South Indian superstar, Dileep’s milestone 150th film, Prince and Family, has now hit the theatres, and it’s stirring more than just laughter. While a significant number of fans are praising the film as a refreshing family entertainer, some viewers and critics are not totally convinced about it. Some others are also calling out the film’s subtle attempts to whitewash the actor’s controversial past. So, what makes this comedy-drama click with some and miss the mark for others?

About the film, Prince and Family

Dileep’s 150th film, Prince and Family, follows ‘Prince Chakkalakkal’ (Dileep), the eldest son in a quirky, lower-middle-class Christian family in rural Kerala. As his younger brothers move on with their lives, one married with a child, the other about to wed, ‘Prince’ is stuck juggling household expenses and an increasingly lonely personal life. A marriage proposal from a much younger woman, ‘Chinchu Rani’ (Raniya Raanaa), turns his world upside down, leading to a spiral of chaos, comedy, and emotional turbulence. The film also stars Mahima Nambiar, Dhyan Sreenivasan and Manju Pillai in significant roles.

Audience reaction

On social media, fans are calling it a “must-watch family film” with laugh-out-loud moments and heart-touching drama. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), users left rave reviews about the film. One user wrote, “#PrinceAndFamily is a fun, heartfelt Malayalam comedy-drama that delivers laughs and emotional moments in equal measure. #Dileep shines with his comedic timing and emotional depth, while the vibrant score and strong debut direction by Binto Stephen make it a solid family watch. Fans of classic Dileep humour will find plenty to enjoy in this engaging, feel-good film.” Loyal Dileep fans also praised the film as a heartfelt family drama with comic moments.

However, not all fans resonated with the film’s storyline, and found it to be rather average. One tweet on X read: “#PrinceAndFamily – BELOW AVERAGE ONE. The Worst Writing in Malayalam Cinema Recent Time With Worst Presentation. Also, Worst Performance from The Cast. #Dileep Ettan Still Trying To Recreate His old Jokes, which Felt Absolute Cringe as Usual. TOTALLY  2/5.”

What are critics saying?

While the film has had netizens divided, critics have provided a more balanced review of Prince and Family. Some have pointed out the film’s regressive undertones, especially in how Prince views potential brides as “products” and pursues women half his age. Another thing that raised eyebrows is the film’s underlying tone, claiming that some of the scenes, dialogues and even a nostalgic song seemed to redeem Dileep’s controversial image. For the unversed, the veteran actor had been mired in a controversy for the past few years regarding a sexual assault case. 

The Times of India rated the movie a solid 3 out of 5 stars, calling it a “feel-good family drama” that delivers on emotional warmth and solid performances. On the other hand, The Indian Express rated it 2.5 out of 5, alerting viewers to the subtext of the movie. All in all, viewers and critics have warned that the film’s attempt to shape public perception of Dileep shouldn’t be overlooked. According to critics, while the film is agreeably better than the actor’s recent flops, critics are cautioning viewers against subtle PR stunts in the guise of entertainment.

Do you think you are going to watch Prince and Family?

Next Read: Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Whopping Fee In Crore For Rajinikanth Starrer, ‘Jailer 2’ Revealed