What happens when women build a world where they rule not just households, but businesses, criminal networks, and systems of power? Netflix’s Akka takes us into a fictional kingdom where women have ruled for centuries, crime is business, loyalty comes with conditions, and power is never guaranteed. With Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte facing off, the series promises a gangster drama with a rather interesting twist on the genre. But does its ambitious premise translate into compelling storytelling, or does it get lost in its own world? Read our Akka series review to find out.

Akka series review: A kingdom of women

Set in 1985, Akka takes place in Pernuru, a fictional kingdom where women have held power for nearly 800 years. They control the businesses, households and criminal networks that keep the kingdom running. The woman who sits at the top of this hierarchy is known as akka, meaning elder sister. The title represents authority, influence, and an entire legacy.

At the centre of this world is Bhavani (Keerthy Suresh), the powerful matriarch determined to protect the empire that her family and generations of women before her have built. However, that order faces a serious challenge with the arrival of Rudra (Radhika Apte). An outsider with ambitions of her own, Rudra refuses to accept the authority of Pernuru’s ruling women. She wants to challenge it, dismantle its established hierarchy, and claim what she thinks should be hers. What follows is a fight between two women with very different ideas about power and what it takes to hold on to it. With family loyalties, personal ambitions, and revenge entering the picture, Bhavani must protect not just her position but the legacy she believes she must preserve.

Does Akka do justice to its ambitious premise?

The most interesting thing about Akka is also what makes its storytelling tricky. A kingdom ruled by women for centuries is an exciting starting point, especially for a genre that has traditionally placed men at the centre of criminal empires. But simply replacing male gangsters with women does not automatically make the story a fresh take on the genre. At times, the story feels more interested in moving from one conflict to another than giving its fictional kingdom the depth it deserves. The idea of a women-controlled criminal empire could have offered a new perspective on power and patriarchy, but the narrative doesn’t explore all the possibilities its premise opens up.

It isn’t that the series lacks interesting moments. Rather, it feels like there is a much bigger story waiting to be told beneath the one we actually get. The series needed emotional complexity, convincing character development, and a story that shows what each woman stands to lose. However, the visual setting of Akka is quite impressive. Its period costumes, production design, and action sequences are important in building the atmosphere of a criminal empire that has operated by its own rules for generations. Another aspect worth appreciating is the series’ runtime. With just five episodes, Akka is refreshingly short, a rarity in today’s OTT landscape. So, just when you feel the story is losing its grip, it’s already over.

Radhika Apte is charismatic, but Keerthy Suresh steals the show

While Akka might not have scored with the storytelling, it sure has with the cast. Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte are powerhouse performers, and their characters have enough differences to make their confrontation interesting. Radhika Apte brings an irresistible charm and intensity to Rudra. She’s powerful and selfish, with her eye always on the ball. However, Keerthy Suresh steals the show with her magnetic performance. As Bhavani, she brings an impressive mix of authority, restraint, and vulnerability to the character.

Apart from its two leads, Akka stars Tanvi Azmi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Monika Panwar. With several powerful families shaping Pernuru, the supporting characters make this fictional kingdom come to life.

Overall, Akka has the ingredients for a memorable gangster drama. Its premise is fresh, its central characters are interesting, but it is let down by its writing in parts.

Can you watch Akka with family? Yes, but the series has a couple of violent scenes, so you might want to keep the kids away.

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