| Genre: | Comedy drama |
| Director: | Radha Mohan |
| Composer: | Ajesh |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Tamil |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 6 |
| Location: | Chennai Ooty |
| Cinematography: | Prasanna Kumar |
| Editor: | Jijendran |
| Runtime: | 22-25 minutes |
| Company: | Vels Film International |
| Network: | Disney+ Hotstar |
| Last Aired: | present |
Chutney Sambar is an 2024 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama television series directed by Radha Mohan for Disney+ Hotstar.[1] Produced by Ishari K. Ganesh under the banner of Vels Film International, the series stars Yogi Babu, Vani Bhojan and Chandran[2] in the lead role along with Nithin Sathya, Elango Kumaravel, Krish Hassan and Myna Nandhini.[3]
The series tells the story of an orphaned street vendor Sachin (Yogi Babu) who unexpectedly becomes part of his wealthy half-brother's family, navigating the challenges of gaining acceptance in his new circumstances.[4] It premiered on Disney+ Hotstar from 26 July 2024 and consisted of six episodes.[5] [6]
Rathnasamy runs Amudha Café in Ooty, a restaurant famous for their sambar. While he lives a quaint life with his family amid the hills, his life is soon cut short after he succumbs to heart attack. On his deathbed, he reveals to his son Karthik that he had lived with a woman named Amudha before marrying his mother and that he has a son through her. After getting a promise from Karthik that he would go and meet his half-brother, Rathnasamy dies. Karthik sets out to find his half-brother Sachin and bring him to Ooty to conduct the final rites, who also happens to be running a road-side eatery known for chutney.
The series was announced by Disney+ Hotstar on 15 July 2023.[7] The series is produced by Ishari K. Ganesh under the Vels Film International. Radha Mohan[8] of Kaatrin Mozhi (2018) and Bommai (2023) fame,[9] will direct the series. This is his debut in a limited series. The cinematography is handled by Prasanna Kumar, editing by Jijendran, Music by Ajesh.
Tamil actor Yogi Babu[10] was cast main role. This is his first role in a limited series.[11] Actress Vani Bhojan[12] plays the female lead and Chandramouli, Ilango and Nithin Sathya as supporting cast. Vani Bhojan has worked with Radha Mohan’s film Malaysia to Amnesia which had a direct release on Zee5 in 2021.
The first look poster was released on Friday 14 June 2024, The poster features the characters sitting at the same table to eat.[13] [14] [15]
Harshini of The Times of India gave 3/5 stars and wrote, "Yet the delicious part of the series – everything involving Yogi Babu – is sufficient to entertain".[16] Avinash Ramachandran of The Indian Express gave 3/5 stars and wrote, "At one point in Chutney Sambar, a character starts narrating a flashback, and Yogi Babu cuts him short by saying something like, “Seekram sollu, Season 2 eduthuda poraanga (Tell it fast, otherwise, they would make a season 2).” Honestly, I wouldn’t actually mind it".[17] Narayani M of Cinema Express gave 3/5 stars and wrote, "As Sachu puts it in his own words, "nalla irundha sambhar la naamale en uppu alli podanum?" (Why should we throw salt in an already flavourful sambar?)".[18]
Anusha Sundar of OTTplay gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "Chutney Sambar is a passable series that, thankfully, does not become a snoozefest thanks to its outdated arcs. Radha Mohan makes an earnest attempt to serve up a platter of delicious characters who come together for a hearty meal. There is a good reason why each character exists and they get their due by the end of the series. Yes, not everything works for the series, but despite its flaws, Chutney Sambar is a one-time watch that you can put on while doing your chores".[19] Janani K of India Today gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "'Chutney Sambar' is a decent web series with the right intentions".[20]
Gopinath Rajendran of The Hindu wrote, "Probably naming series after eatables is the trick! In the series, Rathnasamy’s restaurant is famous for its sambar while Sachu’s eatery is renowned for its chutney, but it’s actually Radha Mohan and Yogi Babu whose collaboration — like chutney and sambar — make Chutney Sambar a delectable watch".[21] G. Gowtham of India Herald wrote, "A group of delectable personalities gather for a substantial lunch, and Radha Mohan does his hardest to present them on a plate".[22]