Santosh Subramaniam

Mohan Raja's 2008 Tamil film is a remake of the 2006 Telugu film Bommarillu. Santosh, whose every decision has been made by his father, must defend a choice of his own for the first time when he falls in love; the story builds that conflict inside a family house. The idea at the centre is that love can turn into a form of control: the father is not ill-intentioned, he simply believes he knows what his son will want. Prakash Raj's father goes beyond the template and carries the film. As a remake it holds no surprises and stays scene for scene close to the original. Genelia D'Souza's energy lightens the first half. Who it's for: viewers who like Tamil family romance and Indian cinema of the 2000s. Who it's not for: anyone who has seen the original, or who will find a long narrative wearing.