Cinema, a melange of art and commerce, is no exception to the rule of demand and supply. As fascination with hyper-masculine angry men, larger-than-life missions, and the love for grey shades is on the wane, there emerges a need for cinema that is more relatable and inhabited by characters who don’t hesitate to poke fun at their own flaws and vulnerabilities.
A few Telugu films this year — Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, Mad Square, Single, Subham, Sarangapani Jathakam — highlight this gradual shift, which is reiterated by this week’s release, Little Hearts, directed by Sai Marthand. It exemplifies an often-quoted perception among cinephiles on social media — a film aware of its own silliness is indeed intelligent.
Little Hearts is a love story about two misfits (as deemed by their families). Unable to clear his engineering entrances, Akhil (Mouli Tanuj) is compelled to undertake long-term coaching due to his father’s (Rajeev Kanakala) insistence. Khatyayini (Shivani Nagaram), daughter of a medico, is no different — except she is attempting MBBS for the fourth time. The scenario is ripe for love to blossom.
Little Hearts (Telugu)
Director: Sai Marthand
Cast: Mouli Tanuj Prasanth, Shivani Nagaram
Duration: 127 minutes
Story: Two long-term coaching students fall in love and fight to keep their relationship alive
Fresh from a breakup with an intermediate sweetheart, the boy remains a hopeless flirt, wasting time with childhood friends, watching videos on YouTube, and enjoying outings near his coaching centre. Khatyayini also feels like a fleeting distraction in his life, until their relationship takes a more serious turn.
Little Hearts wears irreverence openly, embracing quirks in the protagonists’ lives at every turn. While Akhil idolises Khatyayini for her French plait, his friend complains about the litres of oil pressed onto her hair. Interestingly, Khatyayini’s father (SS Kanchi) instructs her to wear the plait precisely because it would keep boys away from her and help her focus on her exams.
The friend compares their love story to Baahubali-The Beginning — referring to its initial mixed reception, presuming that their romance and the film wouldn’t soar, only to be proved wrong later. While initially concerned about Akhil and Khatyayini’s age gap, the film later playfully showcases their resilience in fighting for their love and pursuing other ambitions.
While largely relying on verbal humour and spontaneous retorts for laughs, the film also manages to be an unlikely musical. Akhil surprises Khatyayini with an amateurish music video, sung, edited, and starring himself (much like mainstream film promos), complete with a Shah Rukh Khan-inspired Happy New Year hairdo; this high point is used twice in the film.
When their communication is cut off, it results in a humorous, conversational song about how much they miss each other. Akhil also manages a job at a clinic run by Khatyayini’s father, leading to the Prema Desam number Hello Doctor. Little Hearts offers a Gen-Z twist on typical elements of teenage romance — bunking classes, pranks on parents, third-wheel moments, separation, and reunion — seasoned with numerous pop-culture references.
The dialogues are cheekily written to evoke theatrical highs. Offsetting fears of the ambience becoming too trivial for its own good, the director rounds off the story with poignant lines explaining why the girl is worth fighting for. Although the film gives its women a voice, Little Hearts mostly reflects the perspective of a 20-something male, though it is aware not to glorify this view.
Beyond the lead pair, their parents, friends, and siblings get ample screen time, grounding their presence within their characters, serving to propel the love story. The hilarious ‘happy ending’ brings the roof down, cleverly reaffirming its key themes, with a one-liner directed at film critics as well (thank you for the validation, sir).
Little Hearts marks a fantastic debut for Mouli Tanuj Prasanth, a darling of YouTube (through Mouli Talks) and the OTTs, for his appearances in web series Hostel Days and 90s. He blends deadpan, self-deprecating humour with an uncanny timing and shares a sparkling camaraderie with the Uppena-fame Jai Krishna, who reminds us of Priyadarshi’s Pelli Choopulu days. Nikhil Abburi, all grown up after a long innings as a child artiste (best known for 100% Love), looks equally confident on screen.
Shivani Nagaram, who showed promise in Ambajipeta Marriage Band, seems more at home playing a confused girl-next-door role, who gradually comes of age. The on-screen parents — Rajeev Kanakala, SS Kanchi, Sathya Krishnan, Anita Chowdary — are perfectly cast, and it’s heartening to see creators rely on local faces, enhancing the film’s authenticity.
The vibrant colour palette — costumes, production design, and cinematography — enriches its visual appeal. Sinjith Yerramilli’s music feels like a natural extension of the film’s ‘pookie’ vibe, both with the songs and the background score. At just around two hours, Little Hearts is a crisp laugh riot that doesn’t overstay its welcome.
After a dose of 90s nostalgia with his web show, director Aditya Haasan’s turn as a producer now gives the 2000s’ kid something to cheer about.
Published – September 05, 2025 09:21 am IST
