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