Kaatrukkenna Veli (TV series)

Kaatrukkena Veli (What's the need of fence for air?) is a 2021-2023 Indian-Tamil language drama starring Priyanka Kumar with Swaminathan Anandharaman and Darshan K. Raju. ^[2] It is an official remake of Star Jalsha serial Mohor.^[3] It premiered on 18 January 2021, and aired on Star Vijay and is also available on the digital platform Disney+ Hotstar^[4] before its telecast.^[5] The series final episode was aired 30 September 2023 and ended with 809 episodes.^[6][7][8]

Plot

The story revolves around Vennila, an undergraduate student who aspires to be a IAS officer. When her father forces her to get married after finishing school, she flees her wedding with the aid of her mother. With her former teacher Sharadha's help, she joins the Meenakshi Shivanandham college, which is owned and run by Sharadha's in-laws. The story presents Vennila's struggle for her right to study at the college, as her pursuit of education faces continuous opposition from both Sharadha's in-laws and members of her own family alike. Together with her college friends, and with the help of Surya, her Economics professor and Sharadha's estranged son, she overcomes each obstacle that is thrown her way. Slowly but inevitably, Vennila and Surya begin to fall for each other.^[9]

Cast

Main

• Priyanka Kumar as Vennila Surya – Varadharajan and Vasuki's younger daughter; Sowmya and Vishnu's sister; Surya's student turned wife. (2021–2023)
• Darshan K. Raju / Swaminathan Anantharaman as Surya Mahadevan – Sharadha and Mahadevan's son; Meenakshi and Shivanantham's nephew/foster son; Abhi and Anandhi's cousin; Madhuvarshini's ex-fiancé; Vennila's economic professor turned husband (2021) / (2021–2023)^[10][11]
• Malavika Avinash / Jyothi Rai / Harsha Nair as Sharadha Mahadevan – Mahadevan's wife; Surya's mother; Vennila's mentor. (2021) / (2021–2023) / (2023)

Supporting

• Veena Venkatesh / Sujatha Panju as Meenakshi Shivanantham – Shivanantham's wife; Surya's aunt/foster mother. (2021; 2023) / (2021–2023)
• Tarun Master as Shivanantham – Mahadevan and Vishwanathan's brother; Meenakshi's husband; Surya's uncle/foster father.
• Bhanu Prakash as Mahadevan – Shivanantham and Vishwanathan's brother; Sharadha's husband; Surya's father.
• Akshitha Ashok as Abhinaya "Abhi" Vishwanathan – Bhanumathi and Vishwanathan's elder daughter; Anandhi's twin sister; Surya's cousin
• Preetha Reddy as Anandhi Vishwanathan – Bhanumathi and Vishwanathan's younger daughter; Abhi's twin sister; Surya's cousin.
• Aarthi Ramkumar^[12] as Bhanumathi Vishwanathan – Vishwanathan's wife; Abhi and Anandhi's mother.
• Raj Khanna as Vishwanathan – Shivanantham and Mahadevan's brother; Bhanumathi's husband; Abhi and Anandhi's father.
• Sridevi Ashok as Shyamala – Meenakshi and Shivanantham's daughter-in-law.
• Reshmaa as Sowmya Madhavan – Varadharajan and Vasuki's elder daughter; Vishnu and Vennila's sister; Madhavan's wife. (Dead)
• Maanas Chavali as Madhavan – Maragathavalli's son; Sowmya's abusive husband and murderer.
• Padmini as Vasuki Varatharajan – Varatharajan's wife; Sowmya, Vishnu and Vennila's mother.
• Nalinikanth as Varatharajan – Vasuki's husband; Sowmya, Vishnu and Vennila's father.
• P. R. Varalakshmi as Varatharajan's mother; Sowmya, Vishnu and Venneila's grandmother.
• Shammi as Maragathavalli – Madhavan's mother
• Shyam Sundar as Madhavan's father
• Dayana as Roopa – Vennila's college friend
• Raghavendran Puli / Chandru as Maaran – Vennila's college friend.
• Harish as Seenu – Surya's best friend
• Gana Hari as Tamizh – Vennila's college friend
• Dhilip Kumar as Akash – Vennila's college friend

Cameo appearances

• Janani Ashok Kumar as Madhuvarshini – Surya's ex-fiancé (2021)
• Ashwini Aanandita as Shivani – Surya's colleague and one-sided lover (2023)
• Vinoth Babu as Vetri - a well known rowdy who intervenes to save Vennila from Inspector Anbu (2023)

Production

Development

At the end of 2020, Star Vijay planned an official Tamil remake of Star Jalsha's Bengali language series Mohor to be produced by Endemol Shine India.^[13]

Casting

Actor Darshan K. Raju was cast in the male lead role as Surya Mahadevan, who is a professor. In October 2021, Darshan K. Raju opted out from the show and was to replaced by Swaminathan Anantharaman.^[14] As per reports, "Surya Darshan is leaving the show to pursue a career in the film industry."^[15] Priyanka Kumar was cast as Vennila, who aspires to be an educationist. Actress Malavika Avinash was selected to portray the role of Sharadha Mahadevan (Surya's mother) who played an important role, but in September 2021 she quit the series. Actress Jyothi Rai was cast to play the role of Sharadha Mahadevan.^[16] However, she also left resulting in Harsha Nair to play the role.

Veena Venkatesh was cast Main Antagonist as Meenakshi Shivanantham (Surya's aunt and foster mother). However, they had to replace her role. because she tested positive for