# Uppum Mulakum

Uppum Mulakum (transl. Salt and Chilli) is an Indian Malayalam-language sitcom that has been airing on Flowers TV since December 14, 2015. R. Unnikrishnan created the sitcom and directed the first season (replaced by Rajesh Thalachira and Pradeep Madhav) and the second season. The third season was initially directed by Afsal Abdul Latheef, who helmed the first 172 episodes, before Suhil Raj A. S. took over from episode 173 onwards. Uppum Mulakum chronicles the daily lives of Balachandran Thampi, his wife Neelima, and their five children.
The principal cast members include Biju Sopanam, Nisha Sarangh, Rishi S Kumar, Juhi Rustagi, Al Sabith, Shivani Menon and Baby Ameya. Baby Ameya joined the show in May 2018 as the newborn child of Balachandran and Neelima. Parvathy Ayyappadas became part of the main cast in February 2023, portraying the role of Vishnu's wife, Diya, and was written off after season 2. The show achieved a significant milestone by reaching its 1,000th episode in 2019.
Juhi Rustagi left the show in December 2019 after it had reached 1,013 episodes. She later rejoined the cast during the show's second season. Uppum Mulakum, a highly acclaimed Malayalam sitcom, has consistently garnered popularity throughout its long run. The program secured the Kerala State Television Award for Best Comedy Show in 2017. Having successfully completed two seasons, the show is currently airing its third season.

## Series overview

| Series | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Series | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 1206 | 1206 | 14 December 2015 (2015-12-14) | 15 January 2021 (2021-01-15) |
| 2 | 461 | 461 | 13 June 2022 (2022-06-13) | 26 February 2024 (2024-02-26) |
| 3 | 246+ | 246+ | 24 June 2024 (2024-06-24) | Ongoing |

## Plot summary
### Family

The sitcom centers around the Thambi family. Balu, the patriarch, is a self-employed electronics technician. His wife, Neelu, works as an accountant at a private firm. They have five children: Vishnu, Lakshmi (Lechu), Keshav (Keshu), Shivani (Shiva), and Parvathi (Parrukutty). The family is affectionately known as Paramada Veedu.

#### Vishnu (Mudiyan)

Vishnu, the eldest son, is a lively and talented dancer. He previously faced ridicule from his siblings for failing his Bachelors of Science (BSc) in Physics. However, he persevered and eventually passed in episode 803, much to the family's delight. Neelu holds a special place for Vishnu, her eldest. He leads a dance troupe and his unique hairstyle has contributed to his local fame. Vishnu even took responsibility for his baby sister when needed. His friend Meenu helped him secure a well-paying job at an advertising agency in episode 803. He later transitioned to a career in a private bank.

#### Lakshmi (Lechu)

Lakshmi, the eldest daughter, is known for her beauty consciousness and easygoing nature. While she enjoys teasing her younger siblings, she also possesses a creative side, often writing poems and singing. Lechu is frequently seen socializing with her friends. She later pursued a B.Com degree and married Sidharth in episode 1011. Lechu's portrayal in the show ended in season 1 during episode 1013, due to actress Juhi Rustagi's departure.

#### Keshav (Keshu) and Shivani (Shiva)

Keshu and Shiva are the school-going children, bringing youthful energy to the household. Keshu has a hearty appetite, while Shiva is more selective with food. Despite their occasional naughtiness, they share a strong bond. They often hatch playful schemes together, though Lechu is frequently the target of their pranks. The love between the siblings is undeniable, even amidst their playful bickering.

#### Parvathi (Parukutty)

Parukutty, the youngest child, is the apple of everyone's eye. Born in episode 604, she is an adorable baby who has captured the hearts of her family members.

#### Extended family and neighbors

The show occasionally features visits from Balu's relatives and neighbors. These include Balu's brother Surendran Thambi, their parents Madhavan Thambi and Sharada, his aunt, and his cousin Rema. Rema's husband Jayanthan, her father Shankaran Thambi (Balu's relative), Neelu's parents Kuttan Pillai and Bhavani Amma, also make appearances. The neighborhood comes alive with characters like Bhasi, Nawas, Shukoor, the newspaper boy Kannan, auto-rickshaw driver Chandran, and his wife Kanakam (a sister like figure for balu who he meets when he came to Madurai ). Neelu's brother Sreekkuttan (played by S. P. Sreekumar) also appeared in earlier episodes. Vishnu's friends Jerry, Meenakshi, and Jennah, along with Lechu's friend Gayathri, occasionally make appearances.

#### Family dynamics

The extended family adds layers to the narrative. Some episodes even venture outside the Paramada household, taking place at the Shoolamkudi house in Neyyattinkara (Thiruvananthapuram) and Padavalam Veedu in Piravom (Ernakulam). These location shifts provide a lighthearted commentary on the cultural distinctions between Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, a common theme in friendly disputes between Balu and Neelu.

#### Relatives and Recurring Characters

Balu's brother Surendran, who runs a grocery shop in Neyyattinkara, has a gentle personality that Balu sometimes pokes fun at. Shankaran (Shankara Annan), a beloved family member despite his fondness for alcohol, is Balu's uncle. His daughter Rema, Balu's cousin, is married to Jayanthan, an unemployed politician. Their silly arguments are often mediated by Balu and Neelu.
The introduction of auto-rickshaw driver Chandran in episode 368 marked the beginning of a close friendship with the Paramada family. He eventually married Kanakam, a distant relative of Balu from Tamil Nadu, in episode 850.The character of Sreeraj, Neelu's elder brother settled in Chennai with his family, was finally introduced in episode 1164, although he had been mentioned throughout the series.

### Season 2

Balu found a supervisor role, Neelu got promoted, and Lechu returned home. Shiva and Keshu are at the end of their teenage. Keshu started tutoring. Paru started nursery school.
Vishnu eloped with Diya (episode 180), marrying her without family approval. Diya's parents, Ram and Haimavati (introduced in episode 197), disliked Vishnu's family and tried (unsuccessfully) to take Diya back. Their true motive? Ram's company relied on Ranna, whose son had a childhood crush on Diya. Lies and misunderstandings ensued.
After a series of fun and drama, the tension between the families decreased and a joyous bond was formed.
The season concluded with glimpses into daily life. Diya became a director at Ram's company. Lechu's story was rejected, but her poetry flourished. She won second place in a state competition, and Ram's publishing house helped her get recognition. The season ended with Diya leaving for Bangalore to join Vishnu.

### Season 3

A few years later, Neelima is currently the manager of the company where she worked, Keshu is currently doing his second year in BA Malayalam. Shiva is doing an Architecture degree in Chennai. The season begun with Balu and Neelima celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. They are joined by Sreekuttan, Neelima's brother, who returned from abroad, along with his wife, Gouri. Sreekuttan returned with Gouri and informed them that they are married. The family, though shocked, accepted them with both hands. Following the exit of three major characters, the series turned it's focus to Keshu and his relationships.

#### Keshu & Merlin Relationship

Keshu is the funny, carefree guy in the Thampi family, always up to something mischievous. He keeps everyone entertained with his playful ways. Then, in Season 3, Merlin enters his life. She is mature and responsible, the complete opposite of Keshu. She brought him see that life isn’t just about fun—it’s also about growing up and building real relationships. Their story is a mix of comedy and life lessons, showing how love and family do people change in Uppum Mulakum.
Keshu has a unique way of thinking for his age. He doesn’t worry too much about the future or take things too seriously. His ideas about life are very different from others, and he always shares his thoughts with confidence, trying to convince others. That’s probably why people call him “Kelavan Keshu.” Keshu dreams of future at his mother’s ancestral home, Padavalam veedu, doing farming, and leading a simple life. But his parents and family don’t take his words too seriously. They believe it’s just a fantasy thought and while he grows up his perspective on life will definitely change.
Merlin, on the other hand, has careful life planning. She is the daughter of businessman Vincent Gomes, who belongs to a well-known Catholic—cultured family with a prominent business background. Merlin’s honesty and possessiveness make it difficult for Keshu to stay in touch with his childhood crush, Aleena Francis, whose family had moved from Kochi to settle in Bangalore. Ironically, Aleena and Merlin are also cousins. In Season 3, Aleena’s entry into the story was surprising, especially when she arrived at Keshu’s house with her cousin Merlin, unaware of their relationship. Aleena doesn’t know that Keshu and Merlin are in love, and at the same time, Merlin is unaware of the past between Keshu and Aleena. The series currently revolves around the triangle love combo of Keshu, Merlin and Aleena.

## Cast
### Main cast

Uppum Mulakum cast and characters :
| Actor | Character | Season | Season | Season |
| Actor | Character | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Biju Sopanam | Shoolamkudi Veetil Balachandran "Balu" Thampi | Main | Main | Main |
| Nisha Sarangh | Neelima "Neelu" Balachandran Thampi | Main | Main | Main |
| Rishi S Kumar | Vishnu "Mudiyan" Balachandran Thampi | Main | Main | |
| Juhi Rustagi | Lakshmi "Lachu" Balachandran Thampi | Main | Main | Main |
| Al Sabith | Keshav "Keshu" Balachandran Thampi | Main | Main | Main |
| Shivani Menon | Shivani "Shiva" Balachandran Thampi | Main | Main | Recurring |
| Baby Ameya | Parvathy "Paru" Balachandran Thampi | Main | Main | Main |
| Parvathy Das | Diya | | Main | |
| S. P. Sreekumar | Sreekuttan Pillai (Kuttumaman) | Recurring | | Recurring |
| Gouri Unnimaya | Gouri Sreekuttan | | | Main |
| Kaladevi | Chonarathala Bhavani | | | Main |
| Rohini Rahul | Kanakam | Recurring | | Main |

### Other cast

Additional cast and characters from Uppum Mulakum :
| Actor | Character | Season | Season | Season |
| Actor | Character | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Rajendran N. | Padavalam Veetil Kuttan Pillai | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| K.P.A.C Santha / Kaladevi | Chonalathara Bhavani Kuttan Pilla | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| Ramesh Kottayam | Shoolamkudi Veetil Madhavan Thambi | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| Manohari Joy | Sharada Madhavan Thambi | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| Binoj Kulathoor | Surendran Thambi | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| Muraleedharan Pangodu | Shankaran Thambi | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| Varsha Abhay | Rema | Recurring | Recurring | |
| Suresh Babu | Bhasi | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| Rohini Rahul | Kanakam | Recurring | | Recurring |
| Anil Perumpalam | Jayanthan | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| Jiji Kalamandir | Auto Chandran | Recurring | | |
| Sajitha Betti | Valiyaveettil Haimavathy Ram Kumar | | Recurring |
| Rajesh Hebbar | Valiyaveettil Ram Kumar | | Recurring |

### Other(s)

| Portrayed by | Character | Description |
| Gowrilaxmi Biju (2016-2024) | Kanmani Surendran Thambi | Surendran's daughter |
| Riya Sanjaykumar Prajapathi (2016-2018 ) / (2025 - present ) | Aleena Francis | Keshu's love interest (Season 1 & Season 3) |
| Dain Davis ( 2019) | Siddharth | Lechu's husband |
| Surya Noufal | Shukoor | Balu's friend |
| Jerry Francis | Jerry | Vishnu's friend |
| Nawas | Nawas | Balu's friend |
| Sminu Siju | Sushama | Neelu's friend |
| Aswathy S Nair | Pooja Jayaram | Mudiyan's fan girl |
| Lenin Johny | Vishnu | Assistant of Balu in Cable TV |
| Chinnu Kuruvila | Mahima aka Makky Aunty | Neelima's cousin |
| Bea Basa | Alensha P | Keshu's best friend |
| Binu T K | Round Rotate | Shivani Keshu Stta |
| Aneena Mariya | Merlin | Keshu's love interest (Season 3) |
| Christy Sebastien | Kripanth Madav | Gouri's friend |
| Dr Neethu Krishna | Avanthika | Wife of Kripanth & Gouri's friend |

### Guest(s)

This is a list of the celebrities who have made guest appearances in the show.
| Actor | Character | Episode no. |
| Noorin Shereef | Susmitha | |
| Bhagath Manuel | Himself | 288 |
| Nirmal Palazhi | Himself | 288 |
| Niyas Backer | Himself | 288 |
| Bineesh Bastin | Keerikadan Sabu | 558 |
| Nandini Nair | Herself | |
| Rajisha Vijayan | June | 792 |
| Mithun Ramesh | Jimmy | 994 |
| Divya Pillai | Jancy | 994 |
| Shane Nigam | Akkar | 1008 |
| Tini Tom | Alex | 1051 |
| Vinay Forrt | Roy | 1051 |
| Srinda | Susan | 1051 |
| Kalabhavan Prajod | Himself | Onam Special |
| Vinay Forrt | Soman | 349 (Season 2) |
| Mukesh | Philips | 391 (Season 2) |
| Noble Babu Thomas | Basil | 391 (Season 2) |
| Navani Devanand | Blessy | 391 (Season 2) |
| P.P. Kunhikrishnan | Magistrate | 1 (Season 3) |

## Production
### Season 1

Nisha Sarang was offered the role of Neelima when she was doing the cookery show Kuttikkalavara on Flowers. Except for Sarang, all other principal actors were beginners in television. Theatre actor Biju Sopanam had earlier acted under R. Unnikrishnan's directorial in Back Benchers, a comedy serial on Amrita TV. He was offered the role of Balachandran Thampi. Biju was keen on working with Unnikrishnan ever since he watched his directorial sitcom Marimayam on Mazhavil Manorama, he wanted to do such roles that are close to reality. Uppum Mulakum was his second television appearance and the first leading role. Unnikrishnan called Rishi S. Kumar for the role of Vishnu after seeing him in the reality TV show D 4 Dance on Mazhavil Manorama, in which he was a contestant. It was Unnikrishnan's son who recommended him. Al Sabith and Shivani Menon were also picked from reality TV show, they were both contestants on the show Kuttikkalavara on Flowers. Shivani is one month elder than Al Sabith, but it is the other way in the show. Juhi Rustagi was Unnikrishnan's son's friend, they first met on his son's birthday party and few days later she was offered the role of Lachu.
Biju's real-life brother, Binoj, who is five years younger than him, portrays his brother Surendran Thambi on the show. Biju's real-life daughter Gouri Lakshmi portrays his niece Kanmani, Surendran's daughter. The show was filmed at a house named Paramada Veedu in Vazhakkala, Kochi. In July 2018, R. Unnikrishnan was replaced by cinematographer S.J Sinu as the show's director. Later Pradheep Madhav was chosen as the director of the show.

#### Final episodes

Uppum Mulakum's rating began to drop slightly when Juhi Rustagi left the show in January 2020. When the show started back its production after several months of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, a new character called Pooja Jayaram was introduced. Still the show did not managed to get back the rating like that of in its earlier days. Around the same time, Flowers TV launched another sitcom called Chakkappazham in August 2020. After airing the last episode on 15 January 2021, Uppum Mulakum stopped its broadcast. Flowers TV managing director Sreekandan Nair later announced that the show would undergo a hiatus for an extended period of time. But in February 2021, it was unofficially confirmed by the fans that the show is not on hiatus and has been cancelled. Later in March 2021, Biju Sopanam and Nisha Sarang finally revealed through social media that the show has been officially cancelled by the channel thus making the 1206th episode aired on 15 January as its final episode.

### Season 2

During the 1 June 2022 episode of "Flowers Oru Kodi", Nair announced that the second season of Uppum Mulakum is under development and will start broadcast on 13 June 2022. They also released a teaser of the second season on the channel and social media announcing the same. The show's creator and initial director R. Unnikrishnan was bought back in the director role. Juhi Rustagi, who left the show in January 2020 also made a comeback. The first episode of the second season was premiered on 13 June 2022 and it became number one trending topic on YouTube. Rishi S Kumar who portrays the character of Mudiyan left the show unexpectedly after an episode where its shown that he is married and the show went snail-paced for the next 4 months with several new characters being introduced including Mudiayan's wife, her father, mother etc. The sitcom went through a cultural change during this period when the makers and the director made a drastic shift in treatment from a sitcom to a horror/thriller genre which looked awkward and forced. This was termed the dark phase of Uppum Mulakum with even the main characters seemed uninterested in the proceedings and with child actors going overboard. Rishi gave an interview in which he revealed the truth about his absence, majorly because of its director R. Unnikrishnan's dictator like methods.

#### Final episodes

The second season went off-air on 26 February 2024 due to unavailability of actors citing date issues.

### Season 3

The third season of the show premiered on 24 June 2024, All main characters except Rishi S Kumar and Parvathy Ayyapadas returned to their roles. S. P. Sreekumar reprised his role after first season. This season introduced child actor, Nandhootty as Kallu, Lakshmi's daughter. Afsal Abdul Latheef is the director of the new season.

## Reception

Uppum Mulakum is one of the most popular sitcoms in Malayalam. The show has one of the biggest fan base for a Malayalam TV show and is acclaimed by the audience for its realistic touch.

### Critical response

Indian Express said: "Uppum Mulakum presents the simple things in daily life without losing its originality. Behind the show's popularity is that the audience can feel that the house and its family members may have been living somewhere else in the real life".

## Awards
### Flowers Comedy Awards 2016

* Most popular serial
* Best onscreen pair

### Flowers TV Awards 2017

* Most popular serial
* Best actor – Biju Sopanam

### Mangalam TV Awards 2017

* Best comedian – Biju Sopanam
* Best comedian female - Nisha Sarang
* Best child actor - Shivani Menon, Al Sabith

### Kerala State Television Awards 2017

* Best comedy series
* Best comedian – Biju Sopanam
* Best comedian (Special jury) - Nisha Sarang

### Adoor Bhasi Memorial Awards 2017

* Most popular actress - Nisha Sarang

### North American Film Awards

* Best actress (Television) - Nisha Sarang

### Janmabhoomi Awards 2019

* Best child artist - Al Sabith

### Kerala State Television Awards 2020

* Special jury award – Shivani Menon

## Controversies

In July 2018, Main Actress raised allegations of harassment against the serial director in season 1, after which the Kerala Women's Commission registered a case against him. Later, she decided to continue in the serial after the channel assured that the director will be replaced.
In February 2020, the main cast actors had some issues in the set against the scriptwriter due to which they all walked away, much to the disappointment of the fans. Sooner than later, all the issues were solved by the changing of the scriptwriter and the crew was back in action.
In December 2024, a sexual assault complaint has been filed against lead actors. The complaint, lodged by a female actress, alleges that she was assaulted during the shoot of the series. One of the accused is alleged to have assaulted the actress, while the other is accused of threatening her to prevent her from speaking out. The case was initially registered by the Infopark Police and has since been transferred to the Thrikkakara Police for further investigation. Thrikkakara Police handed over the case to special investigation team (SIT) which has been formed after Hema committee reports.

## Adaptations

Flowers TV subsequently started a behind-the-scenes programme of Uppum Mulakum named Uppile Mulaku, which was hosted by Nandini Nair. Uppum Mulakum dubbed 10 episodes into Tamil as Uppum Karavum on Flowers' Tamil YouTube channel.

## Reboot

In October 2021, Zee Keralam started developing a new spiritual reboot of the sitcom, with the idea of reimagining the original series. The show titled Erivum Puliyum featuring the actors of the Uppum Mulakum playing new characters started airing from 17 January 2022 The show went off-air on 13 May 2022 due to low TRP Ratings and negative reviews from audiences.