Saraswatichandra (TV series)


Saraswatichandra is an Indian soap opera produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, written by Saba Mumtaz, Utkarsh Naithani, Ved Raj and Abhijit Sinha, and is based on Govardhanram Tripathi's 1887-1901 four volume novel of the same name. It aired on Star Plus from 25 February 2013 to 20 September 2014. It was dubbed into Malayalam as Swayamvaram.

Plot

Young Emirati aristocrat Saras is introverted due to his mother's suicide and rejects an arranged marriage, informing fiancée Kumud by letter. She challenges him to inform her father and so Saras travels to her village in Ahmedabad, India, gains familiarity with her family and gradually falls in love with her. On his return to Dubai, Saras finds a letter from his mother, explaining that she committed suicide due to his father having an affair. Saras disowns his father and decides not to marry Kumud because he cannot support her without his family's wealth.
To save her family's reputation, Kumud rushes into a marriage with Pramad, the son of a politician. Saras realizes his mistake and tries to stop the wedding, but is beaten by thugs. Kumud finds that her husband is an abusive alcoholic but resolves to change him. Kumud's sister Alak finds Saras and brings him to the family home to recover. Saras vows to change Pramad's ways. Pramad's father also wants Pramad to change, and hires Saras as his secretary which makes Pramad jealous.
Pramad pretends to be a changed man, but tries to kill Kumud with the help of maid Kalika. Saras rescues Kumud, who separates from Pramad and returns to her family home. However, Kalika enters the household by marrying Kumud's cousin Yash. Pramad attempts to abduct Kumud but his goons take her sister Kusum. Saras saves Kusum, who develops feelings for him but agrees to marry another. Pramad sends evidence of Kusum's kidnapping to the groom's family, who call off the wedding. To save the family's reputation, Kumud convinces her family to allow Saras to marry Kusum. Saras agrees, but plots to have Kusum married to Danny, who loves her. Kusum gradually recognizes Danny and returns his feelings. Pramad travels abroad for medical treatment, abandoning Kumud and facilitating her divorce. Kumud marries Saras, who reconciles with his father Laxminandan.
After the wedding, Kabir helps the families when Laxminandan falls into a coma. Kabir is secretly working for Saras's stepmother Gumaan to break the families apart so that she can gain Laxminandan's wealth. Kumud is kidnapped and again rescued by Saras. Gumaan's elder sister Menka reveals Kabir's identity as Saras's younger brother, thought to have died in infancy, and that he is actually seeking vengeance on Gumaan. Gumaan learns of this and has Kabir kidnapped in London, with Saras and Kumud going to save him. Meanwhile, Gumaan uses Kalika to try to separate Danny and Kusum. Kalika reveals the truth and is divorced and disowned by Yash. Gumaan tries to kill Saras, Kumud and Kabir, but they are saved. Laxminandan awakens and disowns Gumaan, who is arrested. Saras and Kabir both reconcile with their father.
Saras and Kumud move to Mumbai for a business project. Their landlord becomes obsessed with Kumud, who is a look-alike of the girlfriend he murdered. The landlord kidnaps them both and tries to murder Saras, but they find evidence and have him arrested.
During Kabir's wedding to Kusum's friend Anushka, a young man attempts to kill Saras and Kumud, extorting Anushka's cooperation. Saras is hospitalized saving Kumud and Kabir breaks off the engagement. Kabir and Danny save Anushka's hostage brother, and Kabir forgives Anushka. Gumaan is revealed to be behind the plot.
Gumaan feigns mental illness and is transferred from jail to a mental asylum, where she finds her rival, Saras's mother Saraswati who is suffering amnesia. Gumaan informs Kumud but still tries to take revenge. Kumud helps Saraswati regain her memory and mental health, and the family is reunited. Gumaan is returned to jail. Saras and Kumud have their first child.

Cast

Main

The production of the series began in May 2012.
The grand set of the series and the production cost ₹5.5 crore. Initial scenes were shot in Dubai and Rajkot. In August 2013, Sphere Origins took over the production of the series from Sanjay Leela Bhansali Films Pvt Ltd, after which, in January 2014, the storyline deviated from the novel as Saras and Kumud become married.

Reception

The series garnered an average rating of 2.5 TVR in its first episode and 2.1 TVR in the premiere week. However, the following weeks it improved.

Awards and nominations

International broadcast