Manjurukum Kaalam was an Indian Malayalam-language soap opera directed by Binu Vellathooval and produced by Suresh Unnithan. The show aired from 16 February 2015 to 24 March 2017 on Mazhavil Manorama, spanning 571 episodes. It is an adaptation of the novel with the same name by Joycee.
The narrative followed the life of a young girl, Janaki who navigates a life of extreme hardship, domestic abuse, and complex family dynamics from childhood to adulthood. The show featured Keziah Thomas, Niranjana G, Greeshma, Vedika Rajesh, Nikitha Rajesh and Monisha Arshak who portrayed the protagonist at different stages of her life. The supporting cast included Manoj Nair, Lavanya Nair, Manju Satheesh, Roslin and Kishore Peethambbaran.
Plot The story centers on Janaki, affectionately known as Janikutty, whose life is a journey from a cherished childhood to a series of grueling hardships. Once called "malooty", She was the daughter of a poor postman, Govindankutty, and his wife, from a rich family, who died in labor. By fate, Govindankutty meets Vijayaraghavan and Ratnamma, both teachers, who were trying for a child for over many years now. When they see malooty ratnamma grows intensely attached to her. As a result, they request govindankutty to give them his child, as he was very poor and unable to go to any work because he had to take care of his mother, who was suffering from old age. When Govindankutty's mother too perishes shortly after, He begins considering their request and agrees to give her to them. Then she is raised as the beloved adopted daughter of Tahsildar Vijayaraghavan and Ratnamma Teacher, who frets upon her indefinetly and loves her deeply. She is also renamed "Janaki," Alias Janikutty. Govindankutty visits once more and finds that she is extremely well cared for, with dozens of toys and ratnamma and vijayaraghavan even saving 1 gram of gold per month for her future marriage. He is saddened by how she does not even remember him, and her name is also changed. They request govindankutty that they will take care of her, and he gives in and leaves, trying to lead a new life.Jaani's world is turned upside down when the couple finally conceives biological children. No longer the center of their world, Janikutty is treated as a domestic servant and subjected to systematic abuse by Ratnamma. She remains a brilliant and resilient student despite the trauma she endures at home.Janikutty now an adult,returns to her biological father Govindankutty. She moves into his home, where she meets his second wife, Vijayamma, and her half-siblings. While Janikutty attempts to bond with her new family, she is subjected to extreme cruelty by Vijayamma’s sister, Chandramathi. Following Govindankutty’s sudden death from a heart attack—Janikutty is left vulnerable. Chandramathi and her husband hire thugs to murder her. Janikutty narrowly escapes the attempt on her life but is left severely injured and hospitalized. While recovering in the hospital, Janikutty meets Shobhana Teacher, a childhood friend of her biological mother. She reveals that Janikutty is actually the heiress to the noble Krishnamangalam family. Her mother had been disowned by the wealthy family years prior for marrying Govindankutty, who belonged to a lower social caste. Having reclaimed her identity and status, she visits a now-remorseful Ratnamma Teacher to offer her grace, maintaining the bond of a daughter despite the years of mistreatment. She finally reunites with Abhijith.
Cast Main Monisha Arshak as V.R Janaki (Janikutty) and Aswathikkutti, Janaki's deceased mother(photo) Nikitha Rajesh as Teenage Janikutty Keziah Thomas, Niranjana G, Greeshma, and Vedika Rajesh portrayed different stages of Janaki's childhood.
Recurring Lavanya Nair/ Manju Satheesh as Rathnamma, Janaki's foster mother Manoj Nair as Vijayaraghavan, Janaki's foster father Kishore Peethambaran as Govindankutty, Janaki's biological father Roslin as Vasumatiamma,Vijayaraghavan's mother Anish Rehman as Abhijith, Janaki's husband Vineeth as young Abhijith Lekshmi Prasad as Sariga, Abhijith's sister and Janaki's friend Swathi as young Sariga Sreedevi Anil as Vijayamma, Govindankutty’s second wife Alice Christy as Sooryamol, daughter of Vijayaraghavan and Rathnamma Abhijith Joseph as Dilshid Muhammed aka Dil, Sooryamol's husband M. R. Gopakumar as Balakrishna Panikkar Cherthala Lalitha as Bhaanumathi Amma, Balakrishna Panikkar's wife Manoj Pillai as Murali Krishna Panikkar, Balakrishna Panikkar's elder son Karthika Kannan as Lakshmi, Murali's wife Yadu Krishnan as Madhusoodana Panikkar Geetha Nair as Shaaradaamma, Madhusoodana Panikkar's mother Dr.Jayan Gopinathan Nair as Gangadhara Panikkar, Balakrishna Panikkar's eldest son Beena Sunil as Raajasree(Raji), Balakrishna Panikkar's daughter Santhosh Souparnika as Viswanathan(Viswan), Rajasree's husband Rudra Pradap as Chandran, Rathnamma's elder brother Sumi Santhosh as Preetha, Chandran's wife Tomy as Sethu, Rathnamma' eldest brother Indulekha as Jayasudha, Sethu's wife
Avanthika as Neethu, elder daughter of Chandran and Preetha Malavika / Arathi Sojan as Ramya, second daughter of Chandran and Preetha Sreekala as Sarasamma, Rathnamma's mother Pratheeksha G. Pradeep as Sunitha, Rathnamma's sister Raji P Menon as Shobana teacher Ardra Das as Ambili, elder daughter of Govindankutty and Vijayamma Ritu Sarangi as teenage Ambili Anjusha Gopi as Arunima, second daughter of Govindankutty and Vijayamma Vaishanvi Satheesh as teenage Arunima Ramesh Nair as Ravi, Sariga's husband Saharsh Augustin as Manikuttan Haridas Varkala as Kochukuttan, Manikkuttan's father Jolly Easho as Chandramathi, Vijayamma's elder sister Balan Parakkal as Surendran, Chandramathi's husband Sujith Kozhikodu as Sukeshan, Chandramathi's son Parvathy Raveendran as Suguna, Chandramathi's daughter Satheesh Vettikavala as Sasidharan, Suguna’s husband Karthika Kannan as Lekshmi Kottayam Achan kunju as Raghavan, Minister Janaki's driver Pappan Ananthapuri as Purushothaman, Govindankutty's friend Safar as Sahadevan, Govindankutty's neighbor Biju Thottumkal as Prathapan Minister Janaki’s PA Adhil Siddiq / Madhav / Harun as Appunni Rajesh as Kuttichan Aadil as Renjith, Janikutty's classmate Manas/ Aaromal as Ajayan Siddharaj as Achyutha Kurup Girija Preman as Govindankutty's sister Renji Philip Koshy as S.I Ajith Kumar Mithun Menon as Professor Vinayachandran
Production Different stages of the protagonist's life spanning from childhood to adulthood was played by six actors. Nikitha Rajesh who played Janaki left the show to focus on her board examinations and was replaced by Monisha Arshak. Lavanya Nair who played Rathnamma was replaced by Manju Satheesh due to the former's pregnancy.
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