Kayal (TV series)

*Kayal*
Kayal
Genre	Family drama
Screenplay by	Karthik Yuvaraj; Iyyappan
Directed by	P. Selvam
Creative director	Vaidehi Ramamoorthy
Starring	Chaitra Reddy; Sanjeev Karthik;
Opening theme	"Kanne Kanne Kanninmaniye Nee Kelamma"; K. S. Chitra (vocals); Pa. Vijay (lyrics)
Country of origin	India
Original language	Tamil
No. of episodes	1500
Production
Production location	Tamil Nadu
Cinematography	U. K. Senthil Kumar
Editors	M. S. Thiyagarajan; M. Prabakaran;
Production companies	Sun Entertainment; Vision Time India Private Limited;
Original release
Network	Sun TV
Release	25 October 2021 –; present

Kayal is a 2021 Indian Tamil language television series starring Chaitra Reddy and Sanjeev Karthik.^[1]

The series premiered on 25 October 2021 on Sun TV and is also available on the digital platform Sun NXT. It is directed by P. Selvam and produced by Vision Time India Private Limited in association with Sun Entertainment.

Plot

Abandoned by her father Muthuvel & coping with an alcoholic brother Moorthy, Kayal works as a nurse to become her family's sole provider. She finds happiness in her sacrifice to meet the needs of her brother: Moorthy and Anbu & sisters: Devi and Anandhi.

Cast

Main

Chaitra Reddy as Kayal Muthuvel (Kayalvizhi): Muthuvel and Kamatchi's daughter (2021–present)
Sanjeev Karthick as Ezhil Rajasekhar (Ezhilarasan): Rajasekhar and Sivasankari's son (2021–present)

Recurring

Riya Vishwanathan as Sakthi: Kayal's best friend (2026–present)
Jishnu Menon as Shiva (2026–present)
Meenakumari as Kamatchi: Muthuvel's widow; (2021–present)
Vazhakku En Muthuraman as Dharmalingam (Dharma): Vadivu's husband; (Antagonist turned Protagonist) (2021–present)
Sumangali as Vadivukarasi "Vadivu" Dharmalingam: Dharmalingam's wife; (Antagonist)(2021–present)
Hema Srikanth as Vedhavalli "Valli" Chandrasekhar: Chandrasekhar's wife; (Antagonist)(2021–present)
Gayatri Jayaraman / Uma Riyaz Khan as Sivasankari "Sankari" Rajasekhar: Rajasekhar's wife; (Main Antagonist)(2021–2022 / 2022–present)
Iyyappan Unni / Vishwanathan Shyam as Moorthy Muthuvel @ (Assan): Kamatchi and Muthuvel's eldest son; (2021–2025 / 2025–present)
Janaki Devi / Subha Geetha as Dhanam Moorthy: Moorthy's wife (2021–2024 / 2024–present)
Baby Dechina as Anu Moorthy: Moorthy and Dhanam's daughter; (2021–present)
Ishwarya Ravichandran / Nila Gracy as Devi Vigneshwaran: Kamatchi and Muthuvel's younger daughter; (2021–2023 / 2023–present)
Gopi as Vigneshwaran "Vignesh" Chandrasekhar: Chandrasekhar and Vedhavalli's son; (2021–present)
Avinash Ashok / Harry / Jeeva Rajendran as Sub-inspector Anbu (Anbuselvan) Muthuvel: Kamatchi and Muthuvel's younger son; (2021–2022 / 2022 / 2022–present)
Preethi Suresh / Sathyapriya Sivasamy as Shalini Anbuselvan: Chandrasekhar and Vedhavalli's daughter; (2022–present)
Abinavya Deepak as Anandhi Muthuvel: A Doctor; Kamatchi and Muthuvel's youngest daughter; (2021–present)

Other cast

Shaashvi Bala / VJ Akshaya as Deepika: Ezhil's one-sided obsessive lover and Kayal's arch rival (Antagonist)(2024–2026 / 2026–present)
Sebastian as Petter Arumugam: Moorthy's worker; Kayal's foster family member (2021–present)
Muralidhar Raj as Rajasekhar: Sivasankari's husband; Ezhil's father (2021–present)
Fawaz Zayani as Subramaniyam "Subramani" Dharmalingam: Dharmalingam and Vadivu's son; Aarthi's brother; Pavithra's husband (Antagonist)(2021–2025)
Hensha Deepan as Pavithra Subramaniyam: Subramaniyam's wife (2023–2025)
Kiran Mai as Aarthi Anand: Dharmalingam and Vadivu's daughter; Subramani's sister; Anand's wife (2021–2025)
Rothit Balaiah as Anand: Ezhil's best friend; Aarthi's husband (2021–Present)
Varun Udhai as Dr. Gowtham: Kayal's rival (Antagonist) (2021–present)
Keerthana as Raajiyam: Shiva's mother (2026–present)
VM Rajesh Kanna as Chandrasekhar: Vedhavalli's husband; father of Vignesh and Shalini (2021–2024)
Ghouse Nisha as Uma: Vignesh's one-sided obsessive lover and Kayal's rival (Antagonist)(2021–2025)
Arandhangi Manjula as Uma's mother (2021–2022)
Annapoorani as Vanitha: A nurse and Gowtham's follower (Antagonist) (2021–2025)
Jeganathan as Ex-MLA Sethusingam: Vedhavalli's brother (Antagonist)(2021–2025)
Swathi Reddy as Ramya: A nurse and Kayal's best friend (2021–2023)
Suruli as Hospital Dean (2022–2024)
Birla Bose as Inspector Vajravel (2023–2025)
Reehana as Prabhu's mother (2023)
Ravikumar as Prabhu's father (2023)
Sidharth Kapilavayi as Prabhu (2023)
J. Durai Raj as Manoj (2025)
Indiran as Bruce Lee: Shiva's friend (2026–present)

Special appearances

Bala Singh as Muthuvel: Kamatchi's husband; (posthumous photographic appearance)
Bharathi Mohan as young Muthuvel (2025; in flashbacks only)
Gabriella Sellus as Sundari (2022) from Sundari
Jishnu Menon as Karthick (2022) from Sundari
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 in dreams (2023)
Baladitya as Suryakumar: Kayal's fake husband (2023)
Anusha Prathap as Eshwari (2023)
Chandra Lakshman as Rajalakshmi (2024)
Vijay Vishwa as Saravana Velu: Kayal's one-sided obsessive lover (2024–2025)
Eesan Sujatha as Meenatchi: Saravana Velu's mother (2024, 2025)
Sonia Agarwal as Herself (2025)
Ajay Kapoor as Judge Arulmozhi Varman (2025)
Annam family members in Megasangamam (2025)
Marumagal family members in Megasangamam and Mahasangamam (2025,2026)
TSR Srinivasan as Train Passenger (2025)
Y. G. Mahendran as Sakthivel Kalingarayar (2025)
Manya Anand as Kanmani
Tharun Appasamy as Kaushik (2026)
Nalini as Meenatchi (2026)
A.Ravivarma as Ramachandran (2026)

Production

Development

After the conclusion of Sun TV's drama Abhiyum Naanum, its production company, Vision Time India Pvt. Ltd., decided 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 promotional video was released on 11 October 2021.^[2]

Casting

Actress Chaitra Reddy was cast in the lead role, marking her return to television after starring in Zee Tamil's drama Yaaradi Nee Mohini.^[3]^[4]^[5] Sanjeev Karthik was cast opposite her.^[6] Actor "Vazhakku En" Muthuraman was cast as the main antagonist, Dharmalingam alias Dharma.

Gayatri Jayaraman was selected to portray the role of Sivasankari Rajasekhar (Ezhilarasan's mother), a negative character. In February 2022, she quit the series and was replaced by Uma Riyaz Khan.^[7] On 15 May 2024, actress Chandra Lakshman joined the cast to portray another negative role.^[8]

Reception

Kayal became one of the most-watched Tamil television programs from its launch week in 2021. In the BARC era of Tamil serials, it is the only show to claim the No. 1 position in its launch week itself.^[9]^[10]

The show climbed into the top 5 most-watched programs across all GECs within just a few weeks of its launch.^[11]^[12] It also gave strong competition to Bharathi Kannamma aired on Star Vijay.^[13]

Adaptations

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	Sun Gemini	6 January 2024	Remake	^[14]
Kannada	Radhika ರಾಧಿಕಾ	14 March 2022	Sun Udaya	29 March 2025		^[15]
Bengali	Meghe Dhaka Tara	28 March 2022	Sun Bangla	2 July 2023		^[16]
Marathi	Majhi Manasa माझी माणसं	30 May 2022	Sun Marathi	1 June 2024		^[17]
Malayalam	Bhavana ഭാവന	26 June 2022	Sun Surya	29 June 2025		^[18]^[19]

Awards and honours

Year	Award^[a]	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
2022	Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal	Best Actress	Chaitra Reddy	Won	^[20]
		Best Villain Male	Muthuraman	Won
		Best Director	Selvam	Won
		Best Serial	Kayal	Won
		Natchathira Nayagan	Sanjeev Karthick	Won
		Best Screenplay dialogue	Karthik yuvaraj	Won
		Best Lyrics Writer	Pa Vijay	Won
2023		Best Actress	Chaitra Reddy	Won
2025	Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal	Best Actress	Chaitra Reddy	Won	^[21]
	Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal	Best Serial	Kayal	Won

References

↑ "Kayal: All you need to know about the long-running family drama starring Chaithra Reddy and Sanjeev Karthick". The Times of India. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
↑ "Television actress Chaitra Reddy celebrates 2 years journey in her show 'Kayal'". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 26 October 2023.
↑ "சன் டிவி 'கயல்' சீரியல் நடிகை சைத்ரா ரெட்டியின் லேட்டஸ்ட் போட்டோஸ்." tamil.news18.com (in Tamil). 28 October 2021.
↑ "ஜீ தமிழில் அப்படி...சன் டிவியில் இப்படி..கலக்கும் சைத்ரா..வரவேற்கும் ரசிகர்கள்". tamil.oneindia.com (in Tamil). September 2021.
↑ "This is How Much Actor Chaitra Reddy Earns for her Role on TV Show Kayal". news18.com.
↑ "சன் டிவி சீரியலில் ஜீ தமிழ் நடிகை என்ட்ரி: சஞ்சீவ்-க்கு இவர்தான் ஜோடியா?". tamil.indianexpress.com (in Tamil).
↑ "என்ன இது... எல்லாரும் இப்படி கிளம்புறாங்க... பிரபல சீரியலில் இருந்து விலகிய முன்னணி நடிகை!". tamil.samayam.com (in Tamil).
↑ "Kadhalikka Neramillai fame Chandra Lakshman joins 'Kayal'". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 15 May 2024.
↑ "முதல் வாரத்திலேயே டி ஆர் பியில் முதலிடம் பிடிக்கும் கயல் தொடர்". www.dinamani.com (in Tamil). 30 November 2021.
↑ "Kayal tops the TRP charts, here's a look at the top 5 Tamil TV shows". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 14 April 2023.
↑ "டி ஆர் பியில் முதலிடம் பிடிக்கும் கயல் தொடர்". www.dinamani.com (in Tamil). 30 November 2021.
↑ "Kayal tops the TRP charts, here's a look at the top 5 Tamil TV shows". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 14 April 2023.
↑ "தொடர் சரிவில் பாரதி கண்ணம்மா.... போட்டிக்கு வந்த சன் டி.வி சீரியல்!". tamil.indianexpress.com (in Tamil).
↑ "Kayal in Telugu as 'Saadhana' - Times of India". The Times of India. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
↑ "Kavya Shastry returns to the small screen with a role that is so her". The Times of India.
↑ "New TV show 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' to launch soon". The Times of India. 5 March 2022.
↑ "स्वकर्तृत्वावर घर सांभाळणाऱ्या गिरीजाची गोष्ट; सुरू होत आहे नवी मालिका 'माझी माणसं'". ABP Majha (in Marathi). 29 May 2022.
↑ "Bhavana: Surya Dev to reveal his true identity". The Times of India. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
↑ "Bhavana Serial Surya TV is the Remake of Kayal – Stephy Leon in Lead". www.news.keralatv.in. 15 June 2022.
↑ "சன் குடும்ப விருதுகளின் மொத்த லிஸ்ட்.. ஃபேவரிட் கதாநாயகன், கதாநாயகி யார் தெரியுமா.?". www.cinemapettai.com.
↑ "சன் குடும்ப விருதுகளின் மொத்த லிஸ்ட்.. ஃபேவரிட் கதாநாயகன், கதாநாயகி யார் தெரியுமா.?". www.cinemapettai.com.

Notes

↑ Awards, festivals and organizations are in Alphabetical order.

External links

[1] "Kayal: All you need to know about the long-running family drama starring Chaithra Reddy and Sanjeev Karthick". The Times of India. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.

[2] "Television actress Chaitra Reddy celebrates 2 years journey in her show 'Kayal'". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 26 October 2023.

[3] "சன் டிவி 'கயல்' சீரியல் நடிகை சைத்ரா ரெட்டியின் லேட்டஸ்ட் போட்டோஸ்." tamil.news18.com (in Tamil). 28 October 2021.

[4] "ஜீ தமிழில் அப்படி...சன் டிவியில் இப்படி..கலக்கும் சைத்ரா..வரவேற்கும் ரசிகர்கள்". tamil.oneindia.com (in Tamil). September 2021.

[5] "This is How Much Actor Chaitra Reddy Earns for her Role on TV Show Kayal". news18.com.

[6] "சன் டிவி சீரியலில் ஜீ தமிழ் நடிகை என்ட்ரி: சஞ்சீவ்-க்கு இவர்தான் ஜோடியா?". tamil.indianexpress.com (in Tamil).

[7] "என்ன இது... எல்லாரும் இப்படி கிளம்புறாங்க... பிரபல சீரியலில் இருந்து விலகிய முன்னணி நடிகை!". tamil.samayam.com (in Tamil).

[8] "Kadhalikka Neramillai fame Chandra Lakshman joins 'Kayal'". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 15 May 2024.

[9] "முதல் வாரத்திலேயே டி ஆர் பியில் முதலிடம் பிடிக்கும் கயல் தொடர்". www.dinamani.com (in Tamil). 30 November 2021.

[10] "Kayal tops the TRP charts, here's a look at the top 5 Tamil TV shows". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 14 April 2023.

[11] "டி ஆர் பியில் முதலிடம் பிடிக்கும் கயல் தொடர்". www.dinamani.com (in Tamil). 30 November 2021.

[12] "Kayal tops the TRP charts, here's a look at the top 5 Tamil TV shows". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 14 April 2023.

[13] "தொடர் சரிவில் பாரதி கண்ணம்மா.... போட்டிக்கு வந்த சன் டி.வி சீரியல்!". tamil.indianexpress.com (in Tamil).

[14] "Kayal in Telugu as 'Saadhana' - Times of India". The Times of India. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.

[15] "Kavya Shastry returns to the small screen with a role that is so her". The Times of India.

[16] "New TV show 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' to launch soon". The Times of India. 5 March 2022.

[17] "स्वकर्तृत्वावर घर सांभाळणाऱ्या गिरीजाची गोष्ट; सुरू होत आहे नवी मालिका 'माझी माणसं'". ABP Majha (in Marathi). 29 May 2022.

[18] "Bhavana: Surya Dev to reveal his true identity". The Times of India. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.

[19] "Bhavana Serial Surya TV is the Remake of Kayal – Stephy Leon in Lead". www.news.keralatv.in. 15 June 2022.

[21] "சன் குடும்ப விருதுகளின் மொத்த லிஸ்ட்.. ஃபேவரிட் கதாநாயகன், கதாநாயகி யார் தெரியுமா.?". www.cinemapettai.com.

[22] "சன் குடும்ப விருதுகளின் மொத்த லிஸ்ட்.. ஃபேவரிட் கதாநாயகன், கதாநாயகி யார் தெரியுமா.?". www.cinemapettai.com.

[20] Awards, festivals and organizations are in Alphabetical order.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[a]

[20]

[21]

Works by Vision Time Tamil
Current TV series	Kayal (2021–present)
Past TV series	Vasantham (2007-2012) Manikoondu (2008) Kalasam (2008-2009) Mama Maaple (2010-2011) Thangam (2009-2013) Thyagam (2012-2013) Rajakumari (2013) Vamsam (2013-2017) Ponnunjal (2013-2016) Kalyana Parisu (2014-2020) Mahalakshmi (2017-2019) Azhagu (2017-2020) Chocolate (2019-2020) Tamil Selvi (2019-2020) Abhiyum Naanum (2020-2023) Mr. Manaivi (2023–2024) Malar (2023–2025)
Past TV shows	Nijangal (2016-2017) Hello Sago (2019)