Anna (Tamil TV series)
| Anna | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Directed by | A.Durga Saravanan |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Tamil |
| No. of episodes | 876[1] |
| Production | |
| Producers | Anil Sundar Gugan Manohar |
| Cinematography | Kalaivanan |
| Editor | Aravind |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company | Rajammal Creations |
| Original release | |
| Network | Zee Tamil |
| Release | 22 May 2023 – 18 January 2026 |
Anna (transl. Elder brother) is an Indian Tamil-language television series produced by Rajammal Creations, starring Senthil Kumar and Nithya Ram.[2] The serial is based on the bond between an elder brother and his four younger sisters.
The show premiered on Zee Tamil on 29 August 2022 and ended with 876 episodes on 18 January 2026. The series is also available on the digital platform Zee5.[3] The final episode aired on Sunday 18 January 2026 at 14:30 for 4 hours and 30 Minutes.[4]
Plot
Shanmugan, a devoted brother, raises his four younger sisters while managing their alcoholic father. His overprotective nature and insistence that marriage take priority blind him to his sisters' own dreams and aspirations.
Meanwhile, Bharani chafes under parental pressure and their disapproval of her relationship with Shanmugan.
The series follows Shanmugan's dual role as caretaker to his sisters and partner to Bharani, while tracing how his sisters navigate their own relationships with parents and in-laws. A romantic subplot also develops between Shanmugan's sister Issaki and Bharani's brother Muthupandi.
Cast
Main
- Senthil Kumar as:
- Shanmugam "Anna" Vaikundam: Grocery store owner; Vaikundam and Sudamani's son; Bharani's husband; Rathna, Isakki and Veera's elder brother; Kani's adoptive elder brother. (2023–2026)
- Dr. Saravanan: Shanmugam's look-alike; Koperundevi's husband (2024)
- Nithya Ram as Dr. Bharani Shanmugam: Soundirapandi and Bhagyam's daughter; Shanmugam's wife; Muthupandi's younger sister and Sivabalan's elder sister. (2023–2026)
Recurring
- Poovilangu Mohan as Soundirapandi a.k.a. "Soundiram": Pandiyamma's brother; Bhagyam's husband; (2023–2026)
- STP Rosary as Vaikundam: Bhagyam's brother; Sudamani's widower; (2023–2026)
- Manjula Reddy as Sudamani Vaikundam: Vaikundam's wife (2023–2024) (dead, Accidentally Killed by Maruthappan)
- Sunitha Srinivasan/ Yalini Rajan as Ratna Arivazhagan: A school teacher; Vaikundam and Sudamani's eldest daughter; (2023–2026)
- Vikash Sampath as Arivazhagan: Ratna's second husband (2024–2026)
- VJ Thara / Darsu Sundaram / Gowri Gopan / Suchitra as Inspector Veeralakshmi "Veera" Sivabalan: Vaikundam and Sudamani's second daughter; (2023–2026)
- Abinash as Sivabalan Soundirapandi: Soundirapandi and Bhagyam's younger son; (2023–2026)
- Preetha Suresh as Isakki Muthupandi: Vaikundam and Sudamani's youngest daughter; (2023–2026)
- Sathya SK (2023–2024) / Afsal Hameed K (2024–2026) as Inspector Muthu Pandi a.k.a. "Pandi" Soundirapandi: Soundirapandi and Bhagyam's elder son
- Hema Chinraj as Chellakani "Kani" Vaikundam: Vaikundam and Sudamani's adopted daughter; (2023–2026)
- Sri Latha as Baakkiyam Soundirapandi: Vaikundam's sister; Soundirapandi's wife; (2023–2026)
- Srilekha Rajendran as Paandiyammaal: Soundirapandi's elder sister and Vedha's Mother (2023–2025) (dead, Accidentally Killed by Soundirapandi)
- Saravanan as Vettukili: Shanmugam's grocery shop faithful servant (2023–2025)
- Santhosh / Ajay Bharat / Guhan Shanmugam as Venkateshan: Ratna's ex-husband (2023–2025)
- Poppy Master as IPS Vyjayanthi: Gowtham's mother (2025)
- Baashwanth as Gowtham: Vyjayanthi's son; Veera's ex-fiancé (2025)
- Sivan Sreenivasan as Public Prosecutor Sivanandi (2025)
- Sofiya as Senthamarai: Vettukili's wife (2025)
- Syamantha Kiran as Vedhavalli "Vedha": Pandiyamma's Daughter (2025–2026)
Others
- Parvathy Venkataraman (2024) / Preethi Sharma (2024) as Koperundevi, Saravanan's wife (2024)
- Rhema Ashok as Shanmugam's cousin (2023)
- Hemanth Kumar as Karthi (2023–2024)
- Parthiban as Shanmugham's Uncle
- Eshwar as Maruthappan: Devi's ex fiancé and Sudamani's killer
- Nalini as Judge
- Vaishnavi Arulmozhi as Veera
- Arun Crizer as Maaran
Production
Development
It was announced on 10 April 2023 that the series will be released on Zee Tamil.[5][6]
Casting
Senthil Kumar was cast in the main role in the serial, making his comeback to Tamil television after Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar.[7][8][9] Nithya Ram was cast in the female lead role, returning to Tamil television after a sabbatical of four years.[10][11][12] Initially, Rithika Tamil Selvi was considered to play the role of the sister Isakki, but she denied and was replaced by actress and dancer Preetha Suresh, who was known for her role in Zee Tamil's Rajini series and as a contestant in Dance Jodi Dance.[13][14]
Sunitha was cast in another sister role, Rathna. VJ Thara was initially cast as Veeralakshmi, Shanmugam's second sister, but was replaced by Darsu Sundaram on 22 September 2023.[15][16] However, she also left,[17] resulting in Gowri Gopan playing the role as of April 2024.[18] Actor Santhosh was cast as Venkateshan, Rathna's love interest,[19] but he was replaced by Ajay Bharat in March 2024.[20]
In June 2025, Ramya Balakrishna was cast to play negative lead Shruti.[21] In after one week, Ajay and Sree Nithi made a special appearance.[22] In February 2025, Sofiya was cast as Senthamarai.[23]
Release
The first promo was unveiled on 15 April 2023, featuring Senthil Kumar at the Kavadi Aattam temple.[24][25]
Adaptations
| Language | Title | Original release | Network(s) | Last aired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil | Anna அண்ணா |
22 May 2023 | Zee Tamil | 18 January 2026 | Original |
| Telugu | Maa Annayya మా అన్నయ్యా |
25 March 2024 | Zee Telugu | 7 June 2025 | Remake |
| Marathi | Lakhat Ek Aamcha Dada लाखात एक आमचा दादा |
8 July 2024 | Zee Marathi | 4 October 2025 | |
| Bengali | Amader Dadamoni আমাদের দাদামনি |
7 July 2025 | Zee Bangla | Ongoing |
References
- ^ "Mirchi Senthil and Nithya Ram starrer 'Anna' completes 400 episodes". The Times of India. 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Everything about the family drama starring Senthil Kumar and Nithya Ram". The Times of India. 4 August 2025.
- ^ "Senthil Kumar and Nithya Ram's 'Anna' goes off air after completing 876 episodes". The Times of India. 20 January 2026.
- ^ "சூப்பர் ஹிட் சீரியலை திடீரென இழுத்து மூடும் ஜீ தமிழ்... அதிர்ச்சியில் ரசிகர்கள்". tamil.asianetnews.com (in Tamil). 8 January 2026.
- ^ "செந்தில் மற்றும் நித்தியராம் நடிக்கும் தொடரின் பூஜை ஆரம்பம்". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 13 April 2023.
- ^ "மிர்ச்சி செந்தில் ஜோடியாக நித்யா ராம்.. 'அண்ணா' சீரியல் பூஜை! வைரல் ஸ்டில்கள்". cineulagam.com (in Tamil).
- ^ "Popular TV actor Senthil to play legendary actor MGR's fan in upcoming show 'Anna'?". The Times of India. 18 May 2023.
- ^ "விஜய் டிவியிலிருந்து விலகி ஜீ தமிழில் இணைந்த மிர்ச்சி செந்தில்..!! சீரியல் குறித்து புதிய அறிவிப்பு..!!". 1newsnation.com (in Tamil). 29 March 2023.
- ^ "அண்ணா என்ற புதிய சீரியலுக்காக மிர்ச்சி செந்தில் வாங்கும் சம்பள விவரம் இதோ…". www.cinemamedai.com (in Tamil). 11 April 2023.
- ^ "மீண்டும் சீரியலுக்கு வரும் நித்யா ராம்.. கலக்கலாக தொடங்கிய பூஜை.. முதல் நாளே இப்படி ஒரு அமர்க்களமா?". tamil.oneindia.com (in Tamil). 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Nithyaram backs to Tamil serial". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 31 March 2023.
- ^ "மீண்டும் சின்னத்திரையில் நந்தினி சீரியல் நடிகை நித்யா ராம்!". tamil.news18.com (in Tamil). 20 April 2023.
- ^ "வேறு சேனலில் அறிமுகமாகும் பாக்கியலட்சுமி சீரியல் அமிர்தா.. புது சீரியலில் இப்படி ஒரு கேரக்டரா?". tamil.oneindia.com (in Tamil). 28 March 2023.
- ^ "தொடங்குவதற்கு முன்பே மாற்றப்பட்ட விஜய் டிவி சீரியல் நடிகை!". tamil.news18.com (in Tamil). 20 April 2023.
- ^ "Darsu Sundaram to make her TV serial debut with 'Anna', 'I will give my best to the show'". The Times of India. 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Actress Thara announces her exit from TV show 'Anna'; Darsu Sundaram to replace her as Veera?". The Times of India. 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Darsu Sundaram quits 'Anna'". The Times of India. 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Dancer Gowri Gopan joins the cast of TV show, Anna". The Times of India. 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Actor Santhosh quits Tamil daily soap 'Anna'". The Times of India. 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Actor Ajai Bharat joins the cast of TV show, Anna; says "I am really excited to play the role, Venkatesan"". The Times of India. 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Actress Ramya Balakrishna joins the cast of TV show 'Anna'". The Times of India. 3 February 2025.
- ^ "Actors Ajay and Sree Nithi to make a special appearance in 'Anna'". The Times of India. 12 February 2025.
- ^ "'Chinnamarumagal' fame Sofiya joins the cast of 'Anna'". The Times of India. 23 June 2025.
- ^ "புதிய தொடர் முலம் ரிஎன்ட்ரி கொடுக்கும் பிரபல நடிகர்..!!! ஆக்ரோசமாக சாமியாடும் ப்ரோமோ வீடியோ வைரல்." 24x7tamil.com (in Tamil). 15 April 2023.
- ^ "காவடியுடன் மாஸ் என்ட்ரி கொடுத்த ஷண்முகம் - அண்ணா சீரியல் முதல் எபிசோட் அப்டேட்!". Zee Hindustan Tamil (in Tamil). 22 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.