Saranya Ponvannan

Saranya Ponvannan (Sheela Raj) is a Popular Indian film actress who has predominantly appeared in Tamil language and Telugu language films and a few Malayalam and Kannada language films. Saranya made her debut in a lead role in Mani Ratnam's Nayagan and went on to play lead roles in late 1980s. Following an eight-year sabbatical, she returned to feature films as a character artiste, playing supporting roles, particularly playing mother characters to lead artists.^[1] For her performances in films including Raam (2005), Thavamai Thavamirundhu (2005), Em Magan (2006), Kalavani (2010), Neerparavai (2012), Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012), Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014), 24 (2016), Remo (2016) and Kodi (2016), she has received notable critical praise and several accolades, including four Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress, while her critically acclaimed performance in Thenmerku Paruvakaatru fetched her the National Film Award for Best Actress in 2011.^[2]

Career

Saranya made her debut in Mani Ratnam's Godfatheresque production, Nayagan opposite Kamal Haasan, in which she performed the lead female character. The film, which went on to become a huge success.

After marriage in 1995, she settled down to domestic bliss, refusing to take up any film offers. In 2000, however, she was offered the lead role in the comedy television series, Veettukku Veedu Lootty, which she has accepted. Subsequently, she decided to accept some good offers, enacting supporting roles.^[3] Since then she has appeared in many films in supporting roles most notably Raam, Thavamai Thavamirundhu and Em Magan.^[4] Her performance as Veerayi, a widowed mother torn between love and possessiveness, in the 2010 film Thenmerku Paruvakaatru – incidentally her 100th release – ultimately fetched her the National Film Award for Best Actress.^[2]Due to continuous success she established herself as a prominent and leading actress in south India. As of 2014 she was the only actress to be paid highest salary for playing mother roles in south Indian film industry.

Personal life

Saranya is the daughter of famous Malayalam film director A. B. Raj who had directed over 75 films starring big stars.He had also directed 2 tamil films.^[5] She is married to fellow actor-director, Ponvannan.

Awards

National Film Awards

• 2011 – Winner—Best Actress for Thenmerku Paruvakaatru

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• 2006 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for Em Magan

Filmfare Awards

• 2005 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for Thavamai Thavamirundhu
• 2006 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for Em Magan
• 2010 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for Thenmerku Paruvakaatru^[6]
• 2010 – Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Telugu for Puli
• 2012 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for Neerparavai & Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
• 2014 – Nominated–Best Supporting Actress - Tamil for Velaiyilla Pattathari

South Indian International Movie Awards

• 2013 – Winner—Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Neerparavai
• 2013 – Nominated–Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kutti Puli
• 2014 – Winner—Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Velaiyilla Pattathari

Vijay Awards

• 2011 – Winner—Best Supporting Actress for Thenmerku Paruvakaatru
• 2014 – Nominated–Best Supporting Actress for Velaiyilla Pattathari

Filmography

References

External links

• Saranya Ponvannan at the Internet Movie Database