Akkare (1984) User Reviews

A Cautionary tale for the Greedy .....

[PimpinAinttEasy · 9/10 · 17 February 2016]

Dear K.N.Sasidharan,

I am a big fan of both your films. Especially Akkare. It is a cautionary tale for many greedy middle class Malayali folk who look at the Gulf nations as a place to make some quick money. Many lives and families have been destroyed in this blind pursuit of the Dinar. Your film is still very relevant with many more middle class Indians desperate to leave the anarchy of India for greener pastures. Money is the reason to be. This holds true for the relatively idyllic but scorched Kerala of 1984 and the cut throat Kerala of today.

I was impressed by the star cast which you assembled with Mammooty and Mohanlal playing supporting roles to Bharat Gopi's protagonist. Even Nedumudi Venu as an arrogant and sexually frustrated gulf returnee had more screen time than the two superstars of Malayalam cinema.

But it was the young and sensuous Rani Padmini who stole the show in my opinion. The scene where she seduces the reluctant Tehsildar (Gopi) was very erotic. You portrayed female sexuality so nakedly with Rani literally launching herself onto Gopi. The background score during this scene by none other than Johnson was overwhelming. The way you lit the poor household of the "thaiyalkaaran" (tailor), giving it an almost orange tinge was wonderful. I liked the way you framed the scene where Rani is tying her hair in the background and Gopi can see her while he talks to her lover (played by Sreeraman).

Bharat Gopi was effortlessly brilliant. He played the lower middle class loser without much fuss, using unaffected mannerisms and face expressions.

I am surprised you did not make more films.

Best Regards, Pimpin.

(9/10)

Relevant movie even today

[cohuman · 7/10 · 23 August 2023]

The movie is all about care and responsibility . Madhavi is perfect as a young slim svelte wife and mother of 2 kids . She wears high V neck blouses with simple cotton sarees. Her fine figure is shown in every frame . Her husband Gopi is the local Tahsildar having great respect. Both lead a simple life but the town is abuss with new comers from the Gulf region. Each time she hears a new story of money and glamour of those regions , she keeps goading her simple husband to find a job there so that they can get out of this menial life . Despite him protesting mildly , her lust for more does not reduce . Venu, Mammooty and Mohanlal make fleeting appearences as gulf returnees giving her some small gifts like perfumes, sarees . She also gleefully accepts an undergarment as gift from Mohanlal ( her distant cousin ) without her husband's knowledge . Her lose morals and lust for those gifts are shown when he rests on her bed without a shirt and she does not object . Meanwhile Gopi tries to learn typing and then later tailoring to get a job abroad . One negative influence brings in other minus points too . He starts taking small bribes ( madhavi chides him for not having a car and he wants to buy one ) , then he succumbs to lust and sleeps with the tailor's young daughter , lies about her mental health when the visiting officers ask about this young girl .... Slowly his honesty , character , opinions , ambitions ... degenerates goaded on by his wife . He too starts giving more importance to vanity by colouring his hair and spending a lot of time in front of the mirror like his wife . His bribery scandal is found out and he is suspended from office . The irony shows when he uses his typing skills and his type writer ( gifted by Mammooty ) to write a request letter to take him back in the Tahsildar job . His request is denied. He is also caught running scantily clothed from the tailor's house at night .He lands up in the police station when the villagers think that he is a thief. He is embarrased and not able to explain what he was doing with just a towel in the absence of the tailor in his house with his daughter. He loses his name , fame , respect , job ... In the end , Madhavi slightly hints that he should start learing to be a manual labour as that job is highly demanded in the gulf. He loses his sanity and imagines himself carrying load of luggage of those returning back from the gulf . Over all a fine movie . The wife and mother instead of cementing the house breaks it down . An eyeopener indeed.

The null shore abroad

[sudhakaranakhilan · 6/10 · 21 May 2020]

Akkare (The other shore) is a relevant one in the common appeal of the society. The film talks about the greediness of the common man to become rich. That greed towards richness and the easiest way to become rich is the key theme that the film portrays. Mid 80's of the Indian culture commonly look at the west especially the Gulf countries as a paradise for their fortune. Here in Akkare, Gopi is Tahsildar (government employee) but wants to go abroad to become rich. He is under dilemma but his wife urges him to do so. He goes and sees many people who are on leave from the Gulf and ask them to get a Visa for him. And for the sake he inquires them what job has the most scope in there. Then with their instruction he is on the verge to study Typewriting and tailoring jobs. It's all about the money that values in Dirham. The people here are very much fond of it. Just be a 'Gulf man' is the only thing they wanted even though their partner also doesn't think about the reputation they had in their motherland. Like Gopi and Padmavathi in Akkare.