Elayaru Naavu Gelayaru
Kannada (U) **
Cast: Achintya, Tejaswini,
Puttaraju, Nihal, Tushar,
Abhishek, Mahendra, Sooraj, Mahati
Director: Vikram Suri

Having made a mark as a child artiste, Vikram Suri makes his directorial debut with a children’s film ElayaruNaavu Gelayaru (We are young, but friends). In these times, when there is a dearth of children’s films, Elayaru comes as a welcome change.

However, what is otherwise off-putting is the clichéd way in which Vikram Suri presents the 10 kids who are a riotous lot providing audiences a rollicking time, while the social themes that he has them handle are indeed novel.

Sharing an unusual bond and bonhomie, these rural kids are a terror unto themselves and no adult dares cross their path. Right from speaking about Swachh Bharat, rural education, corruption in mid-day meals, and joining force to raise money for the operation of a cancer-stricken friend, these kids are the smartest you will find in the village. While the first half is a charming ode to the innocence of childhood and juvenile pranks, it is the second half where Vikram falters, hurtling the film into a weepy melodrama.

While children are too theatrical in their performances, Anoop Seelin’s score and Ashok V Raman’s picture postcard cinematography more than make up for the lapses.