The Telugu version of the romantic drama film Hrudhayam Murali has officially hit the big screens. Directed and produced by Aakash Baskaran, with music composed by Thaman S, this movie explores the life of a highly introverted man trying to navigate love and relationships.
The Story: The Struggle to Speak Up
The film follows Hrudhay (played by Atharvaa), a man who has been incredibly shy since childhood. Because he struggles to express his feelings, he constantly misses out on romantic relationships. During his teenage years, he falls deeply in love with a girl named Samantha (Preity Mukhundhan) but never finds the courage to confess his feelings. Later in life, another woman named Aamudha (Kayadu Lohar) enters his world. Even though Hrudhay falls for her too, his quiet nature takes over, and he repeats the exact same mistake. Instead of partners, the women in his life simply become distant memories. The core of the story revolves around how Hrudhay handles life and who he eventually ends up marrying.
What Works: Great Acting and Strong Emotions
The biggest strength of the movie is Atharvaa’s performance. He does a fantastic job switching between funny scenes and heavy emotional moments. His comic timing during the love track with Preity Mukhundhan is highly entertaining. Kayadu Lohar also shines, delivering a superb performance in the film’s intensely emotional scenes.
The supporting cast adds a lot of value to the film. Natty stands out in a crucial role, and Fahadh Faasil makes a brilliant cameo appearance that serves as a major asset to the movie. Interestingly, the music director Thaman S also steps in front of the camera, effectively playing the role of the hero’s friend. The rest of the cast—including Niharika NM, Rakshana, Dravid Selvan, Angelin, Anju Kurian, Sudhakar, Yashashree, and Jonita Gandhi—all perform their respective roles very well.
From a technical standpoint, the film’s theme music by Aakash Baskaran is lovely, and the beautiful cinematography by Manoj Paramahamsa and CH Sai makes many scenes look gorgeous on screen. The film also boasts excellent production values.
What Misses the Mark: A Slow Second Half
While the emotional depth and characters are well-written, the execution has a few flaws. The screenplay in the second half gets a bit dragged out and could have been much tighter. Additionally, the development of the love story between Atharvaa and the main female lead feels weak. The movie suffers from slow pacing in certain areas, and the editing by Pradeep E Ragav could have been crisper to keep the audience more engaged.
The Verdict
Overall, Hrudhayam Murali is a decent romantic drama. It successfully captures what happens when a reserved person struggles to open up to the person they love. Thanks to Atharvaa’s strong performance, emotional highlights, and a satisfying climax, it overcomes its slow pacing issues. If you are a fan of romantic comedies, this movie is definitely worth a watch.
