Kochi: Famous Malayalam actor Kaviyoor Ponnamma (79) who breathed her last on Friday was laid to rest with full state honours at her residence here on Saturday. Thousands of people including VIPs attended the funeral ceremony that commenced at 4 pm. The actor died while undergoing treatment at Lisie Hospital here. 

Ponnamma, who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in May last year, had been admitted to Lisie hospital on September 3. She passed away on Friday evening after her health deteriorated, said hospital authorities.

Huge number of people paid last respects to the actor during the public homage at Kalamassery Municipal Town Hall on Saturday from 9 am to 12 noon. Actors Mohanlal, Mammootty and political leaders also arrived at the town hall to pay tributes to the late actor.

Several prominent figures from Kerala's political and cultural spheres, including Union Minister Suresh Gopi, actors Dileep and Kunchako Boban, and director B Unnikrishanan, visited the hospital on Friday night to pay their last respects to the beloved actor.  Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan mourned the actor's demise through his Facebook page. He pointed out Ponnamma's contributions as a theatre artist and film actor.

Ponnamma, who started her acting career through theatre at the age of 14, acted in over 1,000 films. She was known for playing the mother roles of actors like Prem Naseer, Sathyan, Madhu, Soman, Mohanlal, and Mammootty. Interestingly, she played Mohanlal's mother in over 50 films.

Ponnamma had donned different — even negative — roles in Malayalam cinema. She had bankrolled a movie, 'Meghatheertham', and received the state award for the best supporting actress four times. Movie producer, director, and scenarist the late Mani Swami was her husband. Bindu is the couple's daughter. Son-in-law Venaktram is a professor at the University of Michigan in the US.

Ponnamma was born to TP Damodaran and Gauriamma at Kaviyoor in Pathanamthitta in 1945. She has six siblings, including the late actor Kaviyoor Renuka. Her family shifted residence to Ponkunnam in Kottayam when she was one year old. Influenced by her father, she started learning music from an early age. She wished to be an accomplished singer like MS Subbulakshmi.

Music director Devarajan invited Ponnamma to sing for plays when she was 12 years old. She sang first for "Mooladhanam", penned by Thoppil Bhasi. Later, when the theatre group could not find a lead actress for the same play, she donned the grease paint for the first time at Bhasi's insistence.

Ponnamma went on to become the leading actress of KPAC. She was later associated with other prominent theatre groups, including Pratibha Arts Club and Kalidasa Kalakendram. Her performances in plays such as 'Puthiya Aakasham Puthiya Bhoomi', 'Doctor', 'Althara', and 'Janani Janmabhoomi', were widely appreciated.

Ponnamma debuted in cinema at the age of 14. It was at the insistence of Thankappan Master, the dance instructor at Kalidasa Kalakendram. The movie was 'Sree Rama Pattabhishekam' of Merryland, and Ponnamma played Mandodari. She first donned the role of a mother in 'Kudumbini'. In 'Thommante Makkal', she played the mother of Sathyan and Madhu.

She later acted in about 1,000 movies, including in the cinemas of prominent filmmakers PN Menon, Vincent, MT Vasudevan Nair, Ramu Kariat, KS Sethumadhavan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, John Abraham, Padmarajan and Mohan.

'Asuravithu', 'Velutha Kathrina', 'Cross Belt', 'Karakaanakadal', 'Theerthayatra'. 'Nirmalyam', 'Nellu', 'Avalude Raavukal', 'Kodiyettam', 'Oppol', 'Karimbana', 'Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam', 'Thriveni', 'Nizhalaattam', 'Thaniyaavarthanam', 'Naghakshathangal', 'His Highness Abdullah', 'Kireedam', 'Chenkol', 'Bharatham', 'Santhanagopalam', 'Sukrutham' etc., were her prominent movies.