Veteran Actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma Passes Away at 79
Malayalam cinema has lost one of its most beloved stars, Kaviyoor Ponnamma. She passed away on September 20, 2024, at the age of 79. She had been struggling with cancer, which had reached its final stage.
After weeks in a hospital in Kochi, her condition worsened, and she took her last breath surrounded by family and medical staff.
Her health had been declining for some time. She was diagnosed with cancer in May 2024, and by then, the disease was already in its fourth stage. Despite undergoing treatment, her condition kept worsening.
On September 3, she was admitted to the hospital again for a check-up, but her health took a serious turn for the worse. Her family and close friends were with her during her last moments, but her daughter, Bindhu, who lives in the United States, could not be there.
Her fans and the entire film industry were heartbroken to hear the news of her passing. Many took to social media to express their sadness and share fond memories of the actress. Mammootty, one of the superstars she worked with, posted a sweet picture of her kissing him on the cheek, showing just how much she was loved by the people she worked with.
Even as she faced illness in her final days, she showed immense strength. She lost her husband in 2011, which was a difficult time in her life, but she continued acting and remained dedicated to her career.
After acting in more than 700 films, she had retired from acting by 2022 due to her declining health.
Throughout her career, she was known for playing strong and loving mother roles in films.
One of her most famous lines from a film, which is still remembered by her fans, was: “Enikkum ente makkalum thanniyannu njaan jeevikkunnathu” (I live for myself and my children). This line perfectly reflected the motherly characters she portrayed on screen, always putting her family first.
The news of her death shook the Malayalam film industry. Many actors, directors, and even political figures shared their grief.
Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, said she was one of the most loved actresses in the state, and her roles will always be remembered. Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran also paid tribute by sharing her photo, saying she made an unforgettable mark on cinema.
Other actors, like Mukesh, remembered her as their “on-screen mother,” and Suresh Gopi called her the “mother of Malayalam cinema.” Many said that she was like a real mother to them, not just in movies but also in real life. Meera Jasmine, another popular actress, said that Ponnamma’s loss felt like losing someone close in her own family.
On September 21, her body was kept at the Kalamassery Municipal Town Hall for her fans and the public to pay their last respects. Hundreds of people came to say goodbye to the actress who had brought so much joy and emotion into their lives through her films. Later, she was cremated at her residence in Aluva.