Tamil television audiences have welcomed a fresh family drama with Chinna Marumagal (sometimes credited as Chinna Marumagal: 12aam Vaguppu) which airs on Star Vijay and is also available for streaming via JioHotstar.
This show captures the dilemmas faced by a young girl with dreams clashing against traditional pressures when she enters into marriage as the youngest daughter-in-law in a conservative family.
Cast & Key Characters
From the IMDb full credits listing: V. R. Thilagam, Swetha, Gowri Janu, Thamarai Selvi, O. A. K. Sundar, Gurupharan, Banumathy, Shiva Kavitha and others form the core cast.
The Times of India article also names the leads: Navin Kumar and Swetha lead the show, playing husband and wife.
Some notable characters and their roles:
- Swetha plays Tamizhselvi (Tamizh), the intelligent schoolgirl who dreams of becoming a doctor despite obstacles.
- Navin Kumar plays Sethupathi (Sethu), the son of the patriarch, who eventually becomes her husband.
- O. A. K. Sundar portrays Rajangam, the stern father of Sethu and a figure representing traditional family authority.
- Thamarai Selvi as Vasanthi, Tamizhselvi’s mother.
- Arul Rajan is Chellapandi, the father of Tamizhselvi.
- Supporting cast includes Gowri Janu, Shiva Kavitha, Banumathy, Gurupharan, V.R. Thilagam, among others, playing relatives, in-laws, and extended family.
These actors bring to life the conflicts between individual ambition, generational expectations, and familial duties.
Timing / Telecast Details
- First aired: 22 January 2024 on Star Vijay.
- Telecast schedule: airs Monday to Friday (weekdays) at 9:30 PM IST.
- Streaming / OTT: Available on Hotstar / Disney+ Hotstar.
- The show has already crossed the milestone of 400 episodes, showing it has been well received by audiences.
Story / Synopsis
Chinna Marumagal tells the tale of Tamizhselvi, a bright, aspiring student who dreams of becoming a doctor. However, her dreams come head to head with the traditional mindset of her family and in-laws who do not believe women should pursue higher education.
Circumstances force her into marriage with Sethupathi (Sethu), the son of a patriarchal family. Tamizh becomes the youngest daughter-in-law of a household that expects her to conform to domestic roles and abandon her ambitions. She must navigate conflicts, emotional pressure, and backlash from in-laws who resist her independence.
The show explores themes of gender roles, education vs tradition, sacrifice, and the resilience of a woman striving to balance her dreams with her marital responsibilities. Viewers watch how Tamizh challenges norms and attempts to assert herself without tearing apart familial bonds.
The series has also attracted criticism and commentary, particularly about its premise that touches on child marriage and the age difference between Tamizh and her husband. Some viewers online have criticized the show’s narrative for portraying regressive ideas under the garb of drama.
