It has been a while since a project as heavily and wonderfully dominated by women Akka has made its way to our screens. That doesn’t mean we don’t have such stories now and then. have been Little Women, The Handmaid’s Tale And also Gangubai KathiawadiAll are led by women whose strength to rise up and command their own will always ultimately prevails.
Crime thriller series AkkaDirected and written by newcomer Dharmaraj Shetty and produced by YRF Entertainment (Yash Raj Films), the film is a fascinating exploration of the women who uphold the long-standing traditions of the fictional South Indian town of Perunuru in the 1980s. Nestled between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Perunuru is a woman’s world. Here, a tribe of fierce women spanning generations holds the authority, and it is the men who have to bow to them.
There are many reasons for this Akka stands out. Credit must be given to production designer Lakshmi Keluskar, who creates a lush visual canvas. The attention to detail in depicting the surroundings of a 1980s town nestled in South Indian traditions, houses and nature is remarkable. A stunning outfit put together by the talented Sheetal Sharma Gangubai Kathiawadi Popularity frames the story beautifully. The Indianness of the show comes across especially in a narrative that demands its culture be portrayed so effortlessly.
The plot of Akka revolves around an all-female gangster syndicate and an intense rivalry between two powerful women – Bhavani (Kirti Suresh) and Rudra (Radhika Apte). Decades and centuries of matriarchy among the three tribal divisions of Perunuru – Malemar, Herkada and Parapladi are suddenly disrupted when the mysterious outsider Rudra arrives, threatening the legacy established by Perunuru’s brotherly establishment. The show travels back and forth between timelines, giving viewers a glimpse of the sisters’ clan’s origins in Perunuru and the power it has developed over the years.
Netflix’s poster child Radhika Apte is once again in the limelight. He is delighted to see Perunuru’s ‘Akka’ stepping in with a vengeance and ambition to dethrone him. Spread across five crisp episodes, the gray layers of her character deepen the deep-seated animosities between the two leads, Keerthi and Radhika.
Keerthy Suresh as Bhavani is a beautiful blend of vulnerability and ferocity. He is determined to protect his family’s 800-year-old empire and its legacy of controlling the region’s localities and trade. But she finds herself in trouble when her entire world is turned upside down by the arrival of an outsider, Rudra.
Caught between duty, responsibility and emotions pile up with the death of each elderly family member, Bhavani is forced to make difficult decisions, and it doesn’t come easy.
As the story progresses, you realize that Rudra is not the ‘outsider’ we initially believed him to be.
Some of the best scenes in the series are the confrontations between Radhika Apte’s Rudra and Keerthy Suresh’s Bhavani. They threaten, they challenge, and it all culminates in a violent climax that’s spectacular to watch.
Because of the great action sequences that feature a supporting cast of leads and gun-toting ladies who stop at nothing. The last two episodes really have the potential to completely win over the audience. Keerthy Suresh’s character acts both expected and unexpected, while Radhika Apte’s Rudra almost makes you feel sorry for her despite her selfish and ruthless approach to life and those around her.
The show does a great job of not going overboard with preaching about women’s rights and a world where men don’t dictate their choices. Perunuru is a city that celebrates the arrival of a girl child. Times have changed, but there are still isolated parts of India where the birth of a girl is not celebrated like a boy. But in the world of AkkaA girl child is wished for and prayed for.
Education and employment is the right of every woman. Women are not forced into marriage here. In fact, they often shy away from it as it is seen as a distraction from protecting Perunuru’s heritage.
Addressing the pertinent issue of low birth rate, is the excellent Tanvi Azmi, who plays Perunuru’s matriarch. But clever writing ties this in with the dialogue as well, “Do your best, but be careful, you will also benefit from it..”
Such is the sense of duty among women Akka That they are willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone to achieve their goals, even if it means breaking their hearts. Here, sibling norms take a back seat to patriarchy. And this is the most liberating aspect of the show.
Having said that, there are men too, it’s just that they don’t call the shots. There are Anshuman Pushkar and Mahesh Manjrekar, who play the lead characters in the story. The latter also makes a big reveal in the final minutes of the first season, leaving the door open for a second installment.
Akka is a well-crafted show, and its intentions are perfectly aligned with the storytelling on screen. Powerful performances only elevate the premise. Here, the debate is not about men versus women; It’s more about the saying, “A woman is a woman’s worst enemy.” And this is where the fictional world of the show often blurs and reality begins to take over.