Oct 02, 2026 12:06pm IST
‘Prem Keetanu’ Review: Veer Pahariya And Aafiya Sayed’s Rom-Com Gets The Formula Right, But Not Always The Feeling
The art of remaking a piece of content is a task in itself because more things can go wrong than can turn out right. Veer Pahariya led "Prem Keetanu", which lands in theatres this week alongside "Drishyam: The Conclusion", is walking that exact tightrope. But to director Apoorv Singh Karki’s and writers Girish A.D. (who also wrote and directed the original) and Deepak Kingrani’s credit, they manage to get most of it right and create a harmless, decent film even when the flaws are staring the viewer in the face.
The fact that Girish’s "Premalu" as a blueprint is inherently entertaining is a given. That makes the process a lot easier for Karki because, regardless of the landscape of the language, this story will talk to audiences similarly across the board. At a university in Banaras, Vishal (Pahariya) meets Suhani (Aafiya Sayed) while they are in the queue for admission. After a fight, the two land in different colleges, go through a four year course and meet again by chance.
She is now climbing the ladder and doing well at her job, while he is still good for nothing and trying to figure out what to do with his life. But Vishal falls in love with her this time, though not without a twist. Suhani’s boss, Ranjeet (Aparshakti Khurana), will go to any lengths to get her, even if it means insulting Vishal at every opportunity. The premise of "Prem Keetanu" resembles the syntax of a lot of romantic comedies from the late 2000s. There is a hero with a losing graph who is about to find his footing, a heroine who is radiant and sought after even when she herself isn’t particularly keen, and a villain who is obvious but also entertaining.
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So there is very little here to make the vibe boring. Add to that Hindi dialogues that are written well enough to keep you interested through major chunks of the film. The punches land more often than not, and the jokes are woven well into the narrative. What lacks is the ‘relatable’ factor of the Malayalam film. In the original, Hyderabad becomes an integral character in the narrative. "Prem Keetanu" fails to bring that flavour, even when it is set in some of the most lively locations in the country.
Most of the screenplay is written in broad strokes, which makes the jump cuts between two scenes very visible. In the process of making it harmlessly entertaining, some nuances and even entire scenes are changed, which also takes away from the crescendo that the movie wants to touch. Some artistic choices feel unnecessary, like the need to have hook steps for every possible song, even when the emotion is heartbreak. The placement of songs is another problem. The set design by Ambika Acharya, in parts, looks anything but lived in. The music by The Rish, Shashi Suman and Sachet Tandon is passable.
Veer Pahariya has worked hard on his craft, and there is indeed growth, but there is room for more. He is funny when needed and attempts to become a small town boy in a hostel, letting go of his rather chiselled image.
Aparshakti Khurana plays a borderline problematic character who asks a new joinee if she has a boyfriend on her first day at work and then does all he can to win her attention and affection. But Khurana plays it with conviction and manages to churn out laughs. Aafiya Sayed gets the assignment right. While she gets the agency that the original gives the character much later, it is a decent performance. Rakesh Bedi, in his limited screen time, is a joy to watch.
All in all, "Prem Keetanu" is a harmless remake of an entertaining film, with its own share of shortcomings.
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