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.
Filmography
Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure
as Padmamma
Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure
as Padmamma
Bha. Bha. Ba.
as Vaavamani
Bha. Bha. Ba.
as Vaavamani
Bun Butter Jam
as Lalitha
Bun Butter Jam
as Lalitha
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam
as Ponni
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam
as Ponni
Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan
as Burma's Mother
Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan
as Burma's Mother
Viruman
as Muthulakshmi
Viruman
as Muthulakshmi
MGR Magan
as Rasaathi
MGR Magan
as Rasaathi
Maha Samudram
as Arjun's mother
Maha Samudram
as Arjun's mother
Sashi
Sashi
Bhoomi
as Bhoominathan's Mother
Bhoomi
as Bhoominathan's Mother
Nani's Gang Leader
as Varalakshmi
Nani's Gang Leader
as Varalakshmi
Kalavani 2
Kalavani 2
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
as Chembammal
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
as Chembammal
Kolamavu Kokila
as Kokila's Mother
Kolamavu Kokila
as Kokila's Mother
Junga
as Junga's mother
Junga
as Junga's mother
Inba Twinkle Lilly
as Inbaa
Inba Twinkle Lilly
as Inbaa
The Villain
as Vishalavva
The Villain
as Vishalavva
Mannar Vagaiyara
as Ilaiyarani's mother
Mannar Vagaiyara
as Ilaiyarani's mother
Magalir Mattum
as Subbu
Magalir Mattum
as Subbu
Katha Nayagan
as Thambidurai's Mother
Katha Nayagan
as Thambidurai's Mother
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2
as Bhuvana
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2
as Bhuvana
Brahmotsavam
as Ajay's Relative
Brahmotsavam
as Ajay's Relative
24
as Sathyabama
24
as Sathyabama
Velaiyilla Pattathari
as Bhuvana
Velaiyilla Pattathari
as Bhuvana
Amma Ammamma
Amma Ammamma
Manam
as Seetharamudu's Mother
Manam
as Seetharamudu's Mother
Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
as Yasothammal
Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
as Yasothammal
Kutti Puli
as Dheivaanai
Kutti Puli
as Dheivaanai
Vatthikuchi
as Sakthi's mother
Vatthikuchi
as Sakthi's mother
Chaarulatha
as Charu and Latha's mother
Chaarulatha
as Charu and Latha's mother
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
Mazhaikaalam
Mazhaikaalam
Vaanam
as Lakshmi
Vaanam
as Lakshmi
Thenmerku Paruvakatru
as Veerayi
Thenmerku Paruvakatru
as Veerayi
Kalavani
as Lakshmi
Kalavani
as Lakshmi
Guru Sishyan
as Mahalakshmi
Guru Sishyan
as Mahalakshmi
Bayam Ariyan
as Vinoth's Mother
Bayam Ariyan
as Vinoth's Mother
Thambikku Indha Ooru
Thambikku Indha Ooru
Yavarum Nalam
as Manohar's Mother
Yavarum Nalam
as Manohar's Mother
Colors
as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
Colors
as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
Paandi
as Sivakami
Paandi
as Sivakami
Kuruvi
as Koccha's Wife
Kuruvi
as Koccha's Wife
Pidichirukku
Pidichirukku
Puli Varudhu
Puli Varudhu
Vel
as Mrs Thiyagarajan
Vel
as Mrs Thiyagarajan
Pirappu
as Kaliammal
Pirappu
as Kaliammal
Raju Bhai
Raju Bhai
Jagadam
Jagadam
Thirumagan
as Jayakodi
Thirumagan
as Jayakodi
Adaikalam
as Kasthuri
Adaikalam
as Kasthuri
Em Magan
as Krishna's Mother
Em Magan
as Krishna's Mother
Sivakasi
as Kayalvizhi
Sivakasi
as Kayalvizhi
Thavamai Thavamiruntu
as Sarada
Thavamai Thavamiruntu
as Sarada
Adhu
as Meera's Mother
Adhu
as Meera's Mother
Chatrapathy
as Saravanan's Sister
Chatrapathy
as Saravanan's Sister
Meendum Savithri
as Uma
Meendum Savithri
as Uma
Dollar
as Lucy
Dollar
as Lucy
Injakkadan Mathai & Sons
as Beena
Injakkadan Mathai & Sons
as Beena
Dasarathan
Dasarathan
Ente Sreekuttikku
as Nandini
Ente Sreekuttikku
as Nandini
Kottai Vaasal
Kottai Vaasal
Agni Paarvai
as Seetha
Agni Paarvai
as Seetha
Cheppukilukkana Changathi
as Manikutty
Cheppukilukkana Changathi
as Manikutty
Aanaval Mothiram
as Annie
Aanaval Mothiram
as Annie
Ennum Nanmakal
as Indu
Ennum Nanmakal
as Indu
Vanakkam Vathiyare
Vanakkam Vathiyare
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan
as Mallika
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan
as Mallika
Anjali
as Dr. Sheela
Anjali
as Dr. Sheela
Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
Artham
as Manasa
Artham
as Manasa
Sakalakala Sammandi
Sakalakala Sammandi
Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil
as Preethy
Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil
as Preethy
Dhayam Onnu
as Rita
Dhayam Onnu
as Rita
En Jeevan Paaduthu
as Narmada
En Jeevan Paaduthu
as Narmada
Sigappu Thali
Sigappu Thali
Nayakan
as Neela
Nayakan
as Neela
Kallapart
Kallapart