Aranmula Ponnamma to be laid to rest today

Trivandrum, Feb.22 (NR): Aranmula Ponnamma who played a significant part in the evolution of Malayalam cinema passed away. She was 96.

She was under treatment for pneumonia for the last few days in a private hospital in the city.

Aranmula Ponnamma is often called the 'Tharavaattamma' of Malayalam cinema. She made her debut in the role of a mother, through the film 'Sasidharan' that was released in 1950.

She also had a significant role in the first Color film in Malayalam; 'Kandam Becha Coat'. She had played the mother in more than 500 films, spanning around fifty years.

She bagged the National and State Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Adoor's 'Kathapurushan'. She had also received the JC Daniel Award in 2006.

Ponnamma hasn't been acting for quite a while now, and the last film in which she was seen on screen was 'Janathipathyam'.

Around 11 in the morning, the general public would pay respect to Ponnamma today at the VJT Hall. She would be laid to rest at 3 in the afternoon at Thycaud crematorium.