Yuvakudu (2000)

Starring: Sumanth, Bhumika and Jayasudha
Directior: Karunakaran
Producer: Nagarjuna and Sudhakar Reddy
Music: Manisarma

Karunakaran's second directorial venture though not as good as his first one, Tholiprema, will not disappoint the viewers. The film is all about a young man who wants to live life to the core by realizing his dreams in both love and career. The basic storyline of the film revolves around this point.

Siva(Sumanth) is the only son of Padmavathi (Jayasudha), widow of an Army Officer, who brings him up against all odds. Siva aspires to be an Army Officer like his father, but his mother is dead set against it. What's a film without a love-angle to it? So, we have Siva meeting Sindhu (Bhumika) and falling in love with her at first sight. However, Sindhu spurns Siva's proposal for marriage. Coincidentally, Padmavathi and Sindhu happen to meet each other and get close. Padmavathi, coming to know that Sindu is Siva's love, convinces her to marry her son. Sindhu, who initially agrees to the marriage only for Padmavathi's sake, starts liking Siva. Then, the story takes a different turn with Siva joining the army and Padmavathi getting upset. Sindhu stays back with her mother-in-law. But, when Sindhu starts seeing her husband without Padmavathi's knowledge, she feels betrayed and leaves home. Sindhu goes in search of her mother-in-law and meets her at a camp held for victims of bomb blasts. At the same place, Siva successfully thwarts a bomb explosion. When people hail Siva, Padmavathi realizes her son's achievement and joins them, taking the film to a happy end.

The narration is quite entertaining though there are lapses in screenplay. All the lead actors -- Sumanth, Bhumika and Jayasudha - performed well. Sumanth is at ease in both action scenes and dance numbers. Bhumika complements him well. Coming to music, it seems Manisarma has taken more interest in re-recording than in composing.