Chembarathi (TV series)

The story is about a rich, strong-willed and stubborn woman, Akhilandeshwari, and her elder son Anand's intense love story with Kalyani, a servant working as a cook. Various problems disrupt their relationship.

Initially, Akhilandeshwari fixes Anand's marriage with Priyanka Varma who is later revealed to be from Thrichambalam's rival family, Nagamadam. Akhila kicks her out of the marriage hall, and Priyanka swears that she will take revenge. On the same day, Aravind (Anand's brother) and Nandana's marriage is also fixed. Akhila cancels the marriage but Anand insists on conducting Aravind and Nandana's marriage. Kalyani's father Das who is affectionately called Dasettan by all the members of Thrichambalam is Akhila's driver. Sabari proclaims to Anand that Anand has love towards Kalyani which he denies. Anand discovers his love for Kalyani. Then Chandran enters, Viliasini's nephew from Mumbai who is selected as the bride-groom for Kalyani. Das who knows that Kalyani loves Anand, makes her promise that she will marry Chandran. Meanwhile, Anand proposes to Kalyani. Kalyani, who respects Akhilandeshwari, decides to perform Satyapramana vratham in which a person should do a three-day penance without food or drink with an oil flame burning in front. If a person does this according to all the rules of the vratham he would be granted whatever they ask and the head of the Thrichambalam family will finish the person's vratham by giving a glass of milk. Kalyani requests to Akhila that her marriage with Chandran happen. Anand is devastated by Kalyani's decision. Vilasini poisons the milk and Kalyani drinks it. An angry Anand confronts Kalyani but she collapses in front of him and is hospitalized.

Soon Chandran is revealed to be an imposter who had destroyed several women's lives by marrying them and taking them to Mumbai to sell them to woman traffickers. Some events take place in between like Chandran's photo is swapped with Anand's photo and notice is given that Kalyani and Anand are soon to marry, which is seen by Priyanka, who plots to kidnap and kill Kalyani. Kalyani is kidnapped by Priyanka's goon who leaves her in the water tank of Trichambalam. In the morning, Vilasini asks Sujata to turn on the motor pump without knowing that Kalyani is in the water tank of Trichambalam. Kalyani is almost drowned but is saved by Anand. On the marriage day, a lady named Sophia appears before Chandran and confronts him. Chandran hits her unconscious. At the moment of tying the mangal sutra, Sophia appears and reveals everything. Kalyani is thus saved from Chandran.

Kalyani and Anand start to love each other. Anand decided to disclose their relationship to Akhila. This is when Ganga enters Thrichambalam who is the selected would-be to Anand by Akhila. Vilasini discovers that Ganga is the younger sister of Priyanka. She has used Kalyani's perfect matching horoscope (with Anand) to gain Akhila's love. Anand declares in a press-meet that the person who wins 'The Best Brand Ambassador' title will be his wife. Anand secretly makes Kalyani live in his room to practice for the final item: the dance competition. Ganga tries to kill Anand's father but is saved by Kalyani. Ganga is found to be the culprit. Anand determines to discover the truth behind Ganga. Kalyani wins the Brand Ambassador Title but Ganga plays a suicide drama and Ganga is fixed as Anand's bride. Kalyani's marriage is fixed with Neeraj. Anand bets that the betrothal ceremony would be with Kalyani which he fulfils. Kalyani and Anand's marriage is fixed.

Anand, with the help of a Mumbai-based detective Gireesh Menon, learns the truth about Ganga. Gireesh tells Anand to meet in their usual meeting place to hand over Ganga's details. But he meets with an accident and the file is taken away by Prianka's goon. During the night before the wedding, Vilasini kidnaps Aniyankuttan and makes Kalyani write a letter stating that she is leaving the place. Vilasini tells Kalyani to go to a broken house behind the Vilipuram Devi Temple. Vilasini takes off Kalyani's garments so that she will not escape. But Anand rescues her.

Anand marries Kalyani as per the promises he made i.e. he will tie the Mangala sutra given to him by his mother and also he will marry Kalyani on that day. Ganga and Anand's marriage is cancelled due to a smoke explosion created by Aravind and Subaru. Meanwhile, Neeraj, who was Anand's friend, cancels his wedding with Kalyani.

Vilasini incites doubts in Akhila's mind regarding Kalyani and Anand's relationship. Akhila consults an astrologer who forecasts that Anand's and Kalyani's marriage had taken place. He gives Akhila a letter and asks her to open it the next day at 8:30 am and if what he had written in that letter happens in Trichmbalam then what he said is true.

Prianka tries to hit Akhila with a car but accidentally hits Kalyani, injuring her leg. The doctors say that Kalyani needs an operation to walk properly. Prianka's ally, Sreenivas bribes the anaesthesiologist who gives Kalyani an overdose of anaesthesia.

Vilasini makes Akhila once more doubt Kalyani and Anand's relation in which Akhila concludes that they both love each other. Anand decides to reveal Ganga's identity before Akhila. Akhila decides to conduct Anand and Ganga's marriage on the day of Anand's birthday. She had also fixed Kalyani's marriage with Rishikesh, who was Priyanka's ally. On the day of marriage, Anand decides not to go to the auditorium and also tells Kalyani to do so. Das forcefully takes Kalyani to the wedding hall. Kalyani shows her dislike by showing reluctance in dressing up. Akhila threatens to kill herself if there is any disruption during the marriage which creates a quandary for Kalyani. Anand's friend SI Shivadas collects all information regarding Ganga by trapping her as a criminal in a fake car accident and submits all the evidence to prove Ganga's relation with Priyanka. Priyanka and her allies are arrested and the marriages are cancelled. Anand arrives along with his father and rushes to Akhila to disclose his marriage with Kalyani. Akhila is upset upon hearing the news and her worries intensify on seeing Kalyani's Mangala sutra. Akhila attempts suicide but is saved by Anand. Kalyani, blaming herself for all this, unties her mangalya sutra and drinks poison. Thanks to all prayers Kalyani is saved.

Kalyani enters Trichambalam as Akhila's eldest daughter-in-law although Akhila vows not to accept her. Akhila often displays her dislike of Kalyani. Akhila tells Anand that Kalyani is just a mere cook, so Anand replies that Kalyani is Thrichambath Anand Krishnan's wife. Akhila replies that he is just Anand Krishnan. Anand says that he will no longer stay in that house. He resigns from his post as CEO and moves from Trichambalam with Kalyani.On behalf of his father's wish he shifts to the outhouse. Das leaves from Thrichambalam without informing Anand and Kalyani.Kalyani tells Anand not to make Das come back.

Anand and Kalyani try to start some business but it doesn't go well. Eventually Anand starts beauty products company called AK group of companies and decides to call Akhila as their inaugurator without revealing that they are the owners. Priyanka and Ganga plots against Akhila to kill her buy short circuiting the main switch. Anand manages to save Akhila but is hit by massive current shock. Anand becomes blind due to blow to head. Akhila tries to win her son back but Anand stands with Kalyani. Anand after several incidents and dramas regain his vision.

Akhilandshewari's look-alike Rajashewari enters Trichambalam on Priyanka's instruction. Meanwhile Kalyani and Nandana gets pregnant.

The series concept was taken from Telugu language series Muddha Mandaram, aired on Zee Telugu. It was remade into Tamil language as Sembaruthi on Zee Tamil and in Kannada language as Paaru on Zee Kannada.[5]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chembaruthi and all other Zee Keralam series stopped from 28 March 2020. Months later, filming was permitted again in India. From June 2020, all Zee Keralam programs resumed with fresh episodes. Lead actress Aishwarya Bhaskar was replaced by Thara Kalyan.[6]

• Chembarathi at ZEE5
• Chembarathi at IMDb