Thirumathi Selvam

Thirumathi Selvam திருமதி செல்வம் Mrs Selvam
Logo with the Protagonists of Thirumathi Selvam - Sanjeev & Abitha
Genre	Drama
Written by	S Kumaran(Story) V K Amirtharaj(Screenplay-Dialogues) S E Amalraj(Screenplay)
Directed by	S Kumaran
Starring	Sanjeev Abitha Vadivukkarasi Rindhya
Theme music composer	D. Imman(Title song) / Kiran(BGM)
Opening theme	"Sooriyanae Chandhiranae" by Shweta Mohan
Country of origin	India
Original language(s)	Tamil
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	1360
Production
Producer(s)	Vikatan Televistas
Location(s)	Chennai
Cinematography	S T Martz
Running time	Approx. 16 minutes
Production company(s)	Vikatan Televistas Pvt Ltd Chennai India
Broadcast
Original channel	Sun TV
Original run	November 5, 2007 – March 22, 2013
Chronology
Followed by	Deivamagal[1]

Thirumathi Selvam is a Tamil drama serial written and directed by S Kumaran and produced by Vikatan Televistas. It was premiered on November 5, 2007 and was being aired every Mon-Fri at 1.30pm on Sun TV and later shifted to prime time due to immense popularity and TRP the show gained being in the afternoon slot. It eventually started its telecast in the prime time at 8pm from November 17, 2008 and completed its journey on March 22, 2013 being in the same slot at episode 1360 thereby completing 1101 episodes in the prime time. The show had Sanjeev and Abitha playing the leading roles with Vadivukkarasi, Rindhya and others forming the supporting cast. The show is unique for its Non-heroine domination plot with equal space gained by Male Protagonist as well. The story revolved around Selvam and Archana - An ideal couple who end up separated for life. The show was succeeded by Deivamagal^[2] from the same team of Thirumathi Selvam.

Plot

The story is about Selvam(Sanjeev) who is a mechanic by profession. He decides not to get married because he works hard and yet struggles for the welfare of his family being the sole bread winner. He gives up his studies to educate his younger brother and sister. However, fate takes a turn when he falls in love with Archana(Abitha) after seeing her at a temple. For his marriage proposal, he has been compelled to tell a lie that he is an Mechanical Engineer. After the marriage, the truth comes to light and Archana begins to hate Selvam for concealing the fact that he isn't educated and is actually a mechanic. She initially refuses to live with him, but eventually understands Selvam's love for her and goodness in his character and decides to reconcile her relationship with him. In the course of time, Selvam is cheated by his step mother Bagyam(Gauthami) to whom he loses his house and the mechanic shed which he owned. With no place to go, the couple are forced to sleep in the platform from where they are rescued by Selvam's friend Siva.

Subsequently, the story moved around how the couple face the challenges in order to live happily and how they stayed together during their think and thin. Nandhinee(Rindhya) one of Selvam’s friends helps him and Archana in their misery and helps to enhance their living standards. Selvam with his hardwork and moral support of Archana and Nandhinee's guidance grows to the status of Car Dealers Association Chairman. But eventually Nandhinee decides to separate Selvam and Archana to seek revenge on Archana's mother Sivagami(Vadivukkarasi) for doubting her relationship with Selvam and insulting her infront of her neighbours. She succeeds in separating Selvam from Archana by making Selvam go against Archana losing all his good morals which he cherished from his childhood and his love for Archana. At one point of time, Selvam comes to know the true colors of Nandhinee and her intention behind separating Archana from him for which he quarrels with Nandhinee and in the process Nandhinee dies by falling from the terrace. Selvam is accused for the death of Nandhinee and he is given a year imprisonment by the court. The story further dealt whether Selvam & Archana will unite again or not. After his return from prison, Selvam begs for forgiveness to Archana, but Archana with torn heart by being betrayed by Selvam could neither forgive him nor accept his reformation. The story ended giving an anti-climax making Selvam and Archana separated for rest of their life and Selvam losing all his wealth landing in platform worrying for his fate. The moral of the story - வாழு! வாழ விடு! ஒழுங்காக வாழு! - Live! Let Live! Live The Right Way!

Cast

Popularity

Having gained immense popularity being in the afternoon slot, the show fetched excellent TRP in the non prime-time slot where it stood next to Kolangal, a prime time venture from the same production house. This made the channel network to reschedule it to the prime time slot and the show went on air in the prime time from November 17, 2008. The show placed itself ahead of Kolangal with peak TRPs within first week of its entry into the prime time taking the No 1 position and sustained it for long.^[3] The show also made Sanjeev and Abitha establish themselves as one of the most celebrated pair of small screen and made them enjoy immense popularity among Tamil audience for their characters Selvam and Archana in the show. The show was a Superhit ruling the Tamil small screen for 4 and half years from 2008-2013 thereby finishing 1101 episodes in the prime time. The climax episode of the show has the maximum views with more than 9 lakh plus hits on youtube, the highest recorded for a Tamil series till date.

Awards and Honours

Sun Kudumbam Awards

Others

Remakes

The success of the show is evidenced by its remakes in 3 other regional languages - Devatha in Telugu(Gemini TV), Nilavilakku in Malayalam(Surya TV), Jokali in Kannada(Udhaya TV) produced by Vikatan Televistas. The initial concept of the most popular Hindi soap Pavitra Rishta produced by Ekta Kapoor for Zee Tv is an adaptation from Thirumathi Selvam.^[9]

References