Just the other day, I caught the hit Malayalam film “Premalu” on an OTT platform. Despite my initial skepticism, I found myself pondering over its success at the box office. However, as I watched the film, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disconnected. It was only after the credits rolled that I began to grasp its significance, realizing its resonance with the youth in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

Premalu truly reflects today’s youth, especially from Kerala. The protagonist, Sachin, embodies the typical Kerala youngster—average in academics, indulges in alcohol, and struggling to express his feelings, especially for a girl he’s been yearning for over four years. At home, he clashes with his family, his father even wanting him to work as a delivery boy for the family bakery. Sachin dreams of escaping to the UK with his friends, but financial constraints act as a road block. It’s during this period that he reconnects with Amal Davis, a schoolmate who is academically better, focused and out bound. The contrast between Sachin and Amal forms a central theme in the film, with Amal leading the narrative. Amal’s girlfriend, already admitted to IIT Roorkee, motivates him to prepare for the GATE exam. Amal heads to Hyderabad, the coaching hub for GATE, and Sachin joins him to pass the time before reapplying for a UK visa.

The major plot of the movie unfolds in Hyderabad, incorporating Telugu elements, hence the title Premalu. In Hyderabad, the IT hub of South India, we meet Reenu, a newcomer to the IT profession, which serves as a career destination for many young individuals. Reenu embodies the modern, spirited Malayalee girl, thriving in Hyderabad’s bustling metro life. By chance, Sachin and Reenu meet at a wedding reception, and Sachin, the typical Malayalee, finds himself captivated but unable to express his feelings to the girl. Frustrated with his misfit status in GATE coaching, Sachin takes up a job at a fast-food outlet, excelling even in door-to-door delivery, a task he once detested for his father’s bakery.

The film’s climax is noteworthy—a blend of romance, tragedy, and comedy. The lover turns into a villain, and the protective gear gifted by the lover becomes a weapon that foils his own plans. It’s during this tense scene that a love proposal unfolds. As Sachin eventually escape to the UK, the heroine herself questions about his survival with limited English proficiency and lack of self-assurance.

Crux of the movie: The film delves into the struggles of a teenager lacking confidence and direction, without any abilities or any artistic talents, relying on alcohol to step out of his comfort zone, and ultimately seeking refuge in the UK. It’s his more qualified and outgoing schoolmate who takes the lead in his life’s next phase. He feels an irresistible pull towards a girl brimming with confidence and a clear vision for her future, starkly contrasting his own uncertainty. She becomes the source of hope and purpose in his life, injecting it with newfound meaning. A villain emerges out of her friends.

This is a contemporary spin on a timeless love story, featuring a commoner captivated by a princess, only to discover that a prince is the true antagonist. Against all odds, the lover triumphs, marrying the princess and embarking on a joyous journey together.

Director cum writer Girish A D’s previous films, “Thaneer Mathen” (2019) and “Super Sharanya” (2023), were both low-budget productions featuring new faces, yet both yielded great returns for the producers. Girish’s first film explored life in a high school, while his second focused on the world of an engineering college. Premalu’snarrative commences from the last day of an engineering college.

Produced by Fahad Fasil, actor, Dileesh Pothen, Director, and Syam Pushkaran, scriptwriter, Premalu stands as a testament to the trust placed in Girish by the film fraternity—a trust that the film’s success has clearly validated. This marks a hat trick for Girish.