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
Manam
(2014)
Seetharamudu's Mother
Kushi
(2023)
24
(2016)
Sathyabama
Nayakan
(1987)
Neela
Dindigul Sarathy
(2008)
Sarathy's Mother
Yavarum Nalam
(2009)
Manohar's Mother
Rakhi
(2006)
Gowri's Mother
Full Filmography
Acting
Nayakan
(1987)
Neela
Melangottu Thalikattu
(1988)
Manasukkul Mathappu
(1988)
Seema
Dhayam Onnu
(1988)
Rita
En Jeevan Paaduthu
(1988)
Narmada
Sigappu Thali
(1988)
Artham
(1989)
Manasa
Andru Peytha Mazhaiyil
(1989)
Preethy
Sakalakala Sammandi
(1989)
Anjali
(1990)
Dr. Sheela
Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
(1990)
Vanakkam Vathiyare
(1991)
Cheppukilukkana Changathi
(1991)
Manikutty
Ennum Nanmakal
(1991)
Indu
Aanaval Mothiram
(1991)
Annie
Aakasha Kottayile Sultan
(1991)
Mallika
Kottai Vaasal
(1992)
Dasarathan
(1993)
Ente Sreekuttikku
(1993)
Nandini
Injakkadan Mathai & Sons
(1993)
Beena
Dollar
(1993)
Lucy
Seevalaperi Pandi
(1994)
Velammal
Karuththamma
(1994)
Periyakanni
Pasumpon
(1995)
Malar
Meendum Savithri
(1996)
Uma
Alai
(2003)
Arul
(2004)
Chatrapathy
(2004)
Saravanan's Sister
Adhu
(2004)
Meera's Mother
Sivakaasi
(2005)
Udayappa's wife
Raam
(2005)
Saradha
Thavamai Thavamiruntu
(2005)
Sarada
Em Magan
(2006)
Krishna's Mother
Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam
(2006)
Thiru's Mother
Adaikalam
(2006)
Kasthuri
Rakhi
(2006)
Gowri's Mother
Kireedam
(2007)
Shakti's Mother
Puli Varudhu
(2007)
Vel
(2007)
Vasu and Vel's mother
Rakshakan
(2007)
Jagadam
(2007)
Thirumagan
(2007)
Jayakodi
Pirappu
(2007)
Kaliammal, Kannan's adoptive mother
Singakutty
(2008)
Paandi
(2008)
Sivakami
Dindigul Sarathy
(2008)
Sarathy's Mother
Thenavattu
(2008)
Pidichirukku
(2008)
Kuruvi
(2008)
Koccha's Wife
Nenjathai Killadhe
(2008)
Ready
(2008)
Colors
(2009)
Lt.col.Dr Rajalakshmi
Yavarum Nalam
(2009)
Manohar's Mother
Thenmerku Paruvakatru
(2010)
Veerayi
Vedam
(2010)
Padma
Kalavani
(2010)
Lakshmi
Bayam Ariyan
(2010)
Vinoth's Mother
Guru Sishyan
(2010)
Thambikku Indha Ooru
(2010)
Komaram Puli
(2010)
Puli's Mother
Magane En Marumagane
(2010)
Jameendar's wife
Sadhurangam
(2011)
Vaanam
(2011)
Lakshmi
Muthukku Muthaaga
(2011)
Pechi
Chaarulatha
(2012)
Charu and Latha's mother
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi
(2012)
Shenbagam Saravanan's mother
Neerparavai
(2012)
Mary
Mazhaikaalam
(2012)
Naiyaandi
(2013)
All in All Azhagu Raja
(2013)
Meenakshi Muthukrishnan
Vatthikuchi
(2013)
Sakthi's mother
Kutti Puli
(2013)
Dheivaanai
Ennamo Nadakkudhu
(2014)
Amma Ammamma
(2014)
Pappali
(2014)
Velaiilla Pattadhari
(2014)
Bhuvana
Naan Sigappu Manithan
(2014)
Sumathi
Manam
(2014)
Seetharamudu's Mother
Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal
(2014)
Yasothammal
Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum
(2016)
Bangalore Naatkal
(2016)
Kannan's mother
24
(2016)
Sathyabama
Remo
(2016)
Arun's Mother
Achamindri
(2016)
Kodi
(2016)
Kodi and Anbu's Mother
Brahmotsavam
(2016)
Ajay's Relative
Magalir Mattum
(2017)
Subbu
Velaiyilla Pattathari 2
(2017)
Bhuvana
Katha Nayagan
(2017)
Thambidurai's Mother
Mannar Vagaiyara
(2018)
Ilaiyarani's mother
Marainthirunthu Paarkum Marmam Enna
(2018)
Aiyappan's Mother
Inba Twinkle Lilly
(2018)
Inbaa
Kolamavu Kokila
(2018)
Kokila's Mother
Junga
(2018)
Junga's mother
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
(2018)
Chembammal
The Villain
(2018)
Vishalavva
Kalavani 2
(2019)
Nani's Gang Leader
(2019)
Varalakshmi
Bhoomi
(2021)
Bhoominathan's Mother
MGR Magan
(2021)
Rasaathi
Sashi
(2021)
Maha Samudram
(2021)
Arjun's mother
Etharkkum Thunindhavan
(2022)
Kosalai
Varalaru Mukkiyam
(2022)
Viruman
(2022)
Chup
(2022)
Mrs. Menon
Aruva Sanda
(2022)
Kushi
(2023)
Conjuring Kannappan
(2023)