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Nandini (TV series)
Indian supernatural television series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nandini is an Indian Tamil-Kannada bilingual[1][2] supernatural fantasy thriller drama series that aired on Sun TV and Udaya TV. This series is considered the most expensive TV serial of all time in South India.[citation needed]
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2020) |
The first season of Nandini started in the Tamil and Kannada languages. It aired from 23 January 2017 to 22 December 2018 on Sun TV and from 23 January 2017 to 22 February 2019 on Udaya TV, both for 589 episodes.[3] It was produced by Sundar C under Avni Telemedia. The season starred Nithya Ram in a dual role as Ganga and the titular character Nandini, along with an ensemble supporting cast which includes Khushbu, Rahul Ravi, Malavika Wales, Gayatri Jayaraman, Adhitri Guruvayurappan, Vijayakumar, Riyaz Khan, Rekha Krishnappa and others.
The second season of Nandini started only in the Kannada language on Udaya TV from 25 February 2019 to 31 July 2020 for 381 episodes.[4][5] It was produced by Ramesh Aravind Productions and served as a sequel to its previous phase.[6] This season starred Nithya Ram, Chaya Singh, Vinay Gowda, Kavya Shastry, Rashmi, Bharath, Jayashree, Rekha Krishnappa and others.[7]
A spin-off of Nandini titled as Jothi aired from 29 May to 1 August 2021 in Tamil language on Sun TV for 13 episodes. [8] It starred Meghashree, Chandana Shetty and Vishnu Unnikrishnan.
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Series overview
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Plot
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Season 1 (In chronological order)
In the early 90s, a man named Rathnavel falls in love with Parvathy, an enigmatic shape-shifting serpent, and the two get married. They move to a distant village to escape from Parvathy's evil clan, who are against her marriage. Parvathy gives birth to twin daughters—Nandini and Ganga. Ganga acquires human qualities, whereas Nandini inherits snake traits.
To protect Rathnavel from her clan’s murderous intentions, Parvathy transforms him into a transgender person and offers him one of the daughters, Ganga. She escapes with the other daughter, Nandini. Subsequently, Rathnavel loses all memory and hands Ganga over to Manickam, a royal housemaid. Manickam, who is childless, raises Ganga as his own daughter in the palace where he works. Rathnavel, now taking on the name "Seiyanayagi," continues his devotion to the deity Karuppar.
Parvathy seeks shelter in an abandoned temple of Kaatu Amman in the forest, where she regains her powers as "Shiva Naagam" through the influence of the Kala Chakras. Meanwhile, Nandini is destined to remain in serpent form until she turns 26, at which point she will attain a human form and the status of "Shakthi Naagam."
- 6 years later
Parvathy and Nandini live peacefully as devotees of Kaatu Amman, along with the temple priest Muniappa and his family. Rajashekar and his party arrive to steal the three Kala Chakras—a set of sacred spiritual objects protected by Parvathy—for personal gain.
One day, after deceiving Parvathy and Muniappa’s family, Rajashekar and his five accomplices—a magician named Namboothiri, three business partners, and Namboothiri’s sister Madhavi—murder Parvathy and steal the three Kala Chakras.Nandhini cames to rescue Gayathri (Muniyappa's daughter) from Rajesh while he was chasing her and killed him and Gayathri was then taken by the village people. Gayathri asks Nandhini to go to the temple and she witnesses the tragedy. Parvathi asks Nandini to avenge her by killing every murderer along with their families and reclaiming the stolen Kala Chakras and then she dies.
Nandhini goes fiercely to avenge all the 5 but with the 3 kaal chakras power , she faint down .
At Rajashekar’s palace, where Ganga lives, Namboothiri traps Nandini in a snake pit with magical protection, rendering her immobile.
- 14 years later
Arun Rajashekar, the son of Rajashekar, falls in love with a village girl named Janaki and marries her. Kavitha, Janaki’s friend who also loved Arun, commits suicide after the marriage. Her sister Bhairavi, a powerful magician, vows revenge. She kills Janaki’s father and sets out to destroy Arun’s family.
Soon after, Arun moves to Malaysia, leaving his pregnant wife Janaki behind at the palace. Months later, she gives birth to a child, but the baby is secretly swapped with a dead child. Dharmaraj—Arun's uncle—kills Janaki with the help of his son Moorthy and their friend Balaji, hoping his own daughter Maya can marry Arun. Janaki returns as a spirit to protect her child and family.
- 6 years later
Ganga, now a young woman, has unknowingly performed daily poojas at the snake pit for the past 14 years, unaware her sister is trapped within. Janaki’s spirit succeeds in bringing back her real daughter, Devasena, who had been swapped at birth. Meanwhile, Rajashekar’s wicked sisters Devi and Manju, along with Janaki’s murderer Dharmaraj, compete to get their daughters married to Arun.
However, Janaki’s spirit thwarts all their plans and kills Balaji, one of her murderers. Eventually, Ganga agrees to marry Arun at Rajashekar’s request and promises to raise Devasena with love. Meanwhile, Janaki continues protecting Arun from Bhairavi’s attacks.
The night before her wedding, Ganga’s blood accidentally spills into the snake pit during pooja, breaking the 20-year magical protection around Nandini. Nandini enters Ganga’s body to avenge her mother’s death. After Ganga marries Arun, she begins her quest for revenge.
Nandini plans to kill Arun and Devasena to make Rajashekar suffer but is stopped by Janaki’s spirit. Nandini successfully kills Kumar, one of the murderers, when he attempts to steal the Kala Chakras.
The battle between Janaki’s spirit and Nandini escalates—one fighting to protect the family, the other seeking its destruction. Nandini leaves Ganga’s body to avoid detection. Ganga, taking responsibility for Kumar’s death, surrenders and is imprisoned to prevent Nandini’s return. Namboothiri, however, sees through this and ensures Ganga is released.
After learning about Nandini’s fate, Ganga confronts Rajashekar and begs for the Kala Chakras. He refuses and tries to kill her, but Seiyanayagi rescues her and treats her in secret.
- One week later
On the night of a full moon, Nandini attains a female form identical to Ganga. Meanwhile, Rajashekar commands Bhairavi to disguise herself as Ganga and return to the palace to obtain the Kala Chakras.
Nandini captures Bhairavi, kills Namboothiri and Vichu, and enters the palace posing as Ganga to search for the Kala Chakras. Madhavi, the final murderer of Parvathy, emerges from her long penance to try and kill Nandini. Rajashekar, sensing danger, pleads for forgiveness when Ganga returns. It soon becomes clear that Nandini and Ganga look identical.
A few days later, Nandini kills Rajashekar, which causes Ganga to misunderstand her. Bhairavi, now reformed, forgives Arun and assists Nandini in her quest for the Kala Chakras. Ganga initially tries to kill Nandini but eventually learns from Seiyanayagi that they are sisters. The two join forces, but fate separates them once again when Madhavi gains possession of all three Kala Chakras and resurrects Namboothiri.
Together, Madhavi and Namboothiri trap Nandini in the Kaatu Amman temple. Their plan is thwarted when Ganga gives Nandini the three Kala Chakras.
With Janaki’s spirit helping her, Nandini kills both Namboothiri and Madhavi. Contrary to Parvathy’s dying wish that the entire Rajashekar family be destroyed, Nandini chooses to spare the remaining members and turns herself into a stone serpent as penance.
Ganga is heartbroken by their separation, but Nandini promises to visit her once every year. Ganga later becomes pregnant, and the family begins a new, peaceful life.
Though separated, the bond between Nandini and Ganga remains unbreakable. The final episode focuses on their enduring sisterhood.
Season 2
- 25 Years later
Season 2 focuses on the story of Ganga and Arun's daughters Janani and Devasena, and the defeat of the evil by good.
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Cast and characters
Season 1
Main
- Nithya Ram in a dual role as:
- Nandini: a Shakti Naagam, a shape-shifting serpent who exacts vengeance on the assassins who murdered her mother Parvathy; Rathnavel and Parvathy's elder daughter, Muniappan's adopted daughter, Ganga's twin sister;
- Ganga Arun: the human component, Rathnavel and Parvathy's younger daughter, Maanikam's adopted daughter, Nandhini's twin sister; Arun's second wife, Rajasekhar's daughter-in-law, Devasena's stepmother, Janani's mother.
- Baby Ahana as Young Ganga
- Khushbu as Parvathy Rathnavel: a Shiva Naagam, the shape-shifting serpent, Rathnavel's wife, Nandini and Ganga's mother, was slain by assassins for the "Kaal Chakra". (Extended Cameo)
- Rahul Ravi as Arun Rajasekhar: Rajasekhar's son, Devasena and Janani's father, Ganga's spouse and Janaki's widower.
- Malavika Wales in a dual role as:
- Janaki Arun: A Spirit; Arun's first wife, Devasena's mother.
- Seetha: the human element, Janaki's medium look alike, Ganga and Arun's well-wisher. (Extended Cameo)
- Adhithri Guruvayurappan[9] as Devasena: Janaki and Arun's daughter, Rajasekhar's granddaughter, Ganga's step-daughter.
Recurring
- Gayatri Jayaraman as Bhairavi: A Yogini, she was a magician who sought revenge against Arun and helped Nandhini in finding the Kaal Chakras.
- Vijayakumar as Rajashekar: Father of Arun and Malathy. He was one of the murderers who seeks "Kaal Chakra", and killed Parvathy and then killed by Nandhini.
- Riyaz Khan as Rathnavel Bhoopathi alias Seiya Nayagi: a transgender who worships the deity Karuppan; Ganga and Nandini's father and Paravathy's husband.
- Rekha Krishnappa as Madhavi: A Shiva Thapasvini; She was one of the murderers who seeks "Kaal Chakra", and killed Parvathy and then killed by Nandhini.
- Vanishree as young Madhavi
- Sachu as Annapoorani: Rajasekhar's elder sister, Arun's aunt
- Narasimha Raju as Muniappan: Parvathy's henchman, Nandini's guardian and Gayatri's father, killed by Madhavi.
- Vinod as Krishna Tamburan alias Namboothiri: A priest, He was one of the murderers who seeks "Kaal Chakra", and killed Parvathy and then killed by Nandhini; Madhavi's brother
- Shreya Anchan as Gayatri alias Sandhya Manimegalai: Muniappan and Lakshmi's daughter, Nandhini and Ganga's cousin sister who attempts a revenge against the murderers who killed Parvathy, then killed by Naagananthian
- Yuvina Parthavi as Young Gayatri
- Vijayalakshmi / Kanya Bharathi as Devi: Annapoorani and Rajasekhar's first younger sister, Arun's aunt; Eshwaran's wife and Shanthi's mother
- Meena Vemuri as Leela: Annapoorani and Rajasekhar's second younger sister, Arun's aunt; Dharmaraj's wife, Moorthy and Maya's mother
- Keerthi Jai Dhanush as Maya: Leela and Dharmaraj's daughter, Moorthy's Sister and Arun's cousin
- Padmini Jagadeesh as Manju, Annapoorani and Rajasekhar's third younger sister, Arun's aunt and Kumar's wife
- Kavitha as Selva Rani: Rajasekhar's second wife, Arun's step mother
- Swetha as Malathi: Rajasekhar and Selva Rani's daughter, Arun's younger sister and Moorthy's wife
- K. S. G. Venkatesh as Maanikam: Rajasekhar's henchman, Ganga's adoptive father
- Ramesh Pandit as Dharmaraj: Leela's husband, Moorthy and Maya's father
- Kiran as Moorthy: Leela and Dharmaraj's son, Maya's brother, Arun's cousin, Gayatri's ex-fiancé and Malathi's husband
- Sri Ganesh as Eshwaran: Devi's husband and Shanthi's father
- Bhanuprakash as Kumar: Manju's husband
- Manjula Paritala as Shanthi: Devi and Eshwaran's daughter
- Shabnam as Ramya: Manju and Kumar's daughter, Arun's ex-fiancé
- Shanmugarajan / Mahanadi Shankar as Sathyanarayanan: Selva Rani's younger brother
- Rani as Mallika: Sathyanarayanan's wife
- Vijaya Durga as Chamundi: Witch who seeks "Kaal Chakra", killed by Janaki
- Vichu Vishwanath as Vichu: He was one of the murderers who seeks "Kaal Chakra", and killed Parvathy and then killed by Nandhini; Rajasekhar's business partner
- Girish as Kumar: He was one of the murderers who seeks "Kaal Chakra", killed Parvathy and then killed by Nandhini
- Gracey as Lakshmi: Muniappa's wife and Gayatri's mother
- Deepa Nethran as Raadha: Gayatri's adoptive mother
- Mohammed Mastan Naga as Naganandiyan: Parvathy's elder brother, shape shifting serpent
- Ramesh Kannan as Nagavanchiyan
- Rudrachand as Shenbagachezhiyan
- V.S.Jayanthi as Chellamma
- Nanditha Ghosh as Kavitha: Bhairavi's younger sister
- Kousalya Senthamarai as Ranganayaki
- Kalairani as Naachiyaaramma: magician
- Niranjan BS as Suresh: Ramya's lover
- Anu Mohan as Neelakanthan
- Thameem Ansari as Balaji: Arun's friend
- Sivakumar as Dr. Siva
- Swarna Ramakrishnan as Meenakshi
- Ram Rajesh as an Icchadhari Snake
- Baba Lakshman as Janaki's father, killed by Bhairavi
Special appearances
- Manjula Vijayakumar as Manjula: Rajasekhar's first wife and Arun's mother (posthumous photographic appearance only)
- Singampuli as himself
- Vaiyapuri as himself
- Sudha Raghunathan as herself
Season 2
- Nithya Ram in a triple role as:
- Janani Viraat: A human element but has a snake powers; Arun and Ganga's daughter; Devasena's half sister; Viraat's wife (Dead)
- Baby Lisha as Young Janani
- Nandini: Shakti Naagam, Rathnavel and Parvathy's oldest daughter, Muniappan's adopted daughter, Ganga's twin sister, Janani's aunt and a shape-shifting serpent (Cameo)
- Ganga Arun: the human component, Rathnavel and Parvathy's younger daughter, Nandhini's twin sister; Arun's second wife, Rajasekhar's daughter-in-law, Devasena's stepmother, Janani's mother (Extended cameo)
- Janani Viraat: A human element but has a snake powers; Arun and Ganga's daughter; Devasena's half sister; Viraat's wife (Dead)
- Chaya Singh as Nandini - Nandini's reincarnation; a human element but has a snake powers; Viraat's second wife
- Vinay Gowda as Viraat
- Kavya Shastry as Devasena - Arun and Janaki's daughter; Ganga's stepdaughter and Janani's half sister
- Adhithri Guruvayurappan as Young Devasena (Extended cameo)
- Rashmi as Neeli: An over attitude girl who one-sidedly loved Viraat
- Bharath as Ashtavakra
- Jayashree as Sharabha
- Anu Poovamma
- Rekha Krishnappa as Madhavi
- Riyaz Khan as Rathnavel Bhoopathi alias Seiya Nayagi (Cameo)
- Rahul Ravi as Arun Rajasekhar (Cameo)
- Ramesh Aravind as a Narrator
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Production
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Development
The "Nandini" 2017 series, a captivating Indian supernatural fantasy thriller, was conceived and developed with the intention of bringing a cinematic experience to the small screen. The initial concept for the series was envisioned by Sundar C, who also took on the role of producer for the first season alongside Khushbu Sundar under their banner, Avni Telemedia. Raj Kapoor helmed the directorial duties, ensuring a consistent vision across the ambitious bilingual production. The series was unique in its simultaneous filming in Tamil and Kannada, with scenes often re-shot for both languages to cater to their respective audiences on Sun TV and Udaya TV. Its success led to dubbing in Telugu for Gemini TV and Malayalam for Surya TV, further expanding its reach across South India. The show's commitment to high production values and elaborate visual effects was a cornerstone of its development, setting it apart from typical television dramas.
Casting
The casting for "Nandini" was crucial to its narrative, with actress Nithya Ram taking on the demanding lead roles. In the first season, she impressively portrayed a dual role as Ganga and the enigmatic Nandini, the titular character. Her versatility was further showcased in the second season, where she tackled a triple role as Ganga, Nandini, and Janani. The first season of the series also featured a strong ensemble cast, with Khushbu Sundar and Riyaz Khan playing pivotal roles. Malayalam actor Rahul Ravi was cast as Arun, another central character, while other significant actors included Malayalam actress Malavika Wales as Janaki, Baby Adhitri Guruvayurappan as Devasena, Vijayakumar as Rajashekar, Gayatri Jayaraman as Bhairavi, and Narasimha Raju. The second season saw the addition of new talent like Vinay Gowda, Kavya Shastry, and Rashmi, among others, ensuring a fresh dynamic for the continuing storyline. Chaya Singh later stepped into the reincarnated role of Nandini, adding another layer to the character's journey.
Filming
Filming for "Nandini" extensively utilized grand and atmospheric settings to enhance its supernatural and fantasy themes. A significant portion of the series was shot in a prominent palace house, which became an iconic backdrop for many of the show's dramatic sequences. This particular location was frequently highlighted by the cast and crew for its grandeur and the memorable experiences shared during filming. While the specific geographical details of this palace are not widely disclosed, the extensive production across Tamil and Kannada languages suggests that filming likely took place in and around major production hubs such as Chennai for the Tamil version and Bengaluru for the Kannada version. The commitment to such elaborate sets and on-location shoots was instrumental in achieving the desired cinematic quality and visual splendor that became a hallmark of the "Nandini" series.
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Broadcast
Nandini is the first ever South-Indian Television Series to be broadcast in nine different languages all over India.
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Reception
Ratings
Season 1
This season was simultaneously launched in four languages- Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. In week 42 of 2017 and the following week, the show was at first position.[10][11] In week 52 of 2018, it was at first position with 18.47 million impressions.[12]
Season 2
Season 2 was only launched in Kannada language. Even though the season had good TRP in its initial days, it began to drop after COVID-19 break and the show went off-air on 31 July 2020.[13]
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References
External links
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