Premalu - 2024

Premalu is a new-age Malayalam rom-com starring Naslen K. Gafoor and Mamitha Baiju in the lead roles. The movie released on February 9, 2024 and is the fifth highest grossing malayalam film. Here's everything you need to know about the cast, reviews, OTT release and other details.

Premalu (trans. Love Stories) is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Girish A. D. The film's lead actors are Naslen K. Gafoor and Mamitha Baiju. It also has an ensemble cast that includes Sangeeth Prathap, Shyam Mohan M, Meenakshi Raveendran, Akhila Bhargavan, Althaf Salim, and Mathew Thomas in an extended cameo. Vishnu Vijay composed the music, and Ajmal Sabu and Akash Joseph Varghese handled the film's cinematography and editing.

Premalu was released on February 9, 2024, and received critical acclaim for its story, music, humour, and cast performances. The film, made on a budget of ₹9 crore, became a blockbuster at the box office. It became only the fifth Malayalam film to enter the ₹100 crore club. It is currently the fourth highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, and the second-highest in 2024. The Telugu-language dubbed version was released on March 8, 2024, while the Tamil dubbed version was released on March 15, 2024.

Details

Plot

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On his last day of college, Sachin confesses his love to Anjali, who turns him down. Plans to move to the UK for studies fall through when his visa is rejected, leaving him to help with his father's bakery. He reconnects with his old friend Amal and decides to join a GATE course in Hyderabad as a temporary plan. In Hyderabad, Sachin falls for Reenu, a new employee at an IT company, despite her looking for someone more mature and settled. After failing to win her over and deciding to leave for Chennai, Reenu realises her feelings for Sachin but struggles to express them. At Karthika's engagement party, Aadhi, who likes Reenu, is publicly rejected, leading to a confrontation where Reenu saves Sachin and Amal from Aadhi's retaliation. In the end, Reenu confesses her love to Sachin, acknowledging a new long-distance relationship as he leaves for the UK.

Release

The film was theatrically released on February 9, 2024.  The Telugu-language dubbed version was released on March 8, 2024, while the Tamil dubbed version was released on March 15, 2024. 

OTT Release

It is being said that Disney Hotstar has bought the OTT rights for Premalu and it will be available for streaming from April.

Reviews

Critics Review

"Premalu" received commendable reviews, with critics praising it as Girish AD's finest work. Receiving 4/5 stars from Nikhil Sebastian of Pinkvilla and LokaChitra.com, it was deemed a hilarious romantic comedy, perfect for a fun escape. Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express and Gayathri Krishna of OTTplay both rated it 3.5/5 stars, acknowledging it as a effectively comedic and a decent rom-com. However, it received slight criticism from Anna MM Vetticad for its portrayal of female consent. Yet, she acknowledged the charm of the film's humour. M.S. Krishna Prateek of Letterboxd praised its simplicity and entertainment value. Overall, the film's comic style and unique approach were its standout traits.

Audience Review

'Premalu' emerges as a delightful romantic comedy that strikes the right chords with its audience. The movie might not break new ground in terms of style, but it relies brilliantly on the captivating allure of its cast. Naslen and Mamitha Baiju light up the screen with extraordinary chemistry and impeccable comic timing, while the bromance between Naslen and Sangeeth Prathap delivers authentic and laugh-out-loud moments.

Girish AD shows yet again why he's quickly becoming a go-to director for comedy in Malayalam cinema, weaving together a simple rom-com story with relatable elements that resonate especially with Malayali audiences. The film's unassuming backdrop of Hyderabad mirrors personal recollections of Bangalore, adding to its relatability.

What truly elevates 'Premalu' is its attention to the details in dialogue—seemingly trivial lines that lend depth and authenticity to its characters and situations. This precision separates Girish's works from others within the genre. Fast-paced storytelling and complementary music by Vishnu Vijay justify the movie's 156-minute running time, and the talented ensemble cast excels in each of their roles.

A well-crafted script avoids crass slang, maintaining the film's appeal for family viewing. 'Premalu' charms with its genuine performances and directorial flair, making it a thoroughly engaging film that warrants a watch. It proves to be a surefire hit, a testament to the power of humour and human connection in storytelling.

Tring Rating - 4.5/5

Cast

• Naslen K. Gafoor - Naslen K. Gafoor is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He is best known for his roles in the films Thanneer Mathan Dinangal, Kuruthi , Home, Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan, Super Sharanya, Jo and Jo, Neymar , and Journey of Love (18+).

• Mamitha Baiju - Mamitha Baiju is an Indian actress who primarily appears in Malayalam films. She made her debut in 2018 with Sarvopari Palakkaran. She rose to fame as Alphonsa in Operation Java, Anju in Kho-Kho, Sona in Super Sharanya, and Gopika in Pranaya Vilasam.

• Sangeeth Prathap - Sangeeth Prathap is an Indian actress who works in the Malayalam film industry and is known for her roles in Hridayam, Pathrosinte Padappukal and Little Miss Rawther.

• Shyam Mohan - Shyam Mohan is an Indian actor in the Malayalam film industry who has appeared in Pathrosinte Padappukal and Heaven. He first gained public attention through the YouTube web series Ponmutta.

• Akhila Bhargavan - Akhila Bhargavan is an Indian actress who works primarily in Malayalam films. She made her acting debut in the hugely successful Malayalam short film "Anurag Engineering Works" directed by Kiran Josey. Vineeth Vasudevan's film "Poovan" was her debut movie.

• Mathew Thomas - Mathew Thomas is an Indian actor who has appeared in Malayalam films. He is best known for playing Franky in his debut film Kumbalangi Nights, Jaison in Thanneer Mathan Dinangal, Jomon in Jo and Jo, and Siddarth in Lion.

• Meenakshi Raveendran - Meenakshi Raveendran is an Indian actress from the Malayalam film industry, known for her roles in Malik, Hridayam and Pathimoonnam Rathri.

• Althaf Salim 

• Shameer Khan 

• Ranjith Narayan Kurup 

• AR Rajaganesh 

• K.S. Prasad 

• Gopu Kesav 

Crew

• Director - Girish A. D.

• Producers - Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan, and Syam Pushkaran

• Writers - Girish A. D., Kiran Josey

• Editor - Akash Joseph Varghese

• Cinematographer - Ajmal Sabu

• Musician - Vishnu Vijay

Songs

Box Office Collection

As of March 21, 2024, Premalu grossed ₹95.5 crore in India and ₹40 crore overseas, for a total of ₹124 crore worldwide. The film, made on a budget of ₹9 crore, became a blockbuster at the box office. It became only the fifth Malayalam film to enter the ₹100 crore club. It is currently the fourth highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time and the second-highest in 2024.

Interesting facts

• Premalu became only the fifth Malayalam film to enter the ₹100 crore club.

• Premalu is the fourth highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.

• Premalu was only made on a budget of 9 crore rupees.

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