Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Butterflies have long been cinema’s favourite metaphor for love — beautiful, unpredictable, and capable of both magic and mayhem. It’s a thought immortalised in Premam with the line, “Butterflies are mentally mental, and so is love.” That delicate balance between wonder and chaos lies at the heart of director Madhan’s debut feature, With Love, a film that chooses sincerity over spectacle.
At its core, With Love works because it believes in romance — not as a grand idea, but as something messy, awkward, and deeply personal. The film marks the acting debut of filmmaker Abishan Jeevinth and gives Anaswara Rajan her first full-fledged leading role in Tamil cinema. The freshness of the pairing becomes one of the film’s biggest strengths, allowing vulnerability and imperfection to coexist naturally.
A familiar premise, handled with care
Sathyaseelan (Abishan) loves the idea of love but carries the weight of heartbreak. Monisha (Anaswara Rajan), on the other hand, is confident, self-aware, and unsure of what love truly means for her. When the two meet through an arranged marriage setup, they discover their lives have crossed paths before — a revelation that sets them on a journey of self-reflection and emotional growth.
Tamil cinema has explored school-time romances extensively, from 3 and 96 to Premam and Thattathin Marayathu. With Love borrows familiar beats but avoids imitation by maintaining a careful tonal balance. The film acknowledges how monumental first love feels at that age, while also recognising its fleeting nature in the larger scheme of life.
One of the film’s most thoughtful choices is how it presents Sathya’s school romance — not through a sentimental gaze, but from the perspective of those around him. His awkwardness is never mocked, and his emotions are treated with dignity. Madhan goes a step further with Monisha’s school romance, offering a refreshing shift in perspective. These portions stand out for their warmth, restraint, and an unexpected moment of empowerment.
Adult love doesn’t always convince — performances do
Where the film slightly falters is in its transition to adult romance. The idea of two grown individuals rediscovering their “first love” occasionally feels convenient and contrived. Unlike adolescent romance, adult relationships demand stronger emotional grounding, and With Love doesn’t always fully earn that shift.
However, the performances do much of the heavy lifting.
Anaswara Rajan anchors the film with remarkable ease. While her Tamil carries a noticeable Malayalam inflection — something the film doesn’t address through backstory — she quickly wins you over with her screen presence. From her wide-eyed innocence in school portions to her assured confidence later on, Anaswara makes Monisha deeply likeable and distinct, despite shades of familiarity with her earlier roles.
Abishan Jeevinth shows promise, especially in emotionally charged scenes. While his attempts at humour occasionally lean on exaggerated mannerisms, his sincerity shines through, particularly in quieter moments. Like Tourist Family, his strength clearly lies in emotional authenticity — something that will likely sharpen with experience.
Strong support and soulful music
Kavya Anil delivers a graceful performance as Anisha, lending sensitivity to a character that could have easily slipped into stereotype. The film deserves credit for portraying adolescent love with respect, never resorting to ridicule or discomfort.
Sean Roldan’s music adds emotional texture throughout, with Edhukku Dhaan Indha Kaadhal, sung by Yuvan Shankar Raja, beautifully capturing the confusion and tenderness of young love. The soundtrack often bridges emotional gaps when the screenplay leans into familiar melodrama.
Final verdict
With Love doesn’t aim to reinvent the romantic genre — and that’s precisely its charm. Despite rushed resolutions and a few overly convenient turns, the film treats its characters with empathy and allows them agency, whether as teenagers or adults.
By resisting the temptation to function purely as a launchpad, With Love emerges as a sincere romcom that finds magic in emotional chaos, misplaced butterflies, and imperfect choices. It may not soar, but it flutters just enough to remind us why love, in all its confusion, is still worth believing in.
