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| Akka: Are Malemar, Perplady and Herkada Based on Real Places in South India? |
Netflix's Akka takes viewers into Pernuru, a fictional kingdom shaped by three territories with very different identities, cultures and political interests. Malemar, Perplady and Herkada might look like places pulled straight from South India's history, but are they actually real? The answer is a little more interesting than simply looking them up on a map. Although all three locations belong to the series' fictional world, their names and geographical characteristics have some intriguing similarities to real places in Karnataka.
Written and directed by Dharmraj Shetty, the Netflix series puts considerable effort into building a world that feels like it existed long before the opening episode. Rather than relying on one central location, the story moves across Pernuru, exploring its different communities, traditions and political arrangements. The kingdom is divided into three territories, each governed by one of three monarchical sisters. They share a common heritage, but their lands serve different purposes and have their own distinct identities.
That geographical arrangement is important because Pernuru is more than an attractive historical backdrop. Its territories help explain the relationships between communities, the distribution of power and the differences that shape everyday life. Malemar represents the coastal side of the kingdom, Perplady brings together different cultures, while Herkada is associated with the hills and warrior communities. It is a fairly ambitious fictional map, and fortunately, the series gives each corner of it a reason to exist.
Malemar: The Fictional Coastal Territory With a Real Karnataka Namesake
Malemar is the principal locality of Pernuru and one of the most important settings in Akka. Known as the land of the sea, it represents the kingdom's coastal territory and plays a significant role in its commercial and political identity. Its position makes it a natural centre for business and trade, giving it considerable importance within the wider kingdom.
Interestingly, Malemar is also the name of an actual neighbourhood in Mangaluru, Karnataka, situated in the Derebail area. That discovery might encourage viewers to start planning a visit, but there is an important distinction to make. The real neighbourhood and the fictional territory in Akka should not be treated as the same place.
There has been no confirmed explanation from Dharmraj Shetty establishing that the real Malemar directly inspired the series' version. The shared name could simply be a coincidence, particularly because the fictional location belongs to a much larger historical and cultural setting created specifically for the story.
The series also does not depend entirely on filming in one coastal location to establish Malemar's identity. Its visual presentation combines extensive visual effects with on-location filming in and around Mumbai. The result is a setting designed to communicate the atmosphere of a coastal kingdom rather than provide a precise geographical representation of an existing South Indian neighbourhood.
Perplady: A Cultural Melting Pot With Similarities to Rural Karnataka
Perplady is another important territory in Pernuru, although its identity differs considerably from Malemar. While the latter represents the kingdom's commercial coastal interests, Perplady is presented as a place where different cultures, communities and traditions exist alongside one another.
There is a possible real-world comparison here, too. Perlampady, a village in Puttur taluk in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, shares a noticeable resemblance to the fictional name. It is an interesting geographical connection, although there is no confirmed evidence that the Netflix production directly borrowed its setting from this particular village.
The region's linguistic and cultural diversity makes the comparison particularly relevant. Kannada is widely used across the surrounding area, while Tulu has a strong presence among local communities. Beary Bashe, Konkani and Malayalam are also spoken in parts of the wider region.
This cultural variety offers an interesting parallel with Perplady's portrayal in Akka. The fictional territory brings together several communities and tribes, creating a complicated social environment in which differences in background and status influence relationships. It also provides space for the series to examine discrimination and unequal treatment within Pernuru.
Rather than presenting cultural diversity as something that automatically produces harmony, the story gives it a more complicated role. Different communities share the same territory, but that does not necessarily mean they enjoy the same opportunities or treatment. It is a useful way of adding depth to the fictional kingdom, especially when the story could otherwise have relied on the usual historical drama formula of royal families arguing over territory.
Herkada: The Hill Territory Connected to India's Western Ghats
Of the three territories, Herkada is perhaps the most distinctive. Described as the land of the hills, it represents the mountainous side of Pernuru and connects the fictional kingdom to the wider geographical character of the Western Ghats.
The Western Ghats stretch along India's western coast, passing through several states and extending for roughly 1,600 kilometres. Their landscape includes mountain ranges, forests and varied ecosystems, making them one of the country's most recognisable natural geographical features. It is an appropriate source of inspiration for a fictional territory built around rugged terrain and communities with strong warrior traditions.
Unlike Malemar and Perplady, however, Herkada does not have an obvious real-world counterpart that closely matches its portrayal in the series. There is a superficial geographical connection through a village also called Herkada in Karnataka, identified in a court record concerning the Siruguppa taluk area. Still, a shared name alone is not enough to establish a direct connection with the Netflix setting.
Within Pernuru, Herkada has a particularly important purpose. It is the smallest of the three territories and is home to several warrior tribes known for their guerrilla warfare skills. Its mountainous environment also gives it a different strategic position compared with the coastal and culturally diverse regions.
This makes Herkada an interesting contrast to the other two territories. Malemar has its commercial importance, Perplady has its diverse communities, and Herkada brings military strength and geographical protection into the equation. In other words, the kingdom has managed to divide its responsibilities rather neatly. Whether its rulers always agree on how those responsibilities should be handled is another matter entirely.
Are Malemar, Perplady and Herkada Actually Real Places?
The simplest answer is no. Malemar, Perplady and Herkada are fictional territories created for Akka, rather than three real locations that viewers can visit as parts of an existing South Indian kingdom.
However, their names have similarities to geographical locations in Karnataka. Malemar shares its name with a neighbourhood in Mangaluru, Perplady resembles Perlampady in Dakshina Kannada, and Herkada has a possible geographical namesake in the Siruguppa taluk area.
These connections make the series' worldbuilding more interesting, but they should not be mistaken for confirmed production inspirations. Without a direct statement from Shetty or the production team, it is difficult to establish whether the similarities were intentional or coincidental.
What matters more is how the three territories function together. Each has a distinct geographical and cultural identity, allowing the series to explore different aspects of life within Pernuru. Their shared heritage connects them, while their differences create the political and social tensions that help drive the narrative.
Opinion: Akka's Fictional Geography Is One of Its More Interesting Details
What makes Akka's fictional kingdom particularly interesting is that its three territories do not feel like locations created simply to give the characters somewhere different to stand. Malemar, Perplady and Herkada each have a clear identity, and that makes Pernuru feel considerably more developed. The coastal setting brings commercial interests into the picture, Perplady introduces cultural differences, and Herkada adds a geographical and military dimension.
It is a sensible approach to worldbuilding, even if the kingdom's political arrangements probably require a few more meetings than anyone would enjoy. The similarities to real Karnataka locations are another welcome detail, although it would be unfair to claim that they directly inspired the series without confirmation. Personally, the most interesting territory is Perplady because its cultural diversity gives the fictional world an additional social dimension. Overall, Akka deserves credit for making its setting feel like an important part of the story rather than an elaborate historical wallpaper.
Ultimately, Akka uses Malemar, Perplady and Herkada to create a fictional version of South India that feels connected to real geographical and cultural characteristics without presenting Pernuru as an actual historical kingdom. Their similarities to places in Karnataka are worth exploring, but the distinction between real locations and fictional storytelling remains important. Have you spotted any other similarities between Pernuru and real places in South India? And which of the three territories would you most like to explore if the kingdom actually existed? Share your thoughts, because there is clearly more to discuss about the world behind Akka.