Upon theatrical release, the film received positivereviews from critics. R. G. Vijayasarathy of Rediff rated the film 3.5/5 and called it "an emotionally engaging film made on a reasonable budget with a strong story, good narration and pleasing music." On the acting performances he wrote, "... Shrutimakes a deep impression as the elder sister. Kishore in the role of Huliyappa who stands out with another strong performance." He added, "V Manohar's music is the other plus point of the film." A critic from the IANS gave the film the same rating and wrote, "Watch Akka Thangi for its good story content and great performances". A critic from the Bangalore Mirror wrote, "Akka Tangi thankfully does not descend into tear-jerking mode. The sentiments are subtle. The comedy is likable without double entendre. This is a complete family entertainer which you cannot dare to miss".