At a time when Malayalam cinema is dominated by cheap comedies and crass commercial films, a film like Akale -- based on the Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie -- comes as relief to those appreciative to quality.

It is a small film, something like chamber music. There are only four characters in the film, and the location is just one house - somewhat Bergman-esque!

While the original play was set in the US in the 1930s, the director decided to make the mother (Margaret D'Costa played by Sheela) and her two children (Neil played by Prithviraj and Rose played by Geetu Mohandas) Anglo-Indians. The film was shot mostly in Kannur.