# Akka creator Dharmaraj Shetty on women's leadership

> Dharmaraj Shetty explains how his web series Akka celebrates women's leadership and cultural traditions.
- Title: Akka creator Dharmaraj Shetty on women's leadership · Scroll
- Summary: Dharmaraj Shetty explains how his web series Akka celebrates women's leadership and cultural traditions.
- Keywords: akka, dharmaraj shetty, yrf entertainment, netflix, tanvi azmi, keerthy suresh, radhika apte, matriarchal clan, coastal town, saris, gold jewellery, women leadership
- Source: Scroll — https://scroll.in/reel/1096951/akka-creator-dharmaraj-shetty-a-celebration-of-women-and-leadership-lessons-too
- Author: Scroll Staff
- Published: 2026-11-08T02:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: akka, dharmaraj shetty, yrf entertainment, netflix, tanvi azmi, keerthy suresh, radhika apte, matriarchal clan, coastal town, saris, gold jewellery, women leadership
## Akka web series debut
Dharmaraj Shetty created the five-episode Hindi web series Akka for Netflix.

> The central fight is between what is the right thing to do and what needs to be done, which is a difficult thing faced by leaders anywhere in the world
## Pernuru's matriarchal rule
The fictional coastal town Pernuru is governed by a matriarchal clan from the 1940s to 1980s.
## Matriarch Muthakka
Tanvi Azmi plays Muthakka, the matriarch who controls the liquor brewing trade in Pernuru.
## Bhavani's role
Keerthy Suresh portrays Bhavani, the heiress who must maintain Pernuru's equilibrium and outwit dissidents.
## Rudra's entrance
Radhika Apte's character Rudra enters Pernuru from Mumbai to become the new 'Akka'.
## Women-led inheritance
Pernuru's women take partners instead of marrying, with inheritance passing through the female line.
## Shetty's research
Shetty drew inspiration from female warriors in Mangaluru and Kerala who held their own against powerful adversaries.
## Akka's production
Shetty started writing Akka during the pandemic with YRF Entertainment's script development head Deepanjali Sarkar.
## Costume design
Sheetal Sharma designed bright saris and earthy hues with gold and silver jewellery for the characters.
## House styles
Pernuru's three houses have distinct styles: water house blue, forest house green, central house maroon and dark red.
## Key takeaway

Dharmaraj Shetty created the web series Akka to explore women-led governance and cultural traditions in a fictional coastal town.