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
Dindigul Sarathy 2008
as Sarathy's Mother
Thenavattu 2008
Actor
Ready 2008
Actor
Paandi 2008
as Sivakami
Kuruvi 2008
as Koccha's Wife
- Singakutty
Singakutty 2008
Actor
Nenjathai Killadhe 2008
Actor
Pidichirukku 2008
Actor
Puli Varudhu 2007
Actor
Vel 2007
as Mrs Thiyagarajan
Kireedam 2007
as Shakti's Mother
Pirappu 2007
as Kaliammal
Raju Bhai 2007
Actor
Jagadam 2007
Actor
Thirumagan 2007
as Jayakodi
- Adaikalam
Adaikalam 2006
as Kasthuri
Rakhi 2006
as Gowri's Mother
Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam 2006
as Saradha
Em Magan 2006
as Krishna's Mother
Sivakasi 2005
as Kayalvizhi
Thavamai Thavamirundhu 2005
as Sarada
Raam 2005
as Saradha
Meesai Madhavan 2004
as Devi, Vignesh's mother
Adhu 2004
as Meera's Mother
Arul 2004
Actor
Chatrapathy 2004
as Saravanan's Sister
Alai 2003
Actor
Meendum Savithri 1996
as Uma
Appaji 1996
Actor
- Pasumpon
Pasumpon 1995
as Malar
Karuththamma 1994
as Periyakanni
- Seevalaperi Pandi
Seevalaperi Pandi 1994
as Velammal
Dollar 1993
as Lucy
Injakkadan Mathai & Sons 1993
as Beena
Dasarathan 1993
Actor
- Ente Sreekuttikku
Ente Sreekuttikku 1993
as Nandini
- Kottai Vaasal
Kottai Vaasal 1992
Actor
- Agni Paarvai
Agni Paarvai 1992
as Seetha
- Cheppukilukkana Changathi
Cheppukilukkana Changathi 1991
as Manikutty
Aanaval Mothiram 1991
as Annie
- Ashwini
Ashwini 1991
Actor
Naan Pudicha Mappillai 1991
as Lakshmi
Ennum Nanmakal 1991
as Indu
- Vanakkam Vathiyare
Vanakkam Vathiyare 1991
Actor
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan 1991
as Mallika
Anjali 1990
as Dr. Sheela
Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga 1990
as Quarter Govindan's sister
Artham 1989
as Manasa
Sakalakala Sammandi 1989
Actor
Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil 1989
as Preethy
- Melangottu Thalikattu
Melangottu Thalikattu 1988
Actor
- Dhayam Onnu
Dhayam Onnu 1988
as Rita
- Manasukkul Mathappu
Manasukkul Mathappu 1988
as Seema
- En Jeevan Paaduthu
En Jeevan Paaduthu 1988
as Narmada
- Sigappu Thali
Sigappu Thali 1988
Actor
Nayakan 1987
as Neela
Credits from TMDB.