Cast: Abishan Jeevinth, Anaswara Rajan, Theni Murugan, “Kalaimamani” Saravanan, Harish Kumar, Kavya Anil, Sacchin Nachiappan, Sachana, RJ Ananthi, Dimple Kanna, Siddharth
Directed By: Madhan
Music By: Sean Roldan
Produced By: MRP Entertainment, Zion Films – Soundarya Rajinikanth, Magesh Raj Pasilian
Although first love ends in failure for many, its memories continue to touch our hearts at some point. This film’s premise is not only to remind us of our first love but also to inspire us to embark on a sweet journey to rediscover that love.
Abishan Jeevinth meets Anaswara Rajan, whom his family has chosen for marriage. As they exchange details about themselves, they also share their first love and its experiences. Through an idea that strikes Anaswara Rajan, they both set out to find their first loves. Did this search create love between them? Or not? The film ‘With Love’ tells this story in a way that revives the happy or painful first love moments buried deep within the heart.
School-day love is a pure and innocent memory, often accompanied by the first pangs of heartbreak. Director Madhan has brilliantly portrayed this unforgettable period, encompassing love, friendship, and minor emotional struggles, with aesthetic finesse.
Abishan Jeevinth, who plays the protagonist, is a character who might not impress at first glance but gradually wins over the audience, leaving a lasting impression. He perfectly fits both the school-going and young adult looks and captivates with his performance.
Anaswara Rajan, who plays the female lead, attracts attention with her simple beauty and impressive acting. Anaswara Rajan, who beautifully portrays her character’s attempt to express the love that went unsaid, and the emotional changes she experiences during this journey, is captivating to watch throughout the film. However, her dialogue delivery is reminiscent of Kalpana, the actress and sister of actress Urvashi. If someone else had dubbed her lines, it would have added more charm to her body language and expressions.
Kavya Anil, who plays the character of Anisha, despite having a small role, has created a magical effect with her performance, stirring up the audience’s first love memories.
The characters played by Theni Murugan as the protagonist’s father, Saravanan as the school teacher, Harish Kumar, Sachin Nachiappan, and Siddharth as the protagonist’s friends, Dimple Khanna and Sachana as the heroine’s school friends, and RJ Anandhi as the sister, though their roles are small, their impact on the screenplay is significant.
Cinematographer Shreyas Krishna has clearly focused not on making his work stand out, but rather on ensuring that the viewers travel along with their own school life memories. Shreyas Krishna has filmed the scenes in such a way that the story, which revolves around only the two main characters, is conveyed to the audience in an enjoyable manner. His camera itself seems to have spoken of love in some places.
While all the songs composed by Sean Roldan are pleasant to listen to, it cannot be denied that they don’t quite live up to the powerful meaning of the word “Anbudan” (With Love). The background music is as sweet as love itself.
Editor Suresh Kumar has edited the scenes in a very neat, concise, and yet engaging manner, effectively portraying the journey of the two main characters. Writer and director Madhan, while taking first love experiences and nostalgic memories as the central theme, and despite being influenced by previously released films in Tamil cinema, has successfully crafted scenes suitable for today’s youth and entertained the audience.
Through the characters of the protagonist and the heroine, as well as several other characters, director Madhan conveys that first love experiences leave indelible marks on the mind and evoke the same feelings whenever remembered, even as time passes. Instead of portraying these as painful experiences, he has depicted them as sweet moments that can be cherished with joy, allowing the audience to journey through two hours filled with love and happiness.
