Saranya Ponvannan
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.
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Known For
Filmography
| Movie | Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan | 2025 | |
| Movie | Kallapart | 2025 | |
| Movie | Kushi | 2023-08-31 | |
| Movie | Etharkkum Thunindhavan | Kosalai | 2022-03-10 |
| Movie | Aruva Sanda | 2022-12-30 | |
| Movie | Viruman | 2022-08-12 | |
| Movie | Bhoomi | Bhoominathan's Mother | 2021-01-14 |
| Movie | Sashi | 2021-03-19 | |
| Movie | MGR Magan | Rasaathi | 2021-11-04 |
| Movie | Maha Samudram | Arjun's mother | 2021-10-14 |
| Movie | Nani's Gang Leader | Varalakshmi | 2019-09-13 |
| Movie | Kalavani 2 | 2019-07-05 | |
| Movie | Mannar Vagaiyara | Ilaiyarani's mother | 2018-01-26 |
| Movie | The Villain | Vishalavva | 2018-05-31 |
| Movie | Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna | Aiyappan's Mother | 2018-08-17 |
| Movie | Kolamavu Kokila | Kokila's Mother | 2018-08-17 |
| Movie | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan | Chembammal | 2018-11-09 |
| Movie | Junga | Junga's mother | 2018-07-27 |
| Movie | Inba Twinkle Lilly | Inbaa | 2018-06-29 |
| Movie | Velaiyilla Pattathari 2 | Bhuvana | 2017-08-11 |
| Movie | Magalir Mattum | Subbu | 2017-09-15 |
| Movie | Katha Nayagan | Thambidurai's Mother | 2017-09-08 |
| Movie | Bangalore Naatkal | Kannan's mother | 2016-02-04 |
| Movie | 24 | Sathyabama | 2016-05-05 |
| Movie | Brahmotsavam | 2016-05-20 | |
| Movie | Achamindri | 2016-12-30 | |
| Movie | Kodi | Kodi and Anbu's Mother | 2016-10-28 |
| Movie | Remo | Arun's Mother | 2016-10-07 |
| Movie | Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum | 2016-08-05 | |
| Movie | Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal | Yasothammal | 2014-02-14 |
| Movie | Naan Sigappu Manithan | Sumathi | 2014-04-11 |
| Movie | Manam | Seetharamudu's Mother | 2014-05-23 |
| Movie | Velaiilla Pattadhari | Bhuvana | 2014-07-18 |
| Movie | Pappali | 2014-07-11 | |
| Movie | Amma Ammamma | 2014-05-30 | |
| Movie | Ennamo Nadakkudhu | 2014-04-25 | |
| Movie | Vatthikuchi | Sakthi's mother | 2013-03-15 |
| Movie | Kutti Puli | Dheivaanai | 2013-05-30 |
| Movie | All in All Azhagu Raja | Meenakshi Muthukrishnan | 2013-11-02 |
| Movie | Naiyaandi | 2013-10-11 | |
| Movie | Neerparavai | Mary | 2012-11-30 |
| Movie | Oru Kal Oru Kannadi | Shenbagam Saravanan's mother | 2012-04-12 |
| Movie | Chaarulatha | Charu and Latha's mother | 2012-09-21 |
| Movie | Mazhaikaalam | 2012-04-06 | |
| Movie | Vaanam | Lakshmi | 2011-04-29 |
| Movie | Sadhurangam | 2011-10-08 | |
| Movie | Muthukku Muthaaga | Pechi | 2011-03-18 |
| Movie | Bayam Ariyan | Vinoth's Mother | 2010-04-25 |
| Movie | Guru Sishyan | 2010-05-07 | |
| Movie | Thambikku Indha Ooru | 2010-03-05 | |
| Movie | Thenmerku Paruvakatru | Veerayi | 2010-12-24 |
| Movie | Komaram Puli | Puli's Mother | 2010-09-10 |
| Movie | Vedam | Padma | 2010-06-04 |
| Movie | Kalavani | Lakshmi | 2010-06-25 |
| Movie | Colors | Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi | 2009-01-31 |
| Movie | Yavarum Nalam | Manohar's Mother | 2009-03-06 |
| Movie | Nenjathai Killadhe | 2008-02-14 | |
| Movie | Pidichirukku | 2008-01-14 | |
| Movie | Singakutty | 2008-03-21 | |
| Movie | Paandi | Sivakami | 2008-05-23 |
| Movie | Dindigul Sarathy | Sarathy's Mother | 2008-12-18 |
| Movie | Thenavattu | 2008-11-21 | |
| Movie | Ready | 2008-06-19 | |
| Movie | Kuruvi | Koccha's Wife | 2008-05-03 |
| Movie | Thirumagan | Jayakodi | 2007-03-09 |
| Movie | Jagadam | 2007-03-16 | |
| Movie | Vel | Vasu and Vel's mother | 2007-11-08 |
| Movie | Kireedam | Shakti's Mother | 2007-07-20 |
| Movie | Puli Varudhu | 2007-12-21 | |
| Movie | Rakshakan | 2007-06-09 | |
| Movie | Pirappu | Kaliammal, Kannan's adoptive mother | 2007-06-01 |
| Movie | Em Magan | Krishna's Mother | 2006-09-08 |
| Movie | Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam | Thiru's Mother | 2006-12-15 |
| Movie | Adaikalam | Kasthuri | 2006-12-28 |
| Movie | Rakhi | Gowri's Mother | 2006-12-22 |
| Movie | Thavamai Thavamiruntu | Sarada | 2005-10-31 |
| Movie | Sivakaasi | Udayappa's wife | 2005-11-01 |
| Movie | Raam | Saradha | 2005-03-04 |
| Movie | Arul | 2004-05-07 | |
| Movie | Chatrapathy | Saravanan's Sister | 2004-02-03 |
| Movie | Alai | 2003-07-08 | |
| Movie | Pasumpon | Malar | 1995-04-14 |
| Movie | Seevalaperi Pandi | Velammal | 1994-06-23 |
| Movie | Karuththamma | Periyakanni | 1994-11-03 |
| Movie | Ente Sreekuttikku | Nandini | 1993-01-12 |
| Movie | Dasarathan | 1993-02-04 | |
| Movie | Dollar | Lucy | 1993-12-31 |
| Movie | Injakkadan Mathai & Sons | Beena | 1993-03-19 |
| Movie | Kottai Vaasal | 1992-08-15 | |
| Movie | Vanakkam Vathiyare | 1991-02-01 | |
| Movie | Aakasha Kottayile Sultan | Mallika | 1991-01-01 |
| Movie | Cheppukilukkana Changathi | Manikutty | 1991-09-18 |
| Movie | Ennum Nanmakal | Indu | 1991-02-15 |
| Movie | Aanaval Mothiram | Annie | 1991-04-27 |
| Movie | Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga | 1990-04-14 | |
| Movie | Anjali | Dr. Sheela | 1990-07-12 |
| Movie | Artham | Manasa | 1989-07-28 |
| Movie | Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil | Preethy | 1989-01-29 |
| Movie | Sigappu Thali | 1988-04-15 | |
| Movie | Dhayam Onnu | Rita | 1988-06-29 |
| Movie | En Jeevan Paaduthu | Narmada | 1988-06-24 |
| Movie | Manasukkul Mathappu | Seema | 1988-06-24 |
| Movie | Melangottu Thalikattu | 1988-07-29 | |
| Movie | Nayakan | Neela | 1987-10-21 |