Mahanadhi (TV series)

Mahanadhi - Sakotharigalin Kadhai is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language drama television series starring Lakshmi Priya, Prathiba, Divya Ganesan,  Aadhirai Soundararajan, Baby Kaavya with Saravanan and Sujatha Sivakumar in the pivotal roles. It is produced by Praveen Bennett under the banner of Global Villagers.

It premiered on Star Vijay from 23 January 2023 and is also available on the digital platform Disney+ Hotstar. This series was launched along with Siragadikka Aasai.

Plot
The series depicts the story of four sisters around a family, who lost their father and tries to rise up in society. Mahanadi tells the tale of four sisters who coexisted well with their parents. leaving them in distress over the loss of their father. This piece discusses how the mother and girls will manage without an actual figure of a father. Set in Kodaikanal, a mountainous town where everyone has returned and where people enjoy each moment with a smile and other things, this story takes place. The father had owned a company and encouraged a rivalry with a buddy named Pasupathi. Pasupathi who is well known, where using his tactics to harm everyone. One day, Saravanan went to learn more about the property he had purchased, where there had been some issues and where Pasupathi had purchased the property, where he was shocked to learn that it had been purchased by someone else. Where Saravanan grew unhappy and bitter from his agony, collapsed, and died.

The girls were left speechless after learning of the tragedy, were unable to buy anything since they had no cash on hand and were shown the way by being forced to sell all they owned and move from one location to another. While this is happening, the hero is presented. Kumaran, a tailor, is aware of the situation and does all he can to help. His tailor shop also features images of Ganga as a model. Her marriage is set in stone, and Santhanam wants a lavish ceremony. Nobody in the family is aware of where he is putting the funds for the wedding, though. Before the wedding, he goes to his buddy Pasupathy and requests for money. Pasupathy replies that the money he sent home was all for nothing. Heartbroken Santhanam is unable to afford his daughter's wedding. He is discovered dead in his bed on the day of Ganga's wedding. The plot then centres on how the four girls, together with their mother, deal with life without their father, and portray a strong sense of sisterhood.

Main

 * Lakshmi Priya as Kaveri Vijay: Vijay's wife, the second daughter of Mahanadhi family, and Nivin's ex-lover.
 * Lakshmi Priya's role Kaveri also portrayed as Vennila in her imagination while Vijay narrated his love story
 * Swaminathan Anantharaman as Vijay: Kaveri's husband, the second son-in law of Mahanadhi family, Somasundaram's and Kalyani's grandson, and Vennila's ex-lover
 * Prathiba (2023) / Divya Ganesh (Nov.2023- present) as Ganga Kumaran: Kumaran's wife, and the eldest daughter of Mahanadhi family
 * K.Kamurudin as Kumaran: Ganga's husband, eldest son-in-law of Mahanadhi family, tailor shop owner, Saravanan's nephew
 * Aadhirai Soundararajan as Yamuna: the third oldest sister of Mahanadhi family and she has a love-interest on Nivin one-sidedly.
 * Baby Kaavya as Narmadha: the youngest sister of Mahanadhi family
 * Rudran Praveen as Nivin: Kaveri's ex-lover, Raagini ex-fiance

Supporting

 * Sujatha Sivakumar as Saradha, Santhanam's wife.
 * Saravanan as Santhanam. Ganga, Kaveri, Yamuna and Narmadha’s father (Died) (2023).
 * Manikandan Raj as Somasundaram  "Somu" - Vijay's grandfather.
 * Ramesh as Pasupathy, Santhanam's betrayed friend who deceives them out of their land.
 * Shathiga as Raagini Ajay, Pasupathy's daughter, Kaveri's former friend turned arch-rival; Ajay's Wife, Nivin's Ex-Fiance
 * Sumi Santhosh as Jaya, Nivin's mother
 * Sanjay Mohan as Raghav, Pasupathy's son
 * Baskar Natarajan as Ajay, Anbarasu's & Radha son, Vijay's cousin brother, Ragini's Husband
 * Vaishu Jayachandhiran as Kavya, Anbarasu's & Radha daughter, Vijay's cousin sister
 * Vishwa Mithran as Salim, Kumaran’s friend
 * Padmini Chandrasekhar as Radha - Vijay's aunt
 * Bharathi Mohan as Anbarasu, Vijay's Uncle, Radha's husband
 * Unknown as Kalyani ,Vijay's grandma

Special appearances

 * Kanmani Manoharan as Vennila - Vijay's ex-lover (2024)
 * Milla as Fashion Show Judge (2024)

Development
The shooting of the serial commenced in December 2022. The first promo was released on 7 January 2023. The series was also promoted in the Bigg Boss 6 house on 16 January.

Casting
Lakshmi Priya and Prathiba were cast in the female lead roles as Kaveri and Ganga. On 23 November 2023, Prathiba opted out from the show and was replaced by Divya Ganesh. Kamuruddin and newcomer Rudran Praveen portray male lead roles as Kumaran and Nivin respectively, whilst Saravanan and Sujatha Sivakumar were also selected for supporting roles.

On 27 September 2023, Swaminathan, known for his acting in Kaatrukkenna Veli, was introduced as a new male lead, Vijay, for a new storyline with Kaveri. In 10 July 2024, actress Kanmani Manoharan was cast as special Appearances.

Crossovers
Following a promo released on 2 February, it was teased that there would be a crossover between Mahanadhi and Aaha Kalyanam. This was then confirmed with a promo released by Vijay TV, with both families staying at the same resort to compete for 5 lakhs.