What happens when the leads of (2015) and (2024) come together for an unconventional romance? You expect fireworks. And that’s exactly what Girish AD delivers in .
Nivin Pauly has long had a knack for making audiences root for his characters, especially when he plays ordinary men dealing with the messiness of everyday life. Girish AD puts that quality to good use, bringing him together with Mamitha Baiju, who easily passes the test for your girl-next-door.
begins in Mundakayam, where Ashley (Mamitha Baiju) lives with her family. When her parents decide to move to Ernakulam because of their financial circumstances, Ashley is forced to leave behind the life she knows. Her friends, music band and even the old books and cassettes she has carefully collected over the years are part of what she has to let go.
The move leaves Ashley understandably unhappy. But her new neighbourhood soon gives her something to look forward to. It is one of those close-knit communities where everyone knows everyone else, and every family has its own eccentricities. Across from Ashley’s house are the lively Morelli sisters, while next door live brothers Justin (Nivin Pauly) and Joel (Sangeeth Prathap).
Ashley first properly meets Justin when her laptop stops working. He is an ‘eligible bachelor’ in his early 40s (or late 30s?) who seems to have a hand in almost everything – from running a catering business and repairing laptops to real estate and helping his brother with short films. At first, Ashley sees him as an older, slightly serious man. That changes when they discover a shared interest in music.
A conversation about old cassettes and alternative rock becomes the beginning of something neither of them quite expects. Ashley develops feelings for Justin, and their relationship slowly grows through awkward conversations and everyday encounters.
This is where approaches a potentially difficult subject without turning it into a scandal or a conventional melodrama. The age difference between Ashley, a college student, and Justin is impossible to overlook, but the film does not treat it as the only thing that defines their relationship.
More importantly, Ashley is given agency. She is the one who develops feelings first, initiates meetings and makes her own choices. Justin is not portrayed as pursuing a younger woman or manipulating her into a relationship. The screenplay is clearly conscious of the discomfort that such a pairing can create and takes care to establish that the relationship is consensual and emotionally reciprocal. Girish AD spends a lot of time trying to make the relationship appear cute and uncomplicated.
Thankfully, the romance is only one part of what makes the film work. The film’s real strength lies in creating believable characters and putting them together in situations that feel spontaneous. Like and , finds much of its humour in the behaviour of ordinary people.
The neighbourhood becomes a character in itself. There are friends who have known one another for years, families with their own little tensions and habits, and people who can turn an otherwise insignificant incident into a full-blown conversation. The dialogues are sharp without sounding overly written, and the humour often comes from the way characters respond to one another.
The supporting cast deserves considerable credit. Suresh Krishna as Baiju Chettan, Shyam Mohan as Hari, Roshan Shanavas as Glikson, Vinay Forrt as Alex, Sangeeth Prathap and Bindu Panicker all add colour to the film. Even characters with relatively little screen time get moments that stay with the audience.
That ensemble quality is perhaps what makes the film feel so comfortable. Girish AD does not rush to get from one major plot point to another. He allows his characters to hang around, talk, argue, joke and simply exist. As a result, the audience gradually feels like part of the neighbourhood rather than an outsider watching it from a distance.
The screenplay, written by Girish AD and Kiran Josey, is not particularly interested in surprising the viewer. The romantic progression is fairly easy to anticipate, as are the major conflicts and their eventual resolutions. But the film’s appeal lies in the journey, rather than the destination.
Music also plays an important role in creating that atmosphere. Vishnu Vijay’s music fits naturally into the film’s world, adding to its nostalgic and easygoing quality.
Nivin Pauly is particularly well suited to Justin. The actor brings his trademark warmth and comic timing to the role, but there is enough vulnerability underneath to prevent Justin from becoming just another charming bachelor. He enjoys spending time with friends, loves his drinks and appears perfectly content with his life, yet Nivin subtly hints at the loneliness behind that carefree exterior.
Mamitha Baiju is equally good. Ashley is quite different from some of her more familiar roles, and she brings an appealing freshness to her. She captures Ashley’s initial sadness and reluctance to leave home, while also making her gradual adjustment to the new neighbourhood feel convincing.
The chemistry between Nivin and Mamitha is central to the film’s warmth. Their conversations are often awkward, understated and funny, which makes their attraction feel less manufactured.