Movie Name : YOUTH
Release Date : Mar 27, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Ken Karunas, Anishma Anilkumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Priyanshi Yadav, Meenakshi Dinesh and Others
Director : Ken Karunas
Producers : Karuppiah C. Ram, Sulochana Kumar
Music Director : G.V. Prakash Kumar
Cinematographer : Viki
Editor : Nash
Related Links : Trailer
A coming-of-age film titled Youth was released in Kollywood last week, and its Telugu version, under the same name, has now hit the big screens. Here’s a look at how it fares.
Story:
Set in 2014 in Chennai, Praveen (Ken Karunas) is not interested in studies, but his mother Saroja (Devadarshini) wants him to become an IAS officer. In contrast, he barely secures admission into an intermediate college, where he falls in love with Preshika (Meenakshi Dinesh) and also develops feelings for Sonal (Priyanshi Yadav). Eventually, he loses both of them. Later, he falls in love with Gaganavalli (Anishma Anilkumar), but things once again don’t go in his favour, and she places a condition before accepting his love. What is that condition? What happens to his mother’s dream? What does Praveen learn in the end? The rest of the story answers these questions.
Plus Points:
Ken Karunas makes a confident debut as a hero and performs with ease. His comedic timing and dialogue delivery suit the character well. He represents the journey of many young boys, making it easy for the audience to connect with him.
As a coming-of-age story, one may not expect heavy emotions throughout, but the climax turns out to be the heart of the film, with the pre-climax building it effectively.
The performances of Devadarshini and Suraj Venjaramoodu as his parents are commendable, especially in the climax, which connects emotionally. Until then, the film plays out as a youthful story filled with mischievous moments and adolescence-driven fun. However, the emotional shift in the climax is impactful, making it a notable win for Ken as a director.
Meenakshi Dinesh and Priyanshi Yadav look lovely on screen, and their scenes with Ken are enjoyable, even if somewhat predictable. Anishma Anilkumar, known for Sirai, portrays an innocent and relatable character, reflecting the mindset of many girl students.
The father-son scenes are highly relatable, balancing humour and emotion. The love tracks and friendly banter help maintain engagement. The Telugu dialogues are neatly written, adding a local flavour. GV Prakash Kumar’s music is another major asset. The popular song “Chamiki (Mutta Kalakki)” is well shot and placed effectively.
Minus Points:
Youth follows a familiar coming-of-age template centred around academics and love life, making the storyline easy to predict. Expecting something unconventional may lead to disappointment. Although Ken and his gang keep the film watchable through their performances and music, the writing could have been stronger.
Many scenes feel familiar. After a fair first half, the second half lacks freshness, repeating the same pattern with another love track until the pre-climax shift. This could have been handled better.
The friends’ characters are entertaining but tend to feel repetitive without adding much new value. In the climax, the portrayal of the protagonist’s academic performance and results feels unrealistic and difficult to believe. Although the emotional impact works, the logic behind it feels weak.
Technical Aspects:
Ken Karunas deserves appreciation for making the film a decent watch despite its familiar storyline. For a debutant, delivering a 2.5-hour film filled with humour and ending on an emotional note is commendable.
GV Prakash Kumar’s music and background score elevate many scenes and significantly enhance the film. Cinematography by Viki is decent. Editing by Nash is adequate, though the second half could have been tighter. Production values are satisfactory. The Telugu dubbing is acceptable overall, but a few characters, especially Anishma, feel slightly out of sync.
Verdict:
On the whole, Youth is a decent outing, with Ken Karunas delivering effectively as both actor and director. The love tracks, comedy, music, and especially the pre-climax to climax stretch work well. On the downside, the familiar setup and a few laggy moments in the second half hold it back. Overall, it is a watchable youth drama that resonates strongly with younger audiences while still appealing to others.
123telugu.com Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team