Saranya Ponvannan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- 26 April 1970 · 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.
Known for
Acting 122
- 2026Jeyikkira Kuthira
- 2026Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure as Padmamma
- 2026Kallapart
- 2025Bha. Bha. Ba. as Vaavamani
- 2025Bun Butter Jam as Lalitha
- 2025Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam as Ponni
- 2024Brother as Hemamalini
- 2024Mazhai Pidikatha Manithan as Burma's Mother
- 2023Conjuring Kannappan as Lakshmi
- 2023Kushi
- 2022Aruva Sanda
- 2022Varalaru Mukkiyam
- 2022Chup as Mrs. Menon
- 2022Viruman as Muthulakshmi
- 2022Etharkkum Thunindhavan as Kosalai
- 2021MGR Magan as Rasaathi
- 2021Maha Samudram as Arjun's mother
- 2021Sashi
- 2021Bhoomi as Bhoominathan's Mother
- 2019Nani's Gang Leader as Varalakshmi
- 2019Kalavani 2
- 2018Oru Kuprasidha Payyan as Chembammal
- 2018Kolamavu Kokila as Kokila's Mother
- 2018Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna as Aiyappan's Mother
- 2018Junga as Junga's mother
- 2018Inba Twinkle Lilly as Inbaa
- 2018The Villain as Vishalavva
- 2018Mannar Vagaiyara as Ilaiyarani's mother
- 2017Magalir Mattum as Subbu
- 2017Katha Nayagan as Thambidurai's Mother
- 2017Velaiyilla Pattathari 2 as Bhuvana
- 2016Achamindri
- 2016Kodi as Kodi and Anbu's Mother
- 2016Remo as Arun's Mother
- 2016Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum
- 2016Brahmotsavam
- 201624 as Sathyabama
- 2016Bangalore Naatkal as Kannan's mother
- 2014Velaiyilla Pattathari as Bhuvana
- 2014Pappali
- 2014Amma Ammamma
- 2014Manam as Seetharamudu's Mother
- 2014Ennamo Nadakkudhu
- 2014Naan Sigappu Manithan as Sumathi
- 2014Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal as Yasothammal
- 2013All in All Azhagu Raja as Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
- 2013Naiyaandi
- 2013Kutti Puli as Dheivaanai
- 2013Vatthikuchi as Sakthi's mother
- 2012Neerparavai as Mary
- 2012Chaarulatha as Charu and Latha's mother
- 2012Oru Kal Oru Kannadi as Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
- 2012Mazhaikaalam
- 2011Sadhurangam
- 2011Vaanam as Lakshmi
- 2011Muthukku Muthaaga as Pechi
- 2010Thenmerku Paruvakatru as Veerayi
- 2010Komaram Puli as Puli's Mother
- 2010Kalavani as Lakshmi
- 2010Vedam as Padma
- 2010Magane En Marumagane as Jameendar's wife
- 2010Guru Sishyan as Mahalakshmi
- 2010Bayam Ariyan as Vinoth's Mother
- 2010Thambikku Indha Ooru
- 2009Yavarum Nalam as Manohar's Mother
- 2009Colors as Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
- 2008Dindigul Sarathy as Sarathy's Mother
- 2008Thenavattu
- 2008Ready
- 2008Paandi as Sivakami
- 2008Kuruvi as Koccha's Wife
- 2008Singakutty
- 2008Nenjathai Killadhe
- 2008Pidichirukku
- 2007Puli Varudhu
- 2007Vel as Mrs Thiyagarajan
- 2007Kireedam as Shakti's Mother
- 2007Pirappu as Kaliammal
- 2007Raju Bhai
- 2007Jagadam
- 2007Thirumagan as Jayakodi
- 2006Adaikalam as Kasthuri
- 2006Rakhi as Gowri's Mother
- 2006Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam as Saradha
- 2006Em Magan as Krishna's Mother
- 2005Sivakasi as Kayalvizhi
- 2005Thavamai Thavamiruntu as Sarada
- 2005Raam as Saradha
- 2004Meesai Madhavan as Devi, Vignesh's mother
- 2004Adhu as Meera's Mother
- 2004Arul
- 2004Chatrapathy as Saravanan's Sister
- 2003Alai
- 1996Meendum Savithri as Uma
- 1996Appaji
- 1995Pasumpon as Malar
- 1994Karuththamma as Periyakanni
- 1994Seevalaperi Pandi as Velammal
- 1993Dollar as Lucy
- 1993Injakkadan Mathai & Sons as Beena
- 1993Dasarathan
- 1993Ente Sreekuttikku as Nandini
- 1992Kottai Vaasal
- 1992Agni Paarvai as Seetha
- 1991Cheppukilukkana Changathi as Manikutty
- 1991Aanaval Mothiram as Annie
- 1991Ashwini
- 1991Naan Pudicha Mappillai as Lakshmi
- 1991Ennum Nanmakal as Indu
- 1991Vanakkam Vathiyare
- 1991Aakasha Kottayile Sultan as Mallika
- 1990Anjali as Dr. Sheela
- 1990Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
- 1989Artham as Manasa
- 1989Sakalakala Sammandi
- 1989Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil as Preethy
- 1988Melangottu Thalikattu
- 1988Dhayam Onnu as Rita
- 1988Manasukkul Mathappu as Seema
- 1988En Jeevan Paaduthu as Narmada
- 1988Sigappu Thali
- 1987Nayakan as Neela