Bharathi Kannamma (2019 TV series)

Bharathi Kannamma is a 2019 Indian Tamil language television series aired on Star Vijay and streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, directed by Praveen Bennett.

Having two seasons, The 1st season of the series premiered on 25 February 2019 and ended on 4 February 2023. It was a remake of the Malayalam series Karuthamuthu. and it stars Roshini Haripriyan as Kannamma (who replaced by Vinusha Devi in 2022) while Arun Prasad as Bharathi. Along with Farina Azad, Roopa Sree, Kanmani Manoharan and Akilan S. Pushparaj in the supporting roles. Within a year the series took its generation loop of 8 years was introduced with same cast in addition to, Baby Raksah Shyam and Baby Lisha Rajkumar played Bharathi and Kanamma's twin daughters. The story follows Dr. Bharathi (Arun), who loves and marries a girl named Kannamma (Roshini). However, Bharathi's obsessed lover, Dr. Venba (Farina), vows to destroy Bharathi and Kannamma's relationship and marry Bharathi.

6 February 2023, the series completion of 4 years, a spin-off introduced with the same title, premiered on 6 February 2023 starring Sibbu Suryan as Bharathi whilst Vinusha Devi and Farina Azad return as Kannamma and Venba. Along with Roopa Sree and Deepa Shankar in the supporting roles.

Summary
Kannamma is a pure-hearted girl who is looked down upon by her beautiful stepsister, Anjali, and step-mother, Bhagyalakshmi, due to her dark complexion. Her father however supports and praises her kind nature. Soundarya is a business tycoon who is obsessed with Eurocentric beauty and when Anjali wins the Miss Chennai competition, she arranges a marriage between her and her younger son, Akhilan. Akhilan takes an instant liking to Anjali, but Anjali likes his brother, Bharathi. During this love triangle, Bharathi and Kannamma frequently cross paths, and Bharathi ends up falling for her.

Anjali attempts to blackmail Bharathi into marrying her by threatening suicide, but Bharathi approaches her father to ask his permission to marry Kannamma, and reveals that he is infertile. He then asks him to break the news to Kannamma, and on the condition that she is okay with that, he will marry her. However, Kannamma's father does not tell Kannamma about his infertility, and she consents to the marriage. Kannamma is ecstatic that she will be marrying a good-hearted man. On Anjali's birthday, Bharathi marries Kannamma, enraging both his mother and Anjali. Akhil and Bharathi's father Venu are happy. Soundarya allows Kannamma into the house after insulting her. Anjali marries Akhil and schemes to get rid of Kannamma so that she can divorce Akhil and marry Bharathi, but is thwarted by Soundarya, and later starts to fall in love with Akhil.

Dr. Venba, a coworker madly in love with Bharathi, schemes to break up Bharathi and Kannamma as she wants Bharathi for herself. Kannamma consults with Venba as she is having trouble conceiving, but Venba uses this in her scheme, convincing Bharathi to make it look like she is the reason why they cannot conceive. During a reunion, Varun, a friend of Kannamma, attends, and Venba plants the idea that Kannamma is having an affair with Varun in Bharathi's head.

Having learned that Kannamma is allegedly infertile, Soundarya calls on Bharathi to remarry, with Venba happy that she can be the second wife, but Soundarya wants him to marry someone else. Soon after, Kannamma starts showing symptoms of pregnancy, and later shows a positive pregnancy test to Soundarya, so as to stop her from trying to find Bharathi a new wife. Venba hires a killer, Durga, to kill Kannamma, but the killer later realizes that Kannamma is a good person and he sticks around to stop Venba from trying to kill her and meddle in her life.

It is revealed that Venba killed Bharathi's ex, Hema, and Durga comes clean to Kannamma about his original intentions, but says that Bharathi is the one who wanted her dead and not Venba, as he is in love with Venba. Kannamma attempts to leave the house and reveals to Soundarya that her son is trying to kill her and her baby. The family confronts Bharathi, who says he is not trying to kill her but reveals that he cannot be the father.

Kannamma goes to her parents house and yells at her father for not telling her the truth about his alleged infertility and she leaves. The family tries to get Bharathi to do another fertility test but is stopped by Venba. Kannamma gives birth to twins (Hema and Lakshmi), but Soundarya takes the darker-skinned of the twins unbeknownst to Kannamma, as she wanted to help Kannamma. Soundarya takes the baby home, and saves Bharathi's life by crying which gets him to tend to her, as a chandelier falls. He then takes an interest in the baby and names her Hema, after his ex. Kannamma stays with the nurse, Thulasi. Venba tries to marry Bharathi and almost succeeds but is thwarted by Soundarya.

8 years later
In the rustic charm of a village setting, the lives of Lakshmi, affectionately known as Soundharyalakshmi, and Hema intertwined amidst the bustling daily affairs. Their existence found grounding in the presence of Kannamma, a skilled seamstress whose humble shop served as a beacon of community activity.

Into this quaint backdrop arrived Bharathi and his family, bearing the altruistic intention of establishing a free medical camp. It was here that Bharathi's path crossed with Lakshmi's, yet unbeknownst to him, she was his own flesh and blood. Meanwhile, Durga, now a doctor, found himself embroiled in professional rivalry with Venba, leading to simmering tensions.

As Lakshmi and Hema forged a friendship within the schoolyard, Bharathi's fondness for Lakshmi burgeoned, oblivious to the intricate web of relationships that bound them. Despite familial objections, Bharathi's heart leaned towards marrying Venba, until her mistreatment of Hema raised doubts in his mind.

In a twist of fate, Kannamma embarked on an entrepreneurial venture alongside Thulasi and Sumathi, unraveling threads of opportunity amidst the village's fabric. The revelation of shared birthdays between Lakshmi and Hema ignited curiosity, unveiling Kannamma's maternal lineage to Bharathi's astonishment.

An unexpected turn of events led Bharathi to contemplate leaving for abroad with Hema, prompting Venba to resort to drastic measures, including the kidnapping of Hema. Suspicion fell upon Kannamma, but Bharathi's realization of her innocence prompted a change of heart. Eventually, Bharathi embraced the truth of Lakshmi's parentage, setting the stage for a profound journey of reconciliation.

Amidst the complexities of familial dynamics, Anjali's pregnancy unveiled hidden truths and Venba's nefarious schemes, leading to a rift within the family. As Anjali's health and familial bonds teetered on the brink, Kannamma emerged as a beacon of hope, her nurturing presence proving pivotal in Hema's well-being.

The revelation of Lakshmi's true identity sparked a quest for familial reconnection, while Venba's deceitful machinations threatened to tear apart the fragile fabric of trust. Amidst legal battles and emotional turmoil, Bharathi and Kannamma found themselves bound by destiny's intricate design, navigating the tumultuous waters of love and forgiveness.

In a poignant culmination, Bharathi's journey of self-discovery led to reconciliation with Kannamma, culminating in a remarriage fueled by newfound understanding and mutual respect. As the curtain fell on their tumultuous saga, the village witnessed the triumph of love over adversity, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of life's myriad challenges.

Season 1

 * Roshini Haripriyan / Vinusha Devi as Kannamma – Shanmugam and Shenbagam's daughter; Baakiyalakshmi's step-daughter; Anjali's half-sister; Bharathi's wife; Lakshmi and Jr. Hema's mother   (2019-2021) / (2022-2023)
 * Arun Prasad as Dr. Bharathi – Soundarya and Venu's elder son; Shruti and Akhilan's brother; Hema's former love-interest; Kannamaa's husband; Lakshmi and Jr. Hema's father (2019–2023)
 * Farina Azad as Dr. Venba - Sharmila's daughter; Bharathi's childhood friend and obsessive ex-lover; Rohit's wife; Hema's murderer (Main Antagonist) (2019-2023)
 * Raksah Shyam as Lakshmi – Bharathi and Kannamma's elder daughter; Hema's twin sister (2020–2023)
 * Lisha Rajkumar as Jr. Hema – Bharathi and Kannamma's younger daughter; Lakshmi's twin sister (2020-2023)
 * Roopa Sree as Soundarya – Venu's wife; Shruti, Bharathi and Akhilan's mother; Yazhini, Lakshmi, Jr. Hema and Aadhavan's grandmother (2019–2023)
 * Rishi Keshav as Venu Gopalakrishnan – Soundarya's husband; Shruti, Bharathi and Akhilan's father; Yazhini, Lakshmi, Jr. Hema and Aadhavan's grandfather (2019–2023)
 * Kanmani Manoharan / Aruljothi Arockiaraj as Anjali – Shanmugam and Baakiyalakshmi's daughter; Kannamma's half-sister; Akhilan's wife; Aadhavan's mother (2019-2021) / (2022-2023)
 * Akilan S. Pushparaj / Sugesh Rajendran as Akhilan – Soundarya and Venu's younger son; Shruti and Bharathi's brother; Anjali's husband; Aadhavan's father  (2019-2021) / (2022-2023)
 * Kaavya Arivumani as Arivumani – Soundarya's niece; Shruti, Bharathi, Akhilan's cousin (2019–2021)
 * Shruthi Shanmugapriya as Shruthi – Soundarya and Venu's daughter; Bharathi and Akhilan's sister; Yazhini's mother. (2019–2020)
 * Sabari as Rohit – Venba's husband. (2022-2023)
 * Sherin Jaanu as Thulasi – A former nurse at Bharathi's hospital, Kanamma's friend (2020–2022)
 * Deepa Shankar as Shenbagam – Shanmugam's first wife; Kannamma's mother; Lakshmi and Jr. Hema's grandmother (2019) (Dead)
 * Venkatesh / Muthu Kumara Swamy as Shanmugam – Shenbagam's widower; Baakiyalakshmi's husband; Kannamma and Anjali's father; Lakshmi, Jr. Hema and Aadhavan's grandfather (2019-2021) / (2022)
 * Senthi Kumari as Baakiyalakshmi – Anbukarasi's daughter; Selva's sister; Shanmugam's second wife; Anjali's mother; Kannamma's step-mother; Aadhavan's grandmother; Lakshmi and Jr. Hema's step-grandmother (2019–2022)
 * Raju Jeyamohan as Varun Mohan – A poet; Kannamma's classmate and best friend. (2019-2021)
 * Alya Manasa as Dr. Hema – A cardiologist; Bharathi's colleague and former love-interest. (2019-2020) (Dead)
 * Rajkumar Manoharan as Selva Ganapathy – Anbukarasi's son; Baakiyalakshmi's brother (2019–2022)
 * Vijayalakshmi as Anbukarasi – Baakiyalakshmi and Selva's mother; Anjali's grandmother. (2019–2020)
 * Rekha as Sharmila – Venba's mother (2019-2023)
 * Bharath Kalyan as Vikram – Owner of Vikram Babu Hospital; Soundarya and Venu's colleague (2020–2022)
 * Praveen Devasagayam as "Killer" Durga – Venba's henchman (2020–2022)
 * Neepa as Sumathi – Kannamaa's house owner (2021)
 * Revathee Shankar as Gayatri – Venu's sister (2019–2020)
 * Pushpa Vetriselvan as Santhi – Venba's housekeeper (2019–2022)
 * Yogi as Maayandi – Baakiyalakshmi's henchman (2019–2022)
 * Subageetha as Nirmala – Maayandi's wife; Anjali's caretaker. (2019–2021)
 * M. J. Shriram as Venba's uncle (2019–2021)
 * Balaji Babu as Kumar – Kannamaa's auto-driver (2020–2022)
 * Arandhangi Nisha as Advocate Vadivukkarasi aka Vadivu – Kannamma's neighbour (2021–2022)
 * Thamarai Selvi as Thamarai (2022- 2023)
 * Snehan as himself (2019;2023)
 * Preethi Sanjeev as Vadivambal - Kannamaa's cousin (2019)
 * Arunraja Kamaraj as himself – Bharathi's friend (2019)
 * Manimegalai as Manimegalai – Shenbagavalli's daughter; Bharathi's proposed bride (2020)
 * Uma Rani as Shenbagavalli – Soundarya's friend; Manimegalai's mother (2019–2020)
 * Kaaka Muttai Shanthi Mani as Paatti (Episode 3) (2019)
 * Madhumitha Illayaraja as Meenatchi - Akhilan's friend (2020)
 * Madurai Mohan as Natraj – A hand carter (2020)
 * Chenniamma as Petchiamma – Natraj's wife (2020)
 * Rohini as Veni – An owner in petrol bunk (2020)
 * Jeya Lakshmi – An incharge in an orphanage (2020)
 * Vasu Vikram as Mahalingam – Kannamma's MD in a tailoring departmental store (2020)
 * Babitha as Maheshwari Mahalingam – Soundarya's friend; Mahalingam's wife (2020)
 * Yuvan Pattison as Prasad – Bharathi's friend; Mahalingam and Maheshwari's son (2020)
 * KPY Pazhani as Pazhani – Kannamma's neighbour (2020)
 * Nilani as Seetha – Pazhani's wife; Kannamma's friend based in Thiruvallur (2020)
 * Jeyanthi as an IAS officer (2021)
 * Salma Arun as Dr. Priya – Bharathi's friend (2021)
 * Aari Arujunan as himself (2021)
 * Sivaangi Krishnakumar as herself (2021)
 * Suresh Chakravarty as himself (2021)
 * KPY Bala as himself (2021)
 * Archana Chandhoke as herself (2021)
 * Sona Nair as a Judge of Court (2021)
 * Nakshatra Nagesh as Saraswathi (2022)
 * Sasilaya as IPS Sasikala (2022)
 * Ajay Ratnam as Police IG (during terrorists hijacks hospital) (2022)
 * RJ Balaji as himself (2023)
 * Shivin Ganesan as herself (2023)

Filming
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bharathi Kannamma, and all other Indian television series and films production were suspended on 19 March 2020. Three months later, shooting was permitted and the team commenced filming in July. The show commenced telecasting new episodes from 27 July 2020. With the increase in Covid cases in Tamil Nadu, production was again suspended for a few days in mid-May 2021.

Crossover episodes
In January 2020, Bharathi Kannamma had a crossover with Pandian Stores for a week. It also had a crossover with Raja Rani 2 during March 2021 for three weeks and a day (Raja Rani S2 E-108 to E-126). With the suspension in mid-May 2021 and with a few cast availability then for bank episodes, the series crossed over with Raja Rani 2. Again in 2022, the series joined Mahasangamam with Raja Rani 2.

Viewership and ratings
Beginning with an average viewership and trp of 5.53, after a year, In September 2020, the sequence of the series where lead Kannamma leaves the house, the series gained viewership and entering top five Tamil television programs. In week 37 of 2020, it became the third-most watched Tamil soap for the first time, garnering 8.254 million impressions and the second Star Vijay program to enter the top five. However, in week 21 of 2021 when the rival channel Sun TV's top rated soap Roja shifted against Bharathi Kannamma. During Week 32, Bharathi Kannamma defeated Roja by a margin of 2TVR across Urban and Urban+Rural markets, repeatedly leading in the slot.

Bharathi Kannamma 2
It premiered on Star Vijay on 6 February 2023 from Monday to Saturday at 21:00 and is also available on the digital platform on Disney+ Hotstar. The spin-off stars Sibbu Suryan as Bharathi while Vinusha Devi as Kannamma. Along with Roopa Sree and Deepa Shankar in the supporting roles.