Preity Mukhundhan and Niharika NM are part of the ensemble of Idhayam Murali, the Tamil romantic drama led by Atharvaa. Bringing together performers from cinema and digital entertainment, the film follows a young man through friendship, growing up and unrequited love.
Directed by Aakash Baskaran, the film also features Kayadu Lohar and Natty, with Fahadh Faasil appearing in a special role. Its ensemble extends beyond the central romance, making the protagonist’s social circle an important part of the story.
What is Idhayam Murali about?
At its centre is a young man learning to navigate relationships as he grows up alongside his friends. The premise places romantic uncertainty within a broader coming-of-age journey rather than treating a love story as an isolated event.
The BBFC describes the film as a Tamil-language romantic drama involving different experiences of unrequited love. Its listing records a July 10, 2026 release date.
Preity Mukhundhan joins the romantic ensemble
Preity appears alongside Atharvaa and Kayadu Lohar in the film’s principal cast. Her involvement places her within a story built around the people and relationships that shape its central character.
For readers discovering the film through its cast, it is useful to distinguish this ensemble format from a romance focused exclusively on one couple. Friendship, supporting characters and encounters at different stages of life form part of the film’s framework.
Niharika NM brings a digital entertainment connection
Niharika NM is also part of the supporting ensemble, which includes several performers familiar to online audiences. Other cast members include Rakshan, Dravid and Sudhakar.
Her presence connects the production with the wider movement of digital creators into cinema. However, an actor’s online persona should not be treated as a description of their film character: the role belongs to the screenplay and the performance.
The connection to Murali’s Idhayam
The title carries a personal association for Atharvaa. It references his late father, Murali, and the 1991 film Idhayam, directed by Kathir.
That connection gives the newer film a recognisable place within Tamil cinema’s history of romantic storytelling. Atharvaa discussed his father’s film during the promotional campaign for Idhayam Murali.
For audiences approaching the film today, its combination of a familiar cinematic reference and an ensemble drawn from different entertainment backgrounds offers the clearest introduction. Preity Mukhundhan and Niharika NM are part of that mix, alongside Atharvaa and the wider cast.
