Kollywood’s classroom chronicles: From playgrounds to paper trails – F’day Spl. Article by Naveen

The massive success of Ken Karunaa’s ‘Youth’ has officially signaled a “Golden Era” for the school-life genre in Kollywood. The current landscape of Tamil cinema is witnessing a remarkable trend where filmmakers are finding massive success by looking backward—either to the chaotic halls of high school or the sun-drenched innocence of childhood.

Here is a focused breakdown of the six films currently defining this movement:

‘Youth’:

The current box-office juggernaut. Directed by and starring Ken Karunaa, it follows the life of a 10th-grader named Praveen. While it starts with the high-energy “backbencher” humor Kollywood loves, it has gained critical acclaim for its second-half pivot into emotional maturity. The film brilliantly explores the weight of middle-class parental expectations through standout performances by Suraj Venjaramoodu and Devadarshini.

‘With Love’:

Directed by Madhan, this film is a non-linear journey through school-day regrets and first loves. Starring Abishan Jeevinth and Anaswara Rajan, it resonates specifically with Gen Z by capturing the modern nuances of hostel life and the digital-era heartbreak that many recent graduates are currently nostalgic for.

‘Dragon’: 

Led by Pradeep Ranganathan, ‘Dragon’ leans into the satirical and rebellious side of student life. It captures the “campus hero” energy, focusing on the friction between rigid institutional authority and the free-spirited nature of the younger generation.

‘Vaazhai’: 

Mari Selvaraj’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece is widely considered one of the most important films of the decade. It tells the story of Sivanandhan, a young boy whose childhood is split between his love for his social science teacher and the back-breaking labor of the banana plantations. It is a raw, heart-wrenching look at how social and economic realities can collide with childhood innocence.

‘Kurangu Pedal’: 

This is a “palate cleanser” in the best way possible. Set in the 1980s, Kamalakannan’s film follows a group of boys whose entire summer vacation is consumed by one mission: learning to ride a bicycle. It is a beautiful celebration of “small-stakes drama” and the analog joys of a village childhood before the arrival of the internet.

‘Meiyazhagan’: 

While the story follows two adults (Karthi and Arvind Swamy), it is fundamentally a movie about the “inner child.” Through deep conversations and a return to a childhood home, it explores how our early years, the relatives we grew up with, and the places we played remain rooted in our souls forever.