First things first, let me say that Surya S/O Krishnan is not a regular commercial film and therefore giving it a rating is extremely tough. Also, we will just say that when Gautam Menon said that after Kamal Hassan it was only Surya who could act in such a role, he was right. Absolutely, totally completely spot on. For an actor to transform himself in so many different ways for a single film is amazing. Having gotten that out of the way, Surya S/O Krishnan is a classy film that will most certainly be rejected at the box-office but will find appreciation from the critics and the class audience

What is it about: The film is about a family of four – Krishnan (Surya), Malini (Simran), Surya (Surya again) and Shreya. Though it is about the family, the main focus of the film is on the father son relationship. How Surya grows up taking his father as an inspiration, how he loves Meghna (Sameera Reddy), how he loses her, how he copes, how he succeeds, how he finds love again with Priya (Ramya) are all told from the perspective of the son. It is all about the trials and tribulations in the life of an everyday man, who could very well be your next door neighbor.

What is Good: If ever there was a movie that an actor carried solely on his shoulders, this is it and Surya is the man. Surya in his 60's look, in his teenager look, in his college boy look, in his drug addict look, in his armyman look – the film is almost like a showcase to Surya's acting skills and he does remarkably well. Simran pitches in with a nice performance, Sameera Reddy looks the part, Ramya redeems herself and the rest of the minor players acquit themselves well. But in the end, it is all about Surya. The cinematography by Ratnavel is top-notch and be it Chennai or San Fransisco, it is awesome all the way through. The music by Harris Jairaj is good, background score included. Gautam Menon's direction drips with passion and here is one director that attempts to take Indian cinema further with each of his films.

What is bad: The film is painfully slow. The first half seems like it is a couple hours long and has four songs plus a bit song crammed in. The second half is even longer and most importantly, takes off on a completely different tangent. The autobiographical feel of the film will put off the masses and it is definitely not a commercial entertaining kind of film.

Me Thinks:Go if you are the kind that enjoys slow and sensitive cinema. Or go if you are a female who drools at the very sight of Surya – there is plenty of eye-candy for you and Surya in an army uniform will make young men want to join the army. If you are looking for a commercial masala entertainer, you will have strayed into the wrong screen in the multiplex.

Tailpiece: The dialogs in the film are amazingly crisp, but they are also in hep English. Again, how many people understand lines like 'You look like a million bucks or I will come into your life and sweep you off you feet are definitely not what the masses will understand.