Little Hearts Movie Review

Director Aditya Hasan, known for the web series 90’s – A Middle Class Biopic, donned the role of producer this time. He once again collaborated with one of the stars of 90’s, Mouli and brought in a new director, Sai Marthand. The trailer and promos promised a fun and entertaining romantic comedy set in the lives of post-intermediate students. Has the team succeeded in recreating the magic of 90’s? Did they manage to find success in one of the most beloved genres in the Telugu states? Let’s find out.

Setup:

The story is set in 2015. Akhil (Mouli) is a happy-go-lucky engineering aspirant who is more interested in fun, roaming around with friends, and eating kachoris than in engineering itself. After failing to clear EAMCET and other entrance exams, he joins a coaching center, where he meets Khathyayini (Shivani). What begins as a relentless attempt to get her attention soon develops into a mutual relationship. Whether they manage to stay together until the end and figure out their careers forms the crux of the story.

Performances:

Mouli, known for his social media sketches, plays the role of Akhil effortlessly. For his regular followers, this comes as no surprise – he essentially continues those familiar roles in the film as well. You can’t help but snicker whenever he puts on a poker face or subtly shifts his expressions to match the situation.

Shivani, who plays Kathyayini, stands out as the only mature and composed teen in the entire movie. This means she has to carefully measure her words and actions without going over the top like the others – and she pulls it off well. In fact, she might be the only character who gets to laugh, cry, exclaim, and express anxiety, and she understood her assignment well.

The senior actors – Rajeev Kanakala, Anitha Chowdary, SS Kanchi, and Satya Krishnan – weren’t brought in just to play another set of parents. They were also tasked with delivering laughs, and they succeed. Rajeev Kanakala, in particular, shines as Akhil’s father. The audience eagerly awaits the father-son scenes, especially whenever Akhil brings home some mischievous news.

There’s a reason Jaya Krishna is mentioned early in the cast list – he’s one of the main sources of laughter in the movie. You laugh every time he delivers a punchline, every time he mimics someone, and even when he mumbles to himself. His scenes with Mouli are some of the most enjoyable in the film.

Technicalities:

Set against a grounded and familiar backdrop, the team chose locations that resemble the houses you’ve visited and the coaching centres or colleges you’ve seen. And they were successful in doing so. That, in turn, meant the production team didn’t need to overdo anything – except for the fact that they effectively recreated the 2015–2017 vibe by including old smartphones, outdated computers, and Baahubali posters.

The camerawork and editing are quirky and breezy – much like the movie itself. They never go over the top and stick to showing what’s necessary.

The music deserves a special mention. The songs and background score by Sinjith Yerramilli stay with you even after the movie ends. There’s a scene in the pre-climax, where the leads meet again after a long time, and the background score in that moment haunts you for several minutes afterward.

The writer-director Sai Marthand might have written and directed the film effortlessly too. There’s no sudden drama or shocking twists in the screenplay. Nor do the actors scream or cry in prolonged, single-shot scenes. And that’s not a negative criticism – he delivered what was necessary and what felt apt. However, the post-conflict resolution could have used a few more scenes to help the audience understand how things eventually led to the climax.

Positives:

1.⁠ ⁠⁠Relatable characters
2.⁠ ⁠Comedic performances
3.⁠ ⁠Music
4.⁠ ⁠Crispy Runtime

Negatives:

1.⁠ ⁠Weak conflict
2.⁠ ⁠Rushed climax

Analysis:

The team promised a fun, laugh-filled experience from start to finish – without any stress or sadness. And it delivered exactly that. You get hooked on the characters right away, laughing whenever they stumble into a pothole or hit a roadblock. Their everyday struggles bring genuine laughter from the audience.

Even the saddest scene – the girl’s parents finding out about her relationship – is handled with subtlety. Instead of shouting or physical punishment on screen, we see the mother quietly cleaning blood off her broken bangles, hinting that the girl has been hurt off-screen. This, in fact, is one of the movie’s few criticisms. In a film where minor inconveniences serve as conflict points, there isn’t much to resolve. When there’s no big knot to untie, the rope feels straightforward and flat throughout.

However, this was a conscious choice by the team, and they deserve credit for delivering what they promised. It’s not groundbreaking cinema, but if you’re tired of the constant bloodshed and tears that are sold in flood theatres every weekend, and you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted two-hour escape in the dark hall, this is the movie for you. A film you can comfortably enjoy with friends, your girlfriend, or family.

Bottomline: A fun riot

Rating: 2.75/5