Veteran Malayalam actor Kaviyoor Ponnamma passed away on Friday in a private hospital in Ernakulam. She was 79. A four-time Kerala State Film Award winner, she has acted in over 700 films in a career spanning over six decades.

Kaviyoor Ponnamma started her acting career with theatre before foraying into cinema. Her debut film was the Prem Nazir-starrer Mariakutty, directed by Muttathu Varkey. Best known for her mother roles, she is fondly called Amma by industry insiders.

Kaviyoor Ponnamma's most memorable roles came alongside Mohanlal in films like Kireedam, Bharatham, His Highness Abdullah, Thenmavin Kombathu, etc. Some of her other popular films are Sandesam, In Harihar Nagar, and Nandanam. Her last mainstream appearance was in Rani, a segment directed by Aashiq Abu in the Prime Video anthology Aanum Pennum.

Following the news of her demise, Keralites from all walks of life have been pouring in their condolences on social media.