🎬 Youth (2026)

Coming-of-age• Drama • Romantic Comedy

🎥 Trailer

🧠 Review

Set between 2014 and 2016, the plot follows Praveen, a 15-year-old student who enters the 12th standard with one singular goal: to find true love. While his mother holds high academic hopes for him and his father (a bakery owner) has largely written him off, Praveen navigates a series of crushes and school-life drama. The lighthearted narrative eventually takes a serious turn when a school scuffle leads to a family crisis, forcing Praveen to mature.

📜 Story

For a debut, Ken Karunas shows a strong grasp of Gen Z humor and relatable school-life tropes. While the story relies on familiar "loosu ponnu" clichés and template arcs, the writing manages to keep the comedy engaging.

🎭 Acting :

 Ken Karunas delivers a confident performance, proving his capability as a lead. Suraj Venjaramoodu provides excellent dry humor, and the chemistry among the group of school friends is a major highlight.

🎥 Cinematography

The visuals are bright and functional, though critics noted a "flat" look typical of mid-budget comedy dramas. The film’s 142-minute runtime was criticized for being roughly 20 minutes too long.

🎼 Music

G. V. Prakash Kumar’s soundtrack, including the hit single "Mutta Kalakki," was well-received, though some critics felt the overall score felt like a "back-catalogue" of his previous work.