Siva (Santosh Soban), a budding interior designer from Nellore, moves to Chennai to escape his conservative family’s pressure.
While struggling to find his footing and working as a bike taxi driver to make ends meet, he crosses paths with Mithra (Manasa Varanasi), an IT professional from Chittoor awaiting her delayed offer letter.
Facing financial strain and housing hurdles, the two decide on a practical, “roommate” arrangement. What begins as a survival tactic in a big city gradually blossoms into an organic connection.
However, the “couple friendly” nature of their lives is tested when they must navigate career ego clashes, family expectations, and a sudden, heavy emotional twist in the second half.
Director Ashwin Chandrasekar makes an impressive debut, showing a keen eye for “urban realism.”
His execution shines in the first half, where he captures the vibrant, exhausting, yet hopeful essence of Chennai.
He avoids preachy dialogue, letting the characters’ evolving bond feel earned through quiet moments rather than loud confessions.
While the film takes a sharp, melodramatic turn in the latter half—shifting from a lighthearted romance to a heavier family drama—Ashwin manages to keep the emotional core grounded.
His use of different aspect ratios to distinguish timelines is a creative touch that adds a modern cinematic flair.
Santosh Soban has delivered one of his most restrained and mature performances to date, Santosh perfectly portrays the vulnerability of a young man caught between his pride and his circumstances. His chemistry with Manasa is the film’s strongest asset.
Manasa Varanasi proves she is a formidable actress. Her character Mithra is practical, spontaneous, and resilient.
She brings a natural warmth that makes the audience root for her personal and professional journey.
The ensemble is excellent. Rajeev Kanakala and Goparaju Ramana are stellar as the stubborn yet caring fathers.
The addition of Tamil veterans like Livingston and Yogi Babu provides not just comic relief but a sense of authentic Chennai flavor that enriches the bilingual (Telugu-Tamil) setting.
Cinematographer Dinesh Purushothaman captures Chennai with striking naturalism. Shooting in real locations rather than sets gives the film an immersive, “lived-in” feel that elevates the simple story.
Aditya Ravindran’s score is soulful and atmospheric. While it lacks “commercial chartbusters,” the music perfectly mirrors the film’s moods, acting as a subtle companion to the lead pair’s journey. Rest of the technical aspects of the movie elevate the watching experience.
