Karthika Deepam (Telugu TV series)

Season 1

Karthik, a doctor, begins to fall in love with his friend Deepa, admiring her kindness and generosity. Karthik's brother, Aditya, falls in love with Deepa's half-sister, Shravya. Aditya and Karthik's mother, Soundarya, arranges with Shravya's parents for Aditya and Shravya's wedding. Shravya is initially happy, believing that her marriage is arranged with Karthik. However, when she discovers she is to marry Aditya, she threatens to commit suicide.

Meanwhile, Karthik arranges to marry Deepa, but Deepa's parents are unsure. The couple marry in secret and announce their marriage at a party, angering Soundarya and Shravya. Aditya and Shravya marry but she is unhappy.

Some time later, Karthik's childhood friend Mounitha returns, and she tries to steal him from Deepa. Mounitha causes Shravya to miscarry, and falsely convinces Karthik that Deepa is having an affair with her friend, the novelist Vihari. Deepa becomes pregnant and is finally accepted by Soundarya. It is also revealed that Mounitha was responsible for the death of Hima, Karthik's college girlfriend.

Karthik takes a fertility test, but Mounitha alters the test to make Karthik think that he is infertile. She botches several attempts to have Deepa killed, and hires Durga to kill Deepa. After seeing Deepa's kindness, however, Durga protects her. Mounitha then unsuccessfully tries to have them killed in a car accident. Durga reveals his truth to Deepa, but because he is in love with Monitha, he blames Karthik for the attempted murders. Karthik, believing he is infertile, tells Deepa that he is not the father of her child, and thinks that Vihari is the father. Deepa leaves, Karthik's father and brother ask him to be retested, but Mounitha convinces him not to do so.

Deepa gets a job at a petrol station. Vihari explains to Soundarya about his brother-sister relationship with Deepa and proves that he did not have an affair with her. Soundarya feels guilty for misunderstanding Deepa and asks her to return, but she refuses. Later, Deepa gives birth to twins while under anaesthetic, and Soundarya takes one home without Deepa knowing there was a second child. Karthik begins to love the child, and names her Hima after his late girlfriend. Deepa leaves the city with her other child, Souurya.

Deepa runs a tailor shop in a small village with Souurya. The two travel to the city for medical treatment, where Deepa encounters Karthik and his family. A misunderstanding occurs where Deepa thinks that Karthik has married Mounitha.

Deepa begins working as a cook, and gets a job cooking in Hima's school. The two become friends, not knowing that they are mother and daughter. When Karthik finds out about their friendship, he is furious, and decides to take Hima away to America. However, Hima becomes sick and is unable to travel. Karthik and Deepa talk; Deepa finds out that Hima is her other unknown child, and Karthik finds out that Souurya is Deepa's daughter. For the sake of the children, Karthik and Deepa move back in together. Souurya learns that Karthik is her father.

Season 1

Season 2

Season 1

Season 2

Viewership

After a few months, the series became one of the top-rated Indian and Telugu television programs.^{[15][16][17][18]} Its highest rating had been 19.7 TVR.^[19] In the first week of June 2021, Karthika Deepam set a ratings record of 20.8TVR, rivalling the legacy of Kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi. ^[20][21]

In January 2019, the series had an average rating of about12 TVR.^[22] In October 2020, it remained a top-rated series.^[23] During week 34, it maintained a top position with 18.35 TVR.^[24] In week 42, it had an 18.56 TVR.^[25][26]

Ratings

Reception

According to The Hindu, "The serial follows a faithful template set by Ekta Kapoor, that trendsetter who gave (mostly) housewives soapy and weepy sagas which belied both sense and sensibility at every tantalizing turn."^[83] An Asianet News reviewer wrote, "The serial, which takes place between trust and distrust, continues to take a turn for the worse."^[84]