Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Prem Keetanu Remake Loses Premalu’s Warmth and Natural Charm
Prem Keetanu is a Hindi version of the Malayalam movie Premalu.
Both films tell a similar story about a young man, his friend, and the woman he likes.
The reviews say the original felt natural because its characters talked and acted like ordinary young people.
They argue that the remake makes the story louder and more dramatic.
One reviewer says Vishal’s feelings for Suhani seem to appear too quickly.
Another says his behaviour can seem too possessive, while Suhani is not given enough room to show what she wants.
The reviewers also disagree somewhat about the supporting characters, though they praise Magan’s humour.
Overall, they feel the remake keeps the plot but loses much of the original’s warmth.
Apoorv Singh Karki’s Prem Keetanu is a Hindi remake of Girish AD’s 2024 Malayalam rom-com Premalu.
Both reviews say the remake follows the original’s broad plot but misses the cultural texture, natural humour and everyday details that made Premalu work.
Veer Pahariya plays Vishal, who pursues Suhani; reviewers criticize the romance as rushed and his behaviour as inconsistent or, at times, possessive.
The reviews say Suhani has less agency than Premalu’s female lead, while Nikhil Vijay’s Magan and Aparshakti Khurana’s Jeet receive mixed assessments.
Reviewers fault the remake’s shifting tone, heightened spectacle and artificial settings, arguing these choices make its story less relatable and predictable.
- Who
- Director Apoorv Singh Karki and cast members including Veer Pahariya, Aafiya Syed, Nikhil Vijay and Aparshakti Khurana.
- What
- Prem Keetanu, a Hindi remake of Premalu, received critical reviews saying it loses the original’s natural warmth and character detail.
- When
- The source film Premalu was released in 2024; the articles do not state Prem Keetanu’s release date.
- Where
- The remake is a Hindi-language film; the original is Malayalam. One review says much of the remake is set in artificial, closed-off spaces and that Delhi is reduced to a backdrop.
- Why
- The reviewers attribute the remake’s shortcomings to copying the plot while changing its tone and adding spectacle at the expense of the original’s everyday humour and cultural nuance.
Criticism of the remake
Acknowledged strengths
Performances and supporting characters
Criticism of the remake
The reviews criticize Vishal’s characterization as inconsistent and say Suhani is given little agency; one review also finds Jeet less engaging than his counterpart in the original.
Acknowledged strengths
The reviews note that Nikhil Vijay’s comic timing as Magan adds energy, and one says Aparshakti Khurana appears to enjoy playing Jeet.
Changes in adaptation
Criticism of the remake
The reviewers argue that the remake’s louder, more conventional approach weakens the everyday humour and emotional subtlety of Premalu.
Acknowledged strengths
One review acknowledges that remakes can change the source material, but says the issue is that Prem Keetanu’s changes misunderstand what made the original work.
- Remake
- Prem Keetanu
- Original
- Premalu (2024)
- Remake director
- Apoorv Singh Karki
- Original director
- Girish AD
- Lead character in remake
- Vishal, played by Veer Pahariya
- Lead character in original
- Sachin, played by Naslen
- Central criticism
- The remake is said to retain the broad plot but lose the original’s naturalness, warmth and conversational humour.
