Aachar & Co[a] is a 2023 Indian Kannada-languagecoming-of-agecomedy-drama film written and directed by Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy and starring herself, Vamsidhar Bhogaraju, Harshil Koushik, Anirudh Acharya and Jagadishwar Sukumar. The movie marked the directorial debut of Sindhu.[1] The movie had mostly women technicians, which is a rarity in Sandalwood.[2]
The film was released on 28 July 2023. It opened to mixed to positive reviews from critics but the movie went to complete 25 days at the box office by striking a chord with the audience.[3]
Plot
The film follows Suma (Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy) and her nine siblings of a typically orthodox family headed by Madhusudhan Aachar (Ashok), as they explore changes in patriarchy, arranged marriages, gender roles, education, and work opportunities for women in Jayanagar, Bengaluru during the 1960s and 1970s.[4][5]
The film's concept originated from Murthy's nostalgia for the "simpler times" of the late 20th century, which led her to discover the ways that women silently broke the mold and spurned stereotypes in the 1960s and 1970s.[6][7] She pitched the story to Puneeth Rajkumar and his wife Ashwini in 2020, who both approved, produced and assisted with the film. According to Murthy, the cast and crew being mostly women had came about organically rather than being a conscious choice.[6] Although the film was set in Bengaluru, production took place in Mysore since the city better preserved the architecture of the time, with an unused staff quarters building at the University of Mysore being used for the Aachar house.[7]
Themes and influence
The movie was heavily inspired by Wes Anderson aesthetics.The film also has a gentle commentary on patriarchy and feminism.[8]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Bindhumalini.[9] "Bengaluru's Suprabhata", based on the popular M. S. Subbulakshmi rendition of the Suprabhatam, was the first song to be released and the song became an instant hit among the audience with its catchy lyrics and the peppy track.[10] The Next release was "Pickle Song" which also became one of the chartbusters with praise for its whimsical lyrics accompanied by its cheerful music.[11]
A critic from Deccan Herald wrote that "If you want to reminisce about the good old Bangalore, travel through its traffic-free, tree-lined lanes, breathe its crisp air and prefer your pickles saved in large ceramic jars and sparingly served in smaller ones, then 'Aachar & Co.' is homemade for you".[13] A critic from Bangalore Mirror wrote that "All in all, it is a clean movie worth a watch for the whole family".[14] A critic from The Times of India wrote that "With Bengaluru weather providing an apt backdrop, Aachar & Co makes for a perfect family outing this weekend, especially when accompanied by parents and grandparents, who can surely enjoy the nostalgia".[12] A critic from The South First wrote that "Despite some flaws, Aachar & Co. is relevant in many terms; for it talks about the essence of family bonding and how life moves on despite all the hurdles one may face in their life".[15] A critic from The New Indian Express wrote that "Achar and Co delves into essential themes such as women's empowerment, family bonding, and self-reliance, as it provides a glimpse into the life of a woman in that era. While the film can be a delightful ode to the past, it also raises a pertinent question... Have things really changed?"[16]
In contrast, a critic from The Hindu wrote that "Aachar & Co. is a harmless film, but it's hard to dismiss the fact that it exists without a bigger purpose. Even if small in scale, it could have offered us the excitement of watching a period drama on the big screen with solid writing".[17] A critic from The News Minute wrote that "Ultimately, you are likely to walk out of the hall feeling that Aachar & Co. is a bit of a missed opportunity. It's genuinely refreshing to see a woman filmmaker being backed by a mainstream entity like PRK Productions and that together, they have tried to bring something very unconventional to the fore".[18]
↑ Aachar (variant of Acharya, Achari, etc.) is a name suffix used by Kannada Brahmins, in this case applied to the character played by Ashok. As a pun, in Hindi it also means pickle. Aachar & Co refers to Aachar's family.
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