Aachar & Co

<p>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 during the 1960s and 1970s. 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. She pitched the story to 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. Although the film was set in , production took place in since the city better preserved the architecture of the time, with an unused staff quarters building at the being used for the Aachar house. The movie was heavily inspired by aesthetics.The film also has a gentle commentary on patriarchy and feminism. The music was composed by . “Bengaluru’s Suprabhata”, based on the popular rendition of the , 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. The Next release was “Pickle Song” which also became one of the chartbusters with praise for its whimsical lyrics accompanied by its cheerful music. A critic from 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”. A critic from wrote that “All in all, it is a clean movie worth a watch for the whole family”. A critic from wrote that “With Bengaluru weather providing an apt backdrop, makes for a perfect family outing this weekend, especially when accompanied by parents and grandparents, who can surely enjoy the nostalgia”. A critic from wrote that “Despite some flaws, 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”. A critic from wrote that ” 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?” In contrast, a critic from wrote that ” 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”. A critic from wrote that “Ultimately, you are likely to walk out of the hall feeling that 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”. Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy was selected for the 2024-25 for this movie.</p>