Akka Kuruvi

Akka Kuruvi
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySamy
Screenplay bySamy
Based onChildren of Heaven
by Majid Majidi
Produced byM. Muthukkaruppan
Anitha Saminathan
StarringMaster Maheen
Baby Davia
Meenakshi Dinesh
CinematographyUtpal V Nayanar
Edited byManigandan Sivakumar
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
companies
Percept Pictures
Madurai Muthu Movies
Kanavu Thozhirsalai
Distributed byPVR Pictures
Release date
  • 6 May 2022 (2022-05-06)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Akka Kuruvi (transl. Cuckoo)[1] is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language children's drama film directed by Samy and produced by Madurai Muthu Movies and Kanavu Thozhirsalai.[2] The film stars Master Maheen, Baby Davia and Meenakshi Dinesh (In her Tamil debut) in the lead roles with a cameo appearance from Kathir and Varsha Bollamma.[3] The film's music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with cinematography handled by Utpal V Nayanar and editing done by Manigandan Sivakumar. The film is a remake of the 1997 Iranian film Children of Heaven. It was released in theatres on 6 May 2022.[4]

Plot

To not burden their impoverished parents, two siblings decide to share a pair of shoes after the brother loses the sister's. While this turns out to be more difficult than they imagined, fate offers a chance in the form of a marathon.

Cast

  • Master Maheen as Deva
    • Kathir as older Deva (cameo appearance)
  • Baby Davia as Sara
  • Meenakshi Dinesh as Bharathi
  • V. S. Kumar as Deva's and Sara's father
  • Thara Jagathambi as Deva's and Sara's mother

Soundtrack

The soundtrack and score is composed by Ilaiyaraaja and the album featured three songs. All the songs were written by Ilaiyaraaja himself.

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Maanguyelum Kizhiyum"IlaiyaraajaIlaiyaraaja, Vibhavari, Aishwarya4:14
2."Munnae Po"IlaiyaraajaAnitha K, Dhivya S, Kavitha I, AS Namratha, C Sowmiya, Devu Treesa Mathew, Rasika V, Vaishnavi3:52
3."Poombarai Vazhbavane"IlaiyaraajaMukesh, Mahalinga VM, Velmurugan, Sellanguppan Mu Subramany, Anitha K, Chinnaponnu, Magizhini Manimaaran, A Dhanalakshmi3:43

Reception

M Suganth of The Times of India rated the film with 2/5 stars, stating that, "An underwhelming remake of a beloved Iranian film. The film largely banks on Ilaiyaraaja's background score to make us invested, and the maestro comes up with a suitably Insistent score that keeps nudging us towards the emotions that we are meant to feel. This and the inherent feel-goodness in the story are what keep the film afloat."[5] A critic from News Today said Akka Kuruvi is a film that deserves a good watch.[6] Dinamalar rated the film with 2.75/5 stars.[7] A reviewer from Maalai Malar gave a rating of 5.5 out on 10 and called the film a summer feast.[8] Kirubhakar Purushothaman from Cinema Express noted that "Maybe, there is a third and unintentional use of Akka Kuruvi – the film helps us learn how the same story can be made into a classic or, like this case, an embarrassment" and gave 1 star out of 5 stars.[9] Majid Majidi, director of the Iranian original, expressed appreciation for the remake, saying it did justice to the original and also highlighted Ilaiyaraaja's music.[10]

See also

  • Homerun, a 2003 Singapore adaptation of Children of Heaven.
  • Bumm Bumm Bole, a 2010 Indian Hindi adaptation of Children of Heaven.

References

  1. ^ Ganesan, P.C. (2004). Young Lovers and a Poet. Sura Books. p. 18. ISBN 817478389X.
  2. ^ "Children of Heaven being remade as Akka Kuruvi". Deccan Chronicle. 26 February 2020. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Aadhi: Sami sir is like a brother to me". The Times of India. 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Saamy's Tamil remake of Children Of Heaven, Akka Kuruvi, to release on May 6". The Times of India. 23 April 2022. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  5. ^ Suganth, M (6 May 2022). "Akka Kuruvi Movie Review: An underwhelming remake of a beloved Iranian film". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Akka Kuruvi (Movie Review)". News Today. 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  7. ^ "அக்கா குருவி". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  8. ^ "அக்கா குருவி". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  9. ^ Purushothaman, Kirubhakar (9 May 2022). "Akka Kuruvi Movie Review: A disservice to Majid Majidi's Children of Heaven". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Children of Heaven director Majid Majidi appreciates Saamy's Akka Kuruvi". The Times of India. 30 April 2022. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2022.