# Kayal (TV series)

Kayal is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language television series starring Chaitra Reddy and Sanjeev Karthik, which itself loosely based on Tamil movie Manathil Urudhi Vendum.
It premiered on 25 October 2021 on Sun TV from Monday to Saturday and digital platform Sun NXT. The show director by P. Selvam and produced by Vision Time India Private Limited and Sun Entertainment.

## Synopsis

Kayal, a nurse, is the sole breadwinner of her family with two siblings where she has an 1 elder brother Moorthy youngest brother Anbuselvan and 2 younger sisters Anandhi and Devi siblings. She finds happiness in her sacrifice to meet the needs of her brothers Moorthy and Anbuselvan and sisters Anandhi and Devi.

## Cast
### Main

* Chaitra Reddy as Kayalvizhi "Kayal" Ezhilarasan: Muthuvel and Kamatchi's daughter, Moorthy, Devi, Anbu and Anandhi's sister, Ezhilarasan's Wife; Sivasankari's Mother-in-law in law (2021–present) (Main Protagonist)
* Sanjeev Karthik as Ezhilarasan "Ezhil" Rajasekhar: (by phone nickname:Kabilan) Rajasekhar and Sivasankari's son, Kayal's husband; Muthuvel's father-in-law (2021–present) (Main Protagonist)

### Recurring

* Meenakumari as Kamatchi: Muthuvel's widow, Moorthy, Kayal, Devi, Anandhi, Anbu's mother; (2021–present)
* Vazhakku En Muthu raman as Dharmalingam: Vadivukarasi's husband, Subramani and Aarthi's father(Antagonist turned protagonist) (2021–present)
* Sumangali as Vadivukarasi "Vadivu" Dharmalingam: Dharmalingam's Wife, Subramani and Aarthi's mother, (Antagonist) (2021–present)
* Gayatri Jayaraman / Uma Riyaz Khan as Sivasankari Rajasekhar: Rajasekhar's Wife, Ezhil's mother (2021-2022)/(2022–present) (Main Antagonist)
* Ayyappan as Moorthy Muthuvel: Kayal's elder brother and Dhanalakshmi's husband (2021–present)
* Ishwarya Ravichandran / Nila Gracy as Devi Vigneshwaran: Kayal's youngest sister and Vigneshwaran's wife; (2021-2023)/(2023–present)
* Avinash Ashok/Jeeva Rajendran/Harry as Anbuselvan "Anbu" Muthuvel: Muthuvel and Kamatchi's son, Kayal's younger brother and Shalini's husband; Chandrashekhar's father-in-law (2022–present)
* Abinavya Deepak as Anandhi Muthuvel, Kayal's youngest sister (2021–present)
* Janaki Devi/Subha Geetha as Dhanalakshmi "Dhanam" Moorthy: Kamatchi's Mother-in-law; Moorthy's wife (2021-2024)/(2024–present)
* Hema Srikanth as Vedhavalli "Valli" Chandrasekhar: Chandrasekhar's wife, Vignesh and Shalini's mother (Antagonist) (2021–present)
* Gopi as Vigneshwaran "Vignesh" Chandrasekhar: Chandrasekhar and Vedavalli's son, Shalini's brother, Devi's husband; Muthuvel's father-in-law (2021–present)
* Unknown/Sathyapriya Sivasamy as Shalini Anbuselvan: Chandrasekar and Vedhavalli's daughter, Vignesh's sister, Anbuselvan's wife; Kamatchi's Mother-in-law (2023–present)
* Baby Dechina as Anu Moorthy: Moorthy and Dhanam's daughter (2021–present)
* Muralidhar Raj as Rajasekhar: Sivasankari's husband, Ezhil's father (2021–present)
* Fawaz Zayani as Subramaniyam "Subramani" Dharmalingam: Dharma and Vadivu's son, Aarthis brother, Pavithra's husband (Antagonist) (2021–present)
* Hensha Deepan as Pavithra Subramaniyam: Subramaniyam's Wife; Vadivu's Mother-in-law (2023–present)
* Rothit Balaiah as Anand: Ezhil's bestfriend, Aarthi's husband; Dharmalingam's father-in-law (2021–present)
* Kiran Mai as Aarthi Anand: Dharma and Vadivu's Daughter, Subramani's sister, Anand's wife (2021–present)
* VM Rajesh Kanna as Chandrasekar: Vedhavalli's husband, Vignesh and Shalini's father (2021–present)
* Bala Singh as Muthuvel: Kamatchi's husband (Posthumous photographic appearance; 2024)
** Bharathi Mohan as young Muthuvel (2025)

### Special appearances

* Gabriella Sellus as Sundari (2022)
* Jishnu Menon as Karthick (2022)
* Riya Manoj as Abhirami (2022)
* Nidhish Kutty as Ilamukhil (2022)
* Aadhish Jatti Jaganathan as Sumo (2022)
* Nimeshika Radhakrishnan as Meera (2022)
* Rahul Ravi as Yuva (2022)
* Vadivukkarasi as Rajalakshmi (2023)
* Aila Syed as Kayal and Ezhil’s daughter (2023)
* Baladitya as Suryakumar: Kayal's fake husband (2023)
* Anusha Prathap as Eshwari (2023)
* Chandra Lakshman as Rajalakshmi (2024)
* Vijay Vishwa as Saravana Velu (2024–2025)
* Eesan Sujatha as Meenatchi: Saravana Velu's mother (2024; 2025)

## Production
### Development

After the airing of the Sun TV's drama Abhiyum Naanum, its production company Vision Time India Pvt Ltd decide to produce Kayal. The concept of the show was originally based on K. Balachander's 1987 film Manathil Urudhi Vendum. This is the 15th serial produced for Sun TV. The first promo was released on 11 October 2021.

### Casting

Actress Chaitra Reddy landed in lead role in the show, marking his return after Zee Tamil's drama Yaaradi Nee Mohini. while Sanjeev Karthik was cast opposite her. Actor 'Vazhakku En' Muthuraman was cast as the main antagonist Dharmalingam alias Dharma.
Gayatri Jayaraman selected to portray the role of Sivasankari Rajasekhar (Ezhilarasan's Mother) played a negative role, February 2022 she quit the series and was replaced by Uma Riyaz Khan. On 15 May 2024, actress Chandra Lakshman was cast to portray a negative role.

### Distribution

The series was released on 25 October 2021 on Sun TV and digital platform Sun NXT.

## Soundtrack

Title song of this series is based on the song "Kannin Maniye" from Manathil Urudhi Vendum.

## Reception

Kayal became one of the most watched Tamil television program garnering from its launch week in 2021.In Barc era of Tamil Series, This is the one and only serial which claimed No.1 on its Launch Week itself. The show climbed to Top 5 most-watched shows across all GECs, after only a few weeks of its launch. The show also gave tough fight to Bharathi Kannamma that aired on Star Vijay.
In Week 30 2023,the series had a peak rating of 12.87 TVR.

## Adaptations

Since January 2022, Kayal has been remade in other languages such as in Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi and Malayalam. It is broadcast on Sun TV Network's group of channels in the respective languages.
| Language | Title | Original release | Network(s) | Last aired | Notes | Ref. |
| Tamil | Kayal கயல் | 25 October 2021 | Sun TV | Ongoing | Original |
| Telugu | Saadhana సాధన | 24 January 2022 | Gemini TV | 6 January 2024 | | Remake |
| Kannada | Radhika ರಾಧಿಕಾ | 14 March 2022 | Udaya TV | Ongoing | | Remake |
| Bengali | Meghe Dhaka Tara | 28 March 2022 | Sun Bangla | 2 July 2023 | | Remake |
| Marathi | Majhi Manasa माझी माणसं | 30 May 2022 | Sun Marathi | 1 May 2024 | | Remake |
| Malayalam | Bhavana ഭാവന | 26 June 2022 | Surya TV | Ongoing | | Remake |

## Awards and honours

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| 2022 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Actress | Chaitra Reddy - Kayal | Won |
| 2022 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Villain Male | Muthuraman - Dharmalingam | Won |
| 2022 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Director | Selvam | Won |
| 2022 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Serial | Kayal | Won |
| 2022 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Natchathira Nayagan | Sanjeev Karthick - Ezhilarasan | Won |
| 2022 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Screenplay | Ayyappan | Won |
| 2022 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Lyrics Writer | Pa Vijay | Won |
| 2023 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Actress | Chaitra Reddy - Kayal | Won |
| 2025 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Actress | Chaitra Reddy - Kayal | Won |
| 2025 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Best Serial | Kayal | Won |