Youth (2026) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 31 Jul 2026
Youth (2026) Review
Directed by Ken Karunaas, Youth (2026) is a Telugu comedy, romance, drama film starring Ken Karunaas, Anishma Anilkumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu. Youth follows Praveen, a 15-year-old boy who enters adolescence determined to find true love before school ends. As he goes through multiple relationships and heartbreaks, he slowly begins to understand what love truly means. Along the way, the experiences shape his growth, maturity, and outlook on ... Our Rating: 2.75/5. Verdict: SUPER HIT. Released: 19 Mar 2026. Runtime: 2h 21m.
Youth(2026)
Telugu · Comedy, Romance, Drama
2h 21m · 19 Mar 2026
Music: G. V. Prakash Kumar | DOP: Viki | Writer: Ken Karunaas
Ratings
Our Rating
2.75
📖 Story
The story follows Praveen, a 15-year-old middle-class boy who barely scrapes through his 10th board exams. Transitioning into the 11th standard, he navigates the typical hurdles of adolescence, including a series of crushes, breakups, and academic pressures. The narrative explores his evolving relationship with his protective father, who runs a bakery, and his indulgent mother, ultimately focusing on his journey of self-discovery and the emotional weight of adulthood.
Ken Karunas: Delivers a confident debut as both lead and director; excels in comedic timing and the emotional final act.
Suraj Venjaramoodu: Provides a grounded performance as the father, balancing dry humor with poignant parental concern.
Devadarshini: Effective as the indulgent mother, sharing natural chemistry with the lead.
Anishma Anilkumar: Good screen presence and performance, though noted as looking slightly older than the character's age.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Relatable middle-class family dynamics
- ✓Strong emotional climax and pre-climax
- ✓G.V. Prakash Kumar's catchy music
- ✓Engaging comedic chemistry between the young cast
Weaknesses
- ✕Predictable and routine storyline
- ✕Repetitive romantic tracks in the second half
- ✕Protagonist's behavior occasionally feels too mature for a 10th-grade student
- ✕Frequent song interruptions
🎬 Direction & Writing
Ken Karunas makes a commendable debut, showing a knack for handling both humor and heavy emotions. While his writing follows a familiar template, his execution of the climax shows a maturity beyond his years.
- - Lively music and BGM by G.V. Prakash Kumar
- - Standard but clean cinematography by Viki
- - Decent editing by Nash, though the first half could be tighter
- - Relatable production design and art direction by Ramu Thangaraj
📰 Ratings Sources
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 2.50 / 5 | |
| 2.75 / 5 | |
| 2.50 / 5 |
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | The emotional climax and relatable family scenes received high praise from the audience. |
| Neutral | The music and performances were seen as standard but effective for the genre. |
| Negative | Criticism was directed at the predictable story and the excessive number of songs. |
Critics
Critics appreciated the film's emotional core and Ken Karunas's multi-tasking efforts but pointed out the lack of freshness in the plot. It was largely described as a 'routine but watchable' entertainer that connects well with the younger demographic.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Youth release in theatres?▾
Youth released on 19 March 2026 (2026).
Is Youth a hit or flop?▾
Youth is declared a SUPER HIT at the box office.
What is the budget of Youth?▾
Budget of Youth is approximately ₹15 Crore.
Where to watch Youth online? OTT release date?▾
Youth is available on Netflix from 15 April 2026.
Who directed Youth?▾
Youth directed by Ken Karunaas. Produced by Karuppiah C Ram, Sulochana Kumar.
Who are the main cast members of Youth?▾
Youth stars Ken Karunaas, Anishma Anilkumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Devadarshini, Meenakshi Dinesh.
What is the Tollybo rating for Youth?▾
Tollybo rates Youth 2.75/5. Verdict: SUPER HIT.
Who composed the music for Youth?▾
Music for Youth composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar.
What is the genre and runtime of Youth?▾
Youth — Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Runtime: 141 minutes, Language: Telugu.