With Love Review: A Breezy Rom-Com That Melts Every Hopeless Romantic’s Heart

Valentine’s Day couldn’t have asked for a better gift! With Love, the Tamil romantic comedy starring debutant lead actor Abishan Jeevinth and Malayalam sensation Anaswara Rajan, has arrived in theaters to sweep hopeless romantics off their feet. This nostalgic journey through first love, friendship, and emotional honesty proves that sometimes the simplest love stories leave the deepest impressions.

With Love Movie Details at a Glance

The Story: Nostalgia Meets Modern Romance

With Love follows Sathya (Abishan Jeevinth), an introverted designer reluctant to marry, who’s pushed into a blind date by his persistent sister. Enter Monisha (Anaswara Rajan), a bubbly, confident woman who immediately connects with him. As their conversation flows, they discover they attended the same school but never crossed paths.

Here’s where the plot takes a quirky turn: both confess they never expressed their feelings to their teenage crushes—Sathya’s Anisha (Kavya Anil) and Monisha’s Balaji (Sacchin Nachiappan). Monisha suggests they embark on a mission to find these lost loves and finally confess what went unsaid years ago. But as they journey together, something unexpected happens—they start falling for each other.

This premise, while familiar, is executed with refreshing honesty and emotional depth that sets it apart from typical rom-coms.

Performances That Steal Hearts

Abishan Jeevinth, known for directing the blockbuster Tourist Family (2025), makes a stunning transition to leading man. His restrained yet expressive performance captures Sathya’s vulnerability perfectly. From the awkward schoolboy flashbacks to the mature, emotionally guarded adult, Abishan demonstrates remarkable range for a first-time lead actor. His eyes speak volumes, adding layers to scenes that could otherwise feel ordinary.

Anaswara Rajan is the film’s secret weapon. Already a star in Malayalam cinema, she brings effortless charm to Monisha. Her slight Malayalam accent adds authenticity rather than distraction, making her character feel genuinely real. She balances confidence with emotional depth, ensuring Monisha isn’t just a manic pixie dream girl but a fully realized woman with her own vulnerabilities.

Kavya Anil delivers a standout performance in the emotionally charged ice cream shop scene—one critics are calling the best sequence in recent Tamil cinema. Her subtle expressions and impactful dialogue delivery prove she’s a talent to watch.

What Works Brilliantly

Fresh Chemistry: Abishan and Anaswara’s pairing feels organic and unforced. Their banter flows naturally, reminding audiences of real conversations between friends who might be something more. Unlike many Tamil romances focused solely on male perspectives, With Love genuinely cares about Monisha’s journey and emotions.

Nostalgic Treatment: Debutant director Madhan nails the Orkut-era nostalgia while telling the story with Instagram Reels-era freshness. The film doesn’t just romanticize the past—it shows how those memories shape who we become. The school flashbacks feel authentic without being melodramatic.

Technical Excellence: Sean Roldan’s music seamlessly enhances emotional beats without overwhelming them. Shreyaas Krishna’s cinematography bathes Trichy and Chennai in warm, golden hues that mirror the film’s comforting tone. The editing by Suresh Kumar keeps the pace breezy in the first half.

Emotional Honesty: The film treats friendship as equally important as romance—a rarity in the genre. It acknowledges that love can be casual, clunky, and imperfect while still being meaningful.

Minor Hiccups

The second half experiences slight pacing issues as the narrative becomes more introspective and emotionally heavy. Some viewers might find certain situations predictable, and the ending follows expected rom-com territory. However, the film’s charm lies in how it tells this familiar story, not necessarily in reinventing it.

A few critics noted that rushing between scenes occasionally sacrifices deeper character moments, but this doesn’t significantly detract from the overall experience.

Audience Verdict: A Valentine’s Day Winner

Social media erupted with praise after the film’s release. Netizens called it “a pure entertainer,” “forever favorite genre,” and “the perfect season of love film.” Many rated it 4.5/5, with viewers leaving theaters with smiles on their faces.

One Twitter user perfectly captured the sentiment: “Throughout the film, you’ll have a smile on your face. The fun, love, and emotional elements all work well together.”

The film has been compared favorably to Dhanush’s Thiruchitrambalam, another recent Tamil rom-com that balanced male and female perspectives fairly—a significant achievement in an industry where women’s emotions often take a backseat.

Final Verdict: Worth Your Time?

With Love won’t reinvent the rom-com wheel, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a beautifully crafted, emotionally honest film that understands modern relationships while honoring nostalgic first-love feelings. Producer Soundarya Rajinikanth‘s involvement ensures production quality, while Madhan’s confident directorial debut promises great things ahead.

Perfect for couples planning Valentine’s weekend or anyone craving a feel-good romantic experience, the film proves that sometimes the journey matters more than the destination. It’s watchable, relatable, and refreshingly genuine—qualities increasingly rare in contemporary cinema.

With a 7.8/10 on IMDB and positive reviews from critics, With Love stands as one of 2026’s early winners in the South Indian cinema landscape.

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