Ye Maaya Chesave

Gautham Vasudev Menon's 2010 film follows a young man who wants to become a director and falls in love with a Christian woman. Her family opposes the relationship and neither side gives way. The film was shot simultaneously in Tamil, with the two versions made using different casts. The Telugu version was Samantha Ruth Prabhu's first film and, with Naga Chaitanya, created the best-known screen pairing of the period. Menon's romance folds the process of making films into the story; the character tries to write his own love as a film, which adds a layer to the narrative. A. R. Rahman's music accounted for much of its reputation. Who it's for: those who like Telugu romantic drama and Menon's manner. Who it's not for: viewers expecting the families' objection to be treated seriously; the film sets up religious difference as an obstacle without pursuing it.