The fatigue from big-budget action films seems to have sparked a return to simpler stories, especially breezy romantic comedies with gentle heroes. One of the latest movies in this trend is With Love, directed by Madhan. It features Abishan Jeevinth as Sathya, a shy young man whose lack of confidence makes romance seem out of reach. Encouraged by his sister, Sathya meets Monisha (Anaswara Rajan) at a coffee shop, and they soon discover they share a common past—both attended the same school in Trichy.
As they reminisce about unrequited loves from their school days, Monisha suggests they reconnect with their old crushes. However, the film takes its time to set up this plot, and by the time their adventure actually begins, we’re already at the halfway mark.
On the surface, With Love is a light-hearted film that doesn’t push its viewers to feel too much. The story’s tension is minimal and quickly resolved. Sathya’s main issue is his insecurity, yet this gets given a pass as a charming “green flag.”
In one memorable scene, Monisha, an Instagram influencer, posts a picture of Sathya sleeping, calling him “endangered green forest.” This is soon followed by Sathya checking her phone, a breach of trust casually ignored because he’s seen as a woeful but harmless character.
The film draws on elements popularized by K-dramas, particularly the “childhood connection” trope, where love feels destined. But real love is often about choices and not just fate. While we see Sathya as the lonely character waiting for rescue, Monisha plays the role of savior in a role reversal that’s supposed to feel empowering but often comes off as clichéd.
Unlike Vijay Sethupathi’s 96, which explored similar emotional themes but felt genuine, With Love lacks depth. The characters feel more like typical figures than real people, making it hard for audiences to connect with them.
In the end, With Love avoids diving deep into emotions such as love, longing, or grief. It tries so hard to be feel-good that it ends up being forgettable, leaving little impact on its viewers.
For a similar exploration of relationships and vulnerability in cinema, see how 96 portrayed its characters and emotions with much more authenticity.
