Akkara Kazhchakal
Encyclopedia
Akkara Kazchakal is a Malayalam sitcom
about a middle-class Malayali
-American family. The series premiered on Kairali TV
at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 16, 2008. The show gained huge popularity among the Malayali community residing in the United States
. The producers regularly upload the latest episodes to YouTube each week. The show ran for 50 episodes and is currently on hiatus, while the group does a traveling show.
The show gained huge popularity among the Malayali community residing in the United States mainly and in India. The Team has decided to go up with making a movie out of this and worked on the movie part. The pooja of the film was held on 3 September 2010 at Orangeburg, New York. Filming commenced on the same date. A teaser trailer appeared on the official Akkara Kazhchakal YouTube page on 22 September 2010.
, their children Matt (Litto Joseph) and Chakki (Priya Joseph) were raised in the United States and like the American life. The show also features Girigiri (Jacob Gregory), George's office assistant and Appachan (Paulose Palatty),George's father
Other episodes follow the lives of Mahi (Hari Dev) and Babykuttan (Sanjeev Nair), two fresh off the boat
nurses who recently immigrated from India; and their housemates Krish (Jayan Mathew) and Baiju (Geo Thomas), who moved in with them after losing their jobs during the IT recession.
Other recurring characters include Pallilachan (Jose Paramus), a priest
from the New Jersey
church; Rincy's friend Shiny (Shine Roy); and Shiny's husband Jacob Embranthiri (Saji Sebastin).
from Aymanam
, who moved to the U.S. after marrying Rincy, a nurse working in New Jersey. He has a typical Kottayam
accent. He liked his life in Kerala
, but often tells his children how fortunate they are to enjoy such a great life in America. George is critical of his son Matt, who tries to embrace American culture. George tries various side business ventures—from selling slimming potions that end up causing diarrhea, to selling ebony statues. He finally settles down as an insurance agent after clearing the Insurance License Exam.
Girigiri is George's ever-stammering insurance assistant, who is like family and is always around. His actual name was "Gregory," but thanks to a slip of the tongue, he has been known as 'Girigiri' ever since. His constant need for small bites is often criticized by George. Rincy is very fond of Girigiri and once mentioned that he was like the younger brother she never had. Girigiri walks out after being irritated by Appachan, and Candy (Cynthia Gianetti) is recruited to take his place.
Mahi and Babykuttan landed in the U.S. through George's cousin, who is an agent in New Jersey. On their very first day, they almost ended up being arrested by a cop (Bris Kocak) after the fire alarm went off because they burned an omelet; the cops
mistook their Puttu Kodam, used for making Puttu
, for a marijuana Vaporizer.
There are few episodes in which Appachan prepares grape
pickles around the grape season, and Girigiri helps him sell them in the local Indian grocery store.
said: "It looks like George has not only delivered on his promise but has also managed to endear himself to his viewers." . Jacob A. C. of Mathrubhumi
said that "The victory of Akkara Kazhchakal lies in the fact that it was able to introduce the day to day life of an Malayali-American a lighter mood."
The team has planned to release a movie calling it Akkara Kazhchakal - the movie which will be soon be released. This movie will be produced by Infamous Coconuts & BOM TV. The gist of the story is that Thekkinmootil Family decides to move Appachan and Ammachi to an old age home in Kerala. Meanwhile between the jobs and a new insurance office George & Rincy find it hard to spend time with the family. With Rincy, Kids and Appachan complaining about a much needed break George finally decides to take the family on a vacation to Niagara Falls.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
about a middle-class Malayali
Malayali
Malayali is the term used to refer to the native speakers of Malayalam, originating from the Indian state of Kerala...
-American family. The series premiered on Kairali TV
Kairali TV
Kairali TV is an Indian television channel broadcasting in the Malayalam language catering to the Malayalam speaking population in Kerala as well as abroad . The channel, headquartered in Trivandrum, has studio facilities in Trivandrum as well as Kochi. Malayalam Communications Limited is the...
at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 16, 2008. The show gained huge popularity among the Malayali community residing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The producers regularly upload the latest episodes to YouTube each week. The show ran for 50 episodes and is currently on hiatus, while the group does a traveling show.
The show gained huge popularity among the Malayali community residing in the United States mainly and in India. The Team has decided to go up with making a movie out of this and worked on the movie part. The pooja of the film was held on 3 September 2010 at Orangeburg, New York. Filming commenced on the same date. A teaser trailer appeared on the official Akkara Kazhchakal YouTube page on 22 September 2010.
Characters
The show focuses on George Thekkinmootil (Josekutty Valiyakallumkal), a struggling insurance agent. His wife Rincy (Sajini Sachariah) is a nurse who prefers a more luxurious life. While George and Rincy grew up in KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, their children Matt (Litto Joseph) and Chakki (Priya Joseph) were raised in the United States and like the American life. The show also features Girigiri (Jacob Gregory), George's office assistant and Appachan (Paulose Palatty),George's father
Other episodes follow the lives of Mahi (Hari Dev) and Babykuttan (Sanjeev Nair), two fresh off the boat
Fresh off the boat
The phrases Fresh off the boat , Off the boat , or just simply Boat; are terminologies used to describe immigrants that have arrived from a foreign nation and have not yet assimilated into the host nation's culture, language, and behavior. Within some ethnic Asian circles in the United States, the...
nurses who recently immigrated from India; and their housemates Krish (Jayan Mathew) and Baiju (Geo Thomas), who moved in with them after losing their jobs during the IT recession.
Other recurring characters include Pallilachan (Jose Paramus), a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
from the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
church; Rincy's friend Shiny (Shine Roy); and Shiny's husband Jacob Embranthiri (Saji Sebastin).
Premise
George Thekkinmootil is a MalayaliMalayali
Malayali is the term used to refer to the native speakers of Malayalam, originating from the Indian state of Kerala...
from Aymanam
Aymanam
Aymanam is a village in Kottayam District, Kerala, India, the setting of Arundhati Roy's 1997 novel The God of Small Things.-Overview:Ay in the Tamil language means 'five' and Vanam in Sanskrit means 'forests': Ayvanam, or Aymanam, is the land of five forests...
, who moved to the U.S. after marrying Rincy, a nurse working in New Jersey. He has a typical Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
accent. He liked his life in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, but often tells his children how fortunate they are to enjoy such a great life in America. George is critical of his son Matt, who tries to embrace American culture. George tries various side business ventures—from selling slimming potions that end up causing diarrhea, to selling ebony statues. He finally settles down as an insurance agent after clearing the Insurance License Exam.
Girigiri is George's ever-stammering insurance assistant, who is like family and is always around. His actual name was "Gregory," but thanks to a slip of the tongue, he has been known as 'Girigiri' ever since. His constant need for small bites is often criticized by George. Rincy is very fond of Girigiri and once mentioned that he was like the younger brother she never had. Girigiri walks out after being irritated by Appachan, and Candy (Cynthia Gianetti) is recruited to take his place.
Mahi and Babykuttan landed in the U.S. through George's cousin, who is an agent in New Jersey. On their very first day, they almost ended up being arrested by a cop (Bris Kocak) after the fire alarm went off because they burned an omelet; the cops
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
mistook their Puttu Kodam, used for making Puttu
Puttu
Puttu is a South Indian and Sri Lankan breakfast dish of steamed cylinders of ground rice layered with coconut. It is popular in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as in areas of Sri Lanka, where it is also known as pittu...
, for a marijuana Vaporizer.
There are few episodes in which Appachan prepares grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
pickles around the grape season, and Girigiri helps him sell them in the local Indian grocery store.
Cast
| Character | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| George Thekkinmootil a.k.a. Kochu Kunju | Josekutty Valiyakallumkal | Struggling Insurance Agent |
| Rincy | Sajini Sachariah | George's wife, a nurse by profession |
| Gregory a.k.a Girigiri | Jacob Gregory | George's assistant insurance agent |
| Appachan | Paulose Palatty | George's father, temporarily visiting from India |
| Mahi | Hari Dev | A Malayalee nurse |
| Babykuttan | Sanjeev Nair | A Malayalee nurse |
| Matt a.k.a. Mathaikunju | Litto Joseph | George's son |
| Chakkimol | Priya Joseph | George's daughter |
| Baiju | Geo Thomas | A software engineer |
| Krishankutty a.k.a. Krish | Jayan Mathew | A software engineer |
| Shiny | Shine Roy | Rincy's friend |
| Jacob Embranthiri | Saji Sebastin | A wine-loving scientist and Shiny's husband. |
| Candy | Cynthia Gianetti | George's new recruit for selling insurance products. |
Episode list
- 1 Church Going - The George family prepares to go to Church.
- 2 Malayalam Culture - George installs a Malayalam Channel to teach his daughter Chakki and teenage son Matt the young adult in the family some "Malayalam Culture."
- 3 New Nurses
- 4 George's new business idea.
- 5 George is invited to a Christmas get-together at Chacko's house.
- 6 George's house is haunted by a Madama Ghost.
- 7 Rincy forces George to go on a new diet plan.
- 8 George studies to become an insurance agent.
- 9 George tries to grow Thekummootil Insurance Corp with new marketing techniques.
- 10 George agrees to do Feng Shui/Vasthu in his house.
- 11 Mahesh and Babykuttan try out the dating scene.
- 12 Gregory discovers his hidden talent.
- 13 George gets a new pet for the house.
- 14 George hires a handyman.
- 15 Rincy plans a trip to India.
- 16 Babykuttan joins Sameway (a multi-layer marketing company).
- 17 Babykuttan tries to be a Sameway Millionaire.
- 18 George has a "small party" while Rincy is away.
- 19 Rincy returns with Appachan.
- 20 Matt grows up.
- 21 George and Family gets invited to a party.
- 22 Gregory resigns.
- 23 Gregory's first day at BlimpieBlimpieBlimpie is a submarine sandwich chain in the United States. The company is based in Scottsdale, Arizona.The first Blimpie store was opened in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1964. . By mid-2002, there were about 2,000 Blimpie outlets in operation, located in 47 U.S...
. - 24 George's new assistant.
- 25 Babykuttan learns to drive.
- 26 Generation Gap
- 27 Mahi tries to change career.
- 28 George brings a superstar home.
- 29 The Candy Problem
- 30 Appachan and Giri Giri's new hobby.
- 31 Appachan's Krishi
- 32 Appachan's Achar
- 33 Omana Onam 2008
- 34 Job Search. Car Search. Wife Search.
- 35 Back to School
- 36 Halloween
- 37 Mahi's Dilemma
- 38 The Rat Problem
- 39 George goes to the Doctor
- 40 Black Friday
- 41 Rincy's brother visits
- 42 Informercial episode
- 43 Christmas Episode
- 44 Appachan Babysits
- 45 The Love Letter
- 46 Appachan's Birthday
- 47 DJ KJ Episode
- 48 Going back Home
- 49 Babykuttan's English Tutor
- 50 George buys a New Car
Film locations
- The house of George Thekkinmootil's family is actually located in EnglewoodEnglewood, New JerseyEnglewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
(Abi Varghese's actual home). - Mahi and Babykuttan stay in a house that is located in North BrunswickNorth Brunswick Township, New Jersey-Demographics:At the 2010 census, there were 40,742 people, 13,635 households and 9,367 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,018.3 per square mile . There were 13,932 housing units at an average density of 1,158.8 per square mile...
(Ajayan Venugopalan's actual home).
Critical reviews
Nita Sathyendran of The HinduThe Hindu
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
said: "It looks like George has not only delivered on his promise but has also managed to endear himself to his viewers." . Jacob A. C. of Mathrubhumi
Mathrubhumi
Mathrubhumi is a Malayalam language newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. Mathrubhumi was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British.-History:...
said that "The victory of Akkara Kazhchakal lies in the fact that it was able to introduce the day to day life of an Malayali-American a lighter mood."
Viewership
This sitcom has an estimated 80,000 weekly viewers.Show timing
| Country | Showtime | Re-run |
|---|---|---|
| India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... |
10:00pm IST - 10:30pm IST (MON) | |
| USA | 15:00 EST - 15:30 EST (Sat) | 22:30 EST - 23:00 EST (Fri) |
DVD releases
A DVD of Akkara Kazhchakal was released during Onam 2008 celebrations of Kerala Association of New Jersey (KANJ) by the cast members.Akkara Kazchakal - The Movie
-
- Main article: Akkara Kazhchakal: The MovieAkkara Kazhchakal: The MovieAkkarakazhchakal: The Movie is a 2011 American Malayalam film based upon the popular TV series Akkara Kazhchakal.-Plot:The Thekkinmuttil family decides to send Appachan and Ammachi to an old-age home in Kerala...
- Main article: Akkara Kazhchakal: The Movie
The team has planned to release a movie calling it Akkara Kazhchakal - the movie which will be soon be released. This movie will be produced by Infamous Coconuts & BOM TV. The gist of the story is that Thekkinmootil Family decides to move Appachan and Ammachi to an old age home in Kerala. Meanwhile between the jobs and a new insurance office George & Rincy find it hard to spend time with the family. With Rincy, Kids and Appachan complaining about a much needed break George finally decides to take the family on a vacation to Niagara Falls.
External links
- Akkara Kazhchakal Booking Keralore Page
- Akkara Kazhchakal Sify page
- Akkara Kazhachakal at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- YouTube page
- http://www.akthemovie.com/