Teenage is equated to turmoil, an unpredictable phase. Alternating between ferociousness and brooding silence, teenagers shun parental communication and closeness. They enjoy only friends' company, hang out at their places and sink into their private world. However, psychological studies indicate that parents should try to establish closeness and to forge a strong relationship with their children during this period. They should share their wealth and their physical presence is even more important at this stage. Ilamaangal, a remake of the Malayalam hit film Notebook, deals with a serious teenage issue.

Saira (Roma), Pooja (Parvathy), Sridevi (Mariya), Firoz (Mejo Joseph) and Anna (Vani Kishore) study and stay together in Lord's Academy, a residential school. Carefree, independent and blissfully happy, they enjoy their freedom and time. Each day in life invites them with a novel adventure. Though all four are friends, their personalities differ. Saira is naughty and fond of childish pranks; Pooja's tends to vacillate between selfishness and magnanimity; Sridevi is shy and withdrawn. Eventually, innocent and adventurous Sridevi is caught in a serious problem, one that mars her future.

Sridevi moves closely with Suraj (Suraj). Suspecting him to be a cheat, Sridevi's friends discourage her relationship with him. However, Sridevi with her raging hormnones is in no mood to listen to her beloved friends' advice. She goes ahead and Suraj exploits her weakness. Soon, Sridevi becomes pregnant with his child.

Shocked and shaken, Sridevi is terribly struck by the truth. The teen pregnancy seems too much for her to handle. Also, she is not ready to terminate the tiny life growing inside her. At this point, her family comes to her help. After a course of therapy and domestic bonding, the shaken teenager is brought back to normalcy. How she comes out of the tragedy and regains her confidence forms the rest of the story.

Director Roshan Andrews, winner of the State Award for Best Debutant Director for 2005 and maker of the smash hit Udhayanu Tharam, has taken up a socially relevant theme in this film. With only newcomers to put across the strong message, the director has completely placed his confidence in the strong and tested storyline. The climax is indeed a revelation. All the new actors have given their best. Suresh Gopi has done a cameo role as Saira's father.

C. Divakar's camera and debutant music director Majo Joseph's tunes are Ilamaangal's strengths. P.V. Gangadharan, a popular and respected person in film circles, has produced the movie under his banner Grihalakshmi Films. Truly a film to watch and learn from.