Aake (film)
A 2017 Kannada neo noir horror film.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Aake is a 2017 Indian Kannada language neo noir horror film directed by K. M. Chaitanya. It features Chiranjeevi Sarja and Sharmiela Mandre in the lead, with Achyuth Kumar and Prakash Belawadi in supporting roles. The film is an official remake of the 2015 Tamil movie Maya and marks the entry of Hindi production and distribution company Eros International into Kannada cinema.
- language
- Kannada
- genre
- Neo noir horror
- director
- K. M. Chaitanya
- lead_actors
- Chiranjeevi Sarja, Sharmiela Mandre
- release_year
- 2017
- production_company
- Nakshatra Productions, United Kingdom for KS films
- music_composer
- Gurukiran
Lore & Background
The film runs on two seemingly separate plots simultaneously. In one, a single mother in Bengaluru is trying to make a living out of her floundering acting career. In the second, an artist in London is assigned to draw illustrations for a book about a ghost that haunts a locked out mental asylum. It is only towards the end that the two plots merge and the audience gets to understand the suspense and the missing blocks.
Reader's Guide
Aake is significant as the first Kannada film produced and distributed by Eros International, marking the company's entry into the Kannada film industry. It was also the last Kannada movie released before the implementation of GST. The film is a British production, made with technicians from the United Kingdom and Karnataka, and its cinematography was done by UK-based Ian Howes. The original score and soundtrack were composed by Gurukiran in London. The movie received positive reviews, with critics praising its script, technical brilliance, and soundscape. It is the second collaboration of executive producer Yogish Dwarakish, director Chaitanya, and hero Chiranjeevi after Aatagara.
Did You Know?
- Aake is an official remake of the 2015 Tamil movie Maya.
- The film marks the entry of Eros International into Kannada cinema.
- It was the last Kannada movie released before the implementation of GST.
- The cinematography was done by UK-based Ian Howes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aake (2017)?
Aake is a 2017 Kannada-language horror film that fuses neo-noir atmosphere with supernatural thriller elements. It follows a dark, suspenseful storyline anchored by Chiranjeevi Sarja and Sharmiela Mandre.
Who directed Aake and who stars in it?
K. M. Chaitanya directed the film, with Chiranjeevi Sarja and Sharmiela Mandre carrying the lead roles. Achyuth Kumar and Prakash Belawadi appear in key supporting parts.
Is Aake a remake of another movie?
Yes, it is an official Kannada adaptation of the 2015 Tamil thriller Maya. The remake recontextualizes the original plot within a neo-noir horror framework tailored for Kannada audiences.
Which production and distribution companies were involved with Aake?
Nakshatra Productions and KS Films (United Kingdom) produced the project. Its distribution also represented Eros International's first entry into Kannada cinema, making it a notable cross-industry venture.
Why do fans consider Aake a landmark in Kannada horror?
It is one of the earlier Kannada films to fully commit to the neo-noir horror subgenre rather than defaulting to conventional ghost-story structures. The backing of a major Hindi production and distribution house like Eros International also signaled growing cross-regional investment in Kannada cinema.
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