Premalu (2024) Review: A Hyderabad Crush, Played for Laughs

Is Premalu worth watching?

Yes. Premalu is a genuinely funny, easygoing romantic comedy whose best jokes come from character rather than slapstick, and its young cast is irresistible. Girish A. D. builds the film around a hapless hero, a self-possessed heroine and a rotating crew of friends and rivals, and the dialogue has the loose, lived-in rhythm of real conversation. The main reservation is length: at over two and a half hours, the second half circles its central romance more than it needs to.

What is Premalu about?

Sachin (Naslen K. Gafoor) is a cheerful, directionless graduate from Kerala whose plans for the future have stalled. With nothing better to do, he follows his friend Amal (Sangeeth Prathap) to Hyderabad, where Amal is enrolled in a coaching course. There Sachin meets Reenu (Mamitha Baiju), a confident young IT professional with a clear career plan, and falls for her almost instantly.

Reenu likes him well enough as a friend. The film follows Sachin’s increasingly desperate efforts to become more than that, complicated by his lack of prospects, his own clumsiness and the presence of Aadhi (Shyam Mohan), a polished colleague of Reenu’s who seems to have everything Sachin lacks.

Premalu is directed by Girish A. D., who co-wrote the script. It is an Indian film in Malayalam, runs 155 minutes, and became a word-of-mouth hit well beyond Kerala.

Comedy built on character, not gags

What sets Premalu apart from most romantic comedies is how precisely its humour is observed. The jokes come from recognisable types: the friend who over-plans, the hero who over-shares, the office smoothie who is slightly too pleased with himself. Girish A. D. has a sharp ear for how young people talk, and the film is packed with throwaway lines, embarrassing moments and small reactions that reward attention.

Hyderabad is well used too. The move from Kerala gives the film a gentle fish-out-of-water angle, and the city’s malls, offices and rented flats give the story a contemporary, urban feel. The music by Vishnu Vijay is catchy and plays well into the romance without stopping the story for set-piece numbers.

Naslen and Mamitha Baiju make it work

Naslen is a natural comic lead. Sachin could easily have been irritating, but Naslen makes his cluelessness endearing and his heartbreaks funny without turning him into a clown. Mamitha Baiju gives Reenu warmth, poise and a streak of stubbornness, and the film wisely lets her be more grounded and more sure of herself than the hero.

The supporting cast is a joy. Sangeeth Prathap is terrific as Amal, whose deadpan exasperation earns some of the biggest laughs, and Shyam Mohan turns what could have been a one-note rival into a comic creation. Akhila Bhargavan adds spark as Reenu’s friend, and the ensemble chemistry makes even minor scenes lively.

Where the charm stretches thin

The film’s length is its main weakness. The central will-they-won’t-they runs through several near-identical cycles of hope and disappointment, and a tighter edit would have made the comedy land harder. Sachin’s persistent pursuit of Reenu is played for laughs, and while the film makes clear she has agency, some viewers may find his behaviour closer to wearing than winning in places. The final act also resolves itself fairly conventionally.

Who should watch Premalu?

It suits anyone who enjoys light romantic comedy, and it is an ideal entry point to contemporary Malayalam cinema for newcomers, as long as subtitles are no obstacle. The content is mild: some drinking, light innuendo and no violence to speak of, making it fine for families with teenagers. Settle in for a long but easy evening.

Good companions:

• Laapataa Ladies, another 2024 Indian comedy that became a word-of-mouth favourite through warmth and sharp observation.
• Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, for a louder, glossier Hindi take on a mismatched romance.
• Kapoor & Sons, a warm, funny Hindi drama about young people figuring out love and family.

The verdict

Premalu is a charming, sharply observed romantic comedy that made a star of Naslen and proved how much fun a small Malayalam film can be. It is longer and more repetitive than it needs to be, but its humour, warmth and terrific ensemble more than justify the time.

Rating: 4/5