Mumbai: Kamal Haasan penned an emotional tribute to veteran actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma, who passed away due to age-related ailments. 

On Sunday, he shared a heartfelt message on X, noting that Ponnamma, celebrated as the ‘Mother of all Actors’ in Malayalam cinema, was invited to the Tamil screen for her exceptional talent, debuting in ‘Sathya’. She began her artistic journey as a stage play heroine at 13, continuing through cinema, television and commercials. Haasan expressed sadness over her passing at 79 and extended condolences to her family, honouring her legacy. 

The news of her death has left the film industry in shock, with tributes from actors like Mohanlal, Mammootty and Dulquer Salmaan. 

Known for her iconic mother roles, Ponnamma started as a singer and transitioned to acting via theater. Her notable films include ‘Asuravithu’, ‘Velutha Kathreena’, ‘Karakana Kadal’, ‘Theerthayathra’, ‘Nirmalyam’, ‘Chenkol’, ‘Bharatham’, ‘Santanagopalam’ and ‘Sukrutham’. She contributed her voice to eight films as a playback singer and appeared in over 25 television series. 

Ponnamma famously played the mother to many renowned actors, including Sathyan, Madhu, Prem Nazir, Soman, Sukumaran, Mammootty and Mohanlal, while also showcasing her versatility in various roles, including negative ones. She acted in approximately 1,000 films and even produced the movie ‘Meghatheertham’.