In the Telugu romantic comedy landscape, Little Hearts arrives like a meme—unapologetically weird, ridiculously funny and perfectly in tune with Gen Z. Directed by Sai Marthand and produced by Aditya Haasan under ETV Win, this 127 minute UA rated film released on September 5, 2025 is the debut of YouTube sensation Mouli Tanuj Prasanth. Co-starring the bubbly Shivani Nagaram, with good support from Rajeev Kanakala, SS Kanchi, Anitha Chowdary and Sathya Krishnan, the film takes the chaos of post intermediate coaching life and turns it into a frothy love story with nostalgia, pranks and pop culture references. It’s a deliberate throwback to the no-nonsense rom-coms of the 2000s but with TikTok era irreverence. Sometimes the best romances bloom from the most ordinary heartaches.
The story begins in 2015 Hyderabad, where Akhil (Mouli) bombs his EAMCET and lands in a cutthroat coaching centre along with his equally lazy friend. There he meets Khatyayani (Shivani) the girl with a French plait and zero tolerance for advances. Her blunt rejection - "You're not my type" only fuels Akhil's pseudo-philosophical quest for love, after a past heartbreak taught him the difference between infatuation and the real deal. What follows is a decade long romp of awkward pursuits, third wheel antics and family meddling as Akhil juggles a job at Khatyayani's father's clinic (cue the hilarious "Hello Doctor" skit) while navigating societal side-eyes and personal growth. Marthand's screenplay is as light as a meme thread, he sidesteps heavy drama for breezy subversions: no tear-jerking confrontations here, just a wink at aspirations clashing with expectations, all wrapped in bunking classes, parent pranks and viral birthday videos that scream "cringe-core" in the best way.
Mouli Tanuj Prasanth owns the screen as the lead, bringing his YouTuber charm to Akhil, who is equal parts lovable goof and meme lord philosopher—his wide eyed reactions and deadpan one liners are like precision timed punches, even a botched proposal is comedy gold. Shivani Nagaram matches him beat for beat as Khatyayani, her deadpan sarcasm and subtle vulnerability adds layers to the rom-com trope without going into damsel in distress territory; their chemistry is that awkward, authentic spark of young love and the second half is pure unadulterated joy. The ensemble is great in cameos and side roles: Rajeev Kanakala’s exasperated dad steals the family scenes with his exasperation, SS Kanchi’s bro code banter keeps the laughs going and Sathya Krishnan’s no nonsense aunt injects wisdom into the whimsy. It’s a cast that feels like your group chat come to life—flawed, funny and relatable.
Visually, Suriya Balaji’s camera captures the urban Hyderabad with a handheld intimacy that matches the characters’ energy: coaching corridors are sun-dappled and frenzied, nights are neon-lit and full of stolen glances and smartphone screens. Sinjith Yerramilli’s music is the secret sauce—a peppy mix of earworms like “Rajagadiki” (the opener) and the introspective “Chaduvu Ledu” which blends indie pop with nostalgic hooks that underlines the emotional undertones without overpowering the humor. Editor Sreedhar Sompally keeps the runtime tight, cuts through the lulls with quick montages, though a few first half detours into setup feel like scroll-past moments. Art director Divya Pavan gets the lived in feel right from oil-slicked braids to cluttered clinic shelves, grounding the fantasy in Telugu middle class reality.
Little Hearts doesn’t aim to redefine romance; it’s just happy to be a fun little distraction in a world of big loud movies. It’s 2 hours of laugh out loud fun that reminds us love is like a funny meme that thrives in silly situations. If you need a break from violence and betrayal, this is your warm and cozy cinema experience: light, lovely and will leave you wanting more. In a world that wants epic stories, Little Hearts shows us even the smallest stories can bring the most joy.
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