Atharvaa's latest, Idhayam Murali, has finally opened in theatres after much anticipation on Friday. The film marks the directorial debut of producer Aakash Baskaran and also stars Preity Mukhundhan and Kayadu Lohar in lead roles.
The film is described as a coming-of-age romantic drama that traces a young man's emotional journey through the joys and heartbreak of one-sided love. Along the way, as he navigates friendships, adulthood, and life's unexpected twists, he learns that some emotions never truly fade.
Thaman, Rakshan, Dravid Selvam, Niharika NM, and Sudhakar, among others play prominent supporting roles in the film, which also has a special appearance by Fahadh Faasil.
Netizens, who have catched the first show of Idhayam Murali on Friday have shared their reviews on social media. While many have praised the casting and performances, some have criticised the plot to be generic while some others have found the film to be lengthy. Overall, many have highlighted the nostalgic content in the film.
A user wrote, "A simple and familiar rom-com movie with excellent casting everyone did their part well. Background score by Thaman is so good; biggest backbone for this film. A good 1st half followed by okayish 2nd half.. Colourful visuals worth the big screen watch. Fahad Faasil climax entry scene. The runtime is bit lengthy and streched final act felt so generic."
Another user pointed out the film's runtime as lengthy, but felt the theatre watching experience to be satisfying. "A feel-good entertainer with strong performances, good background music, twists and cameos. Lengthy runtime feels a laggy. A satisfying theatrical watch," the user wrote.
Thaman's songs and background score were also praised by many. One user said, "Strong performances, impactful BGM, entertaining twists, and surprise cameos make it an enjoyable watch. A little lengthy in parts, but overall a satisfying film to watch in theatres."
Highlighting why the nostalgia particularly works in the film, a user wrote in a long review, "Highlights - The one-sided love portions, nostalgic fun-filled moments, and friendship scenes work well. FaFa’s role is superb, while the cinematography, interval block, and climax twist stand out. There are a few predictable moments and logic gaps, but the screenplay manages to overcome them."
One moviegoer said the film is a "must watch". "An Engaging & Heartwarming Film From Atharvaa, Preity Mukhundan, Kayadu Lohar, Thaman and Fahadh Faasil. Last but not the least debut director Aakash Baskaran. Overall, IT'S A MUST WATCH."
