Ever since producer Naga Vamsi revealed the storyline of Suriya 46, the film has been the subject of many discussions, and the latest buzz suggests that the movie might be inspired by Jean Webster’s novel Daddy Long-Legs.
Looking back at Indian cinema history, two films were earlier inspired by the same novel. The first was I. V. Sasi’s super hit Kanamarayathu (1984), based on a story by Padmarajan and starring Mammootty and Shobhana. The second was Yash Chopra’s Lamhe (1991), written by Honey Irani and featuring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi. Although the film is now considered a classic by many, it was a box-office failure at the time of its release. Yash Chopra also faced heavy criticism for choosing a subject that was considered taboo then.
As of now, there is no official confirmation that Suriya 46 is inspired by Daddy Long-Legs. However, if the story indeed revolves around a romance between a 45-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, the narration will need to be handled with great care. Any misstep could lead to strong backlash from the audience.