Let’s face the truth. It’s been a long time since Tamil cinema has produced a fun teen romance. Such films do exist, but the ones that are released either fail to capture everyone’s attention or feature characters that are barely acceptable to teenagers. In that interval, Ken Karunas’s directorial debut, Youth. Does it sum up a fun school rom-com? For the most part, yes.

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Praveen (Ken Karunas) is a 10th grade student who is influenced by Tamil cinema and believes that the true purpose of his life is to find a love that transcends school, transcends college and culminates in marriage. He has a strained relationship with his father Unnikrishnan (Suraj Venjaramoodu), which is compensated by the immense affection of his mother Saroja (Devadarshini).

One day, while standing outside the classroom as a punishment – ​​a mark of respect among a certain kind of students – Praveen meets Preshika (Meenakshi Dinesh), an equally ‘excellent’ student from the neighboring class. Soon, three girls show interest in him. The story, which clocks in at two hours and 22 minutes, is a coming-of-age tale that is equal parts funny, tender and familiar.

Ken Karuna is not a new face for those who follow Tamil cinema. Son of actor-politician Karunas and singer-TV personality Grace, he has appeared opposite Dhanush in Vetri Maaran’s film. Asuran And viduthalai part 2And in Venky Atluri Vaathi. With Youth, the 24-year-old steps into Kollywood as a filmmaker – and has chosen his subject wisely. A school drama based on nostalgia and romance showcases her strengths both in front of and behind the camera.

Youth He is unwilling to break boundaries, and makes no pretense of doing so. It’s a safe, normal, feel-good school drama with just the right dose of love, emotion and comedy. When these elements are handled well, a film can operate even in familiar terrain, and Youth Largely successful on that front. Everything you’d expect from a school drama is present – teenagers who fall in love over the smallest of missteps, friends who can’t answer, parents revealed as villains, flames and rival school gangs as the highest form of romantic validation. The film wears its genre conventions proudly.

What works in its favor is how it weaves the school romance into a real family feeling without melodrama. The school parts are raw and energetic, though it must be said that some of the jokes veer into body-shaming and racist territory – played for laughs among the teens, but worth noting rather than merely excusing.

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However, the film’s most quietly affecting thread is the relationship between Praveen’s parents. There’s nothing flashy about it – just two people who respect each other, accept their flaws, and still choose to be there for each other. This is exactly what love looks like, and the movie is wise enough to let it breathe.

This rings true when Unnikrishnan, in his warm Tamil accent, asks his wife if their son will change after a difficult experience. And when he quietly asks her if she’s happy with him and whether he’s been a good husband, it’s impossible not to feel for a middle-class father who calls himself a failure. These are the moments that uplift Youth Beyond your style.

Ken Karunas has a boy-next-door charm that’s completely natural and difficult to fake, and his performance effectively embodies this. Both Anishma and Meenakshi Dinesh are impressive as schoolgirls with different personalities, each bringing something different to their roles. But it is Suraj Venjaramoodu and Devadarshini who leave the deepest impression. Despite limited screen time, their characters give the film emotional grounding and warmth.

Cinematographer Vicky’s visuals are fresh and vibrant, in keeping with the film’s youthful energy, and GV Prakash’s songs and background score do what they’re supposed to do – lifting the emotional moments without overpowering them.

Youth This is not a film that digs deep or asks difficult questions. It’s a simple, warm drama about teenagers who don’t get serious about life until life gets serious with them. It stumbles in places, relies on convenience in places, and lets a few jokes fly that probably shouldn’t have. But it hits enough of the right notes – and finds enough real heart in the margins – to make it a worthwhile watch.