Our Rating: 7.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Verdict: Idhayam Murali is a sincere, feel-good romantic drama that captures the quiet pull of unrequited love and growing up with genuine warmth. Early audience feedback highlights its emotional honesty and pleasant visuals, though the long runtime leaves some parts feeling slow.
Pros:
- Pleasant visuals and a comforting 90s-inspired vibe that make the film feel immersive and nostalgic
- Atharvaa’s sincere, lived-in performance with nice chemistry alongside the female leads
- Soulful music and heartfelt moments that work well as a wholesome family entertainer
Cons:
- The nearly 2-hour-45-minute runtime leads to some draggy stretches
- Familiar romantic drama tropes that may not feel fresh to everyone
| Movie | Idhayam Murali |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 10 July 2026 |
| Genre | Coming-of-age Romantic Drama |
| Director | Aakash Baskaran |
| Cast | Atharvaa, Preity Mukundhan, Kayadu Lohar, Fahadh Faasil (Cameo), Natty Subramaniam, Thaman S, Niharika NM, VJ Rakshan and others |
| Language | Tamil |
The film hit theatres today with a quiet but noticeable buzz. Atharvaa plays the lead in this Tamil coming-of-age romantic drama directed by Aakash Baskaran in his debut. Kayadu Lohar and Preity Mukundhan feature in key roles, while Fahadh Faasil makes a cameo.
Thaman S handles the music and also appears on screen. The story stays simple and easy to follow. It follows a young man carrying deep, unspoken feelings for someone over many years. As life moves forward with friendships, changes, and quiet realisations, those emotions remain with him.
The film focuses on the small moments of longing, growth, and relationships rather than big dramatic turns. Audience reactions on X and other platforms right after the first shows have been mostly positive. Many are praising the visuals as one of the film’s biggest strengths, saying every frame feels pleasant and beautifully crafted.
Atharvaa’s performance is getting good mentions for feeling natural and emotionally resonant. Viewers like the easy chemistry between the leads and how Thaman’s music adds warmth to the emotional scenes. The breezy, light-hearted tone mixed with genuine feeling is striking a chord.
Several people are calling it a refreshing, feel-good watch with a nice nostalgic touch that reminds them of older romantic films. Family audiences seem particularly happy, and early occupancy reports look steady with positive word spreading. There are a few notes of caution too.
Some feel the story leans on familiar romantic drama patterns. The long runtime has led a section of viewers to say certain portions in the second half slow down, making it feel more comfortable as an OTT watch than a must-see big-screen experience for everyone.
Overall though, the sentiment stays encouraging, with plenty of people recommending it as a wholesome, stress-free entertainer. If you enjoy emotional romantic stories with a nostalgic flavour and strong music, this one should appeal to you.
It has enough heart and warmth to make for a decent theatre visit right now, especially with the current positive buzz. Those who prefer fast-paced action or twist-heavy plots might find it better to wait for streaming. Early signs suggest it will connect well with audiences looking for something sincere and easy on the heart.
Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available audience reactions and discussions on X at the time of writing. Individual opinions may vary.
Also See: Idhayam Murali Box Office Collection Day Wise