Karthigai Deepam (TV series)

Karthigai Deepam is a 2022 Indian Tamil language television series airing on Zee Tamil. It stars Karthik Raj and Arthika in the lead roles. It premiered on 5 December 2022 and directed by V. Sathasivam. The series is an official remake of Zee Bangla's TV series Krishnakoli.

The story is about Deepa, a dark-skinned girl, who sets out to remove stigma attached to colour. She has an amazing talent of singing but due some Problem's she has to hide her identy as a singer on the other side, Karthik loves Deepa's voice without knowing the truth. Unexpectally she marries Karthikeyan and faces discrimination due to her complexion.

Plot
The story revolves around Deepa a young, poor, dusky girl, who faces discrimination because of her skin color. However, she is a very talented singer and sets out on a journey, to create an own identity for herself. She believes that her complexion is akin to Lord Kartikeyan's complexion. Her life changes after marriage when she goes on to make a career in music. Deepa changes her life drastically.

Main

 * Karthik Raj as Karthikeyan Arunachalam (Karthik), Deepa's husband, Arunachalam and Abhirami‘s third son, Anand and Arun‘a brother, a businessman/ owner of Abhirami Cosmetics and Abhirami Audios
 * Arthika as Deepa Karthik/ Dharmalingam, Karthik's wife, Dharmalingam and Janaki‘s daughter, Arunachalam and Abhirami’s third daughter in law, a singer (the true voice behind rupashree‘s Singing, she was named Pallavi to hide the truth from Karthik).

Recurring

 * Rajesh as Dharmalingam: Deepa's father; Janaki's husband
 * Tamil Selvi as Janaki: Deepa's mother; Dharmalingam's wife
 * Meera Krishna as Abhirami Nachiyaar Arunachalam: Karthik, Anand and Arun's mother; Meenakshi,Aishwarya and Deepa's mother-in-law; Arunachalam's wife
 * Madhu Mohan as Arunachalam: Karthik, Anand and Arun's father; Meenakshi,Aishwarya and Deepa's father-in-law; Abhirami's husband
 * Vichithra as Rajashree: A village president
 * Janani Deva → Megna Jayakrishnaraj as Roopashree: Rajashree's daughter
 * Mohan Raman as Chidhambaram
 * Riya Choudhary as Meenakshi: Anand's wife; Abhirami and Arunachalam's first daughter-in-law; Karthik's first sister-in-law
 * Nimesh Sagar as Anandakumar "Anand" Arunachalam: Abhirami and Arunachalam's first son; Arun and Karthik's elder brother; Meenakshi's husband
 * Vandhana Michael → Shubha Raksha as Aishwarya (Aishu): Arun's wife; Abhirami and Arunachalam's second daughter-in-law; Karthik's second sister-in-law
 * Ayub VJ as Arunkumar "Arun" Arunachalam: Abhirami and Arunachalam's second son; Aishwarya's husband
 * Reshmaa as Dharmalingam's daughter-in-law
 * Sathya Sudha as Dharmalingam's son
 * Sri Varshan Chinraj as Dharmalingam's son
 * Dinesh Gopalsamy as Shivakumar "Shiva": Abhirami's Arch Rival who vows to avenge his sister's death
 * Smriti Kashyap as Nakshathra
 * "Adhu Idhu Edhu" Diwakar as Rajkumar "Raju": Shiva's sidekick
 * Sharmila Thapa as Thilaga: Abhirami's house-maid
 * Mounika Subramanyam as Riya,Anand's second wife (2024-present)
 * Nanditha Jennifer as Ramya Viswanathan (2024-present)

Special appearances

 * Vijayakumar as Raja Sethupathi (Sethur Raja), Abhirami‘s father, Karthik, Anand and Arun‘s grandfather
 * Vadivukkarasi as Parameshwari, Abhirami‘s Mother, Karthik, Anand and Arun‘s grandmother, belongs to sethur jameen
 * Nanda Gopal
 * Senthilnathan
 * Jayanthi Narayanan
 * Chandini Prakash as Nikitha, Cousine of Aishwarya
 * Vanitha Vijayakumar as Chamundeshwari, Arunachalam's sister, Selvi's daughter
 * Ashika Padukone as Maari
 * VJ Dhanshik Vijayakumar as Malar, Abhirami's Niece, Karthik's Cousine

Casting
Initially, Roshini Haripriyan was chosen and approached to play the female lead but she declined. Karthik Raj was selected to play the role of smart businessman Karthikeyan, making his comeback to Tamil Television after Sembaruthi nearly two years. Later, Aarthika was ultimately cast as Deepa. Vichithra as selected to play the negative lead and making her presence in the Tamil television after one year. Rajesh plays a father role of Deepa, Meera Krishna plays a mother role of Karthikeyan. Besides Dinesh Gopalsamy and Tamilselvi were cast then.

In June 2023, Actor Vijayakumar was joined as Raja Sethupathi. In February 2024, Actress Mounika was joined. In the following 3 May 2024, Actress Nanditha Jennifer was cast as Ramya Viswanathan, marking his return after Amman season 1.