‘Kadalikka Neramillai’ (No Time to Love) is a stylish, modern romantic comedy that is set to hit the theatres on 14th January 2025 and take centre stage over the Pongal weekend. It is now streaming on Netflix and is available in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam. Starring Nithya Menen and Ravi Mohan (Jayam Ravi) in the lead roles, directed by Udhayanidhi as Kiruthi, and with music by A.R. Rahman, the film has created a lot of hype. The film touches on new topics like modern relationships, single parenthood and IVF, and is a love story that will appeal to the youth. But, has the film lived up to that hype? Is it a hit with love story fans? Let’s dive in!
What is the story?
The story of ‘Kadalikka Neramillai’ revolves around Shriya (Nithya Menon) and Siddharth (Ravi Mohan). Shriya, an architect in Chennai, wants a perfect life—love, marriage, kids—but after a breakup with her boyfriend, she decides to become a single mother and undergoes IVF treatment. On the other hand, Siddharth, a structural engineer in Bangalore, is a guy who is not interested in marriage or kids at all. After a breakup, he donates sperm. Due to a mix-up at the clinic, Shriya gets pregnant with Siddharth’s sperm. Years later, their lives coincide. How does the love story that started from this mix-up deal with the rules of modern relationships, parenthood, and society? This is the core of the story.
The supporting characters include Siddharth's friends Sethu (Vinay Roy), Gowda (Yogi Babu), Shriya's family—mother (Lakshmi Ramakrishnan), father (Mano), and friend Nirupama (T.J. Bhanu)—who add color to the story. The film is loosely inspired by the 2010 Hollywood movie The Switch, but has been redesigned with Tamil culture and a modern youth vibe.
How did I feel?
The first feeling after watching 'Kadalikka Neramillai'—it's a fresh, breezy rom-com, with a vibe that connects to the youth! Nithya Menen and Ravi Mohan's chemistry is the biggest plus for the film. The first half is super engaging—Shriya's journey to decide to become a single mother, Siddharth's cool, confused vibe, and comedy scenes with friends are all fully entertaining. Touching topics like IVF, single parenthood, and gay parenting in a light, non-judgmental way gives the film a modern touch. Especially, Shriya's character—the bold choices she makes, the emotional depth she has—touches the heart.
However, the second half slows down a bit. The story becomes a bit predictable, and rom-com clichés (miscommunications, love triangles) are prevalent. Although Shriya starts off strong as a single mother, her parenting is shown to be a bit weak in the second half. The supporting characters—Sethu, Gowda, Nirupama—add fun to the story, but their stories are not developed much. In some scenes, the dialogues and acting felt a bit artificial, especially the Western-style dialogues felt a bit forced. However, Nithya and Ravi’s performance, and A.R. Rahman’s music kept the film alive.
How did the actors do?
Nithya Menen was impressive as Shriya. Her emotional depth and screen presence were a must for the film. Daughter, mother, lover—she was neat in every role. Ravi Mohan impressed with a cool, vulnerable vibe as Siddharth. Putting aside the action hero image, Ravi looked refreshing in a romantic role. Their chemistry is a super highlight—especially in the romantic scenes, full of feel-good moments.
Yogi Babu generates fun in the comedy scenes, but his role is a bit limited. Vinay Roy does well in a supporting role as the gay character Sethu, a plus for the director for writing his character non-stereotypically. T.J. Bhanu, John Kokken, Lal, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan are okay in their roles, but their characters lack depth. Rohan Singh (Shriya's son) adds energy in a small role.
How is the technical teamwork?
A.R. Rahman's music is the biggest asset of the film. Songs like “Yennai Izhukkuthadi”, “Lavender Nerame”, “It’s a Breakup Da” are chartbusters, and the background score gives life to the emotional scenes. Gavamik U. Arya’s cinematography captures the urban settings and intimate moments superbly—the Chennai and Bangalore vibes are felt. Lawrence Kishore’s editing is smooth, but some scenes in the second half feel dragged. The production design—Shriya’s house, office sets—look stylish and rich, but may seem a bit artificial to some.
How is the direction?
Udhayanidhi as Kiruthiga has dealt well with the romantic comedy of modern youth sensibilities. Her success lies in presenting topics like IVF, single motherhood, and gay relationships in a light, non-judgmental tone. In the first half, Shriya and Siddharth's journey was organically built, but in the second half, the story became a bit formulaic. Some subplots (time jumps, romance conflicts) felt rushed. However, Kiruti impressed by writing relatable characters and balancing emotional scenes. This film feels like an updated version of Mani Ratnam's O Kaadhal Kanmani, and Nithya's character reminds us of the Tara vibe.
Hits:
Nithya Menon, Ravi Mohan's performance, their chemistry
A.R. Rahman songs, background score
Lightly touching on modern topics like IVF, single parenthood
Stylish cinematography, urban vibe
Fun, emotional balance in the first half
Missed:
Slow pace, predictable clichés in the second half
Supporting characters' stories are underdeveloped
Shreya's single motherhood arc is shown weakly
Some artificial dialogues, forced comedy
Subplots rushed, story depth missing
Final word:
'Kaadalika Neramillai' is a fresh, feel-good romantic comedy, which is a light-hearted take on modern relationships, love, and parenthood. Speaks. Nithya Menon, Ravi Mohan's performance, A.R. Rahman's music, stylish visuals make the movie enjoyable. The first half is fully engaging, but the second half is a bit slow and predictable, but there are many elements that connect with the youth. This movie is a neat watch for rom-com lovers, Nithya fans, and those who like modern love stories. But, those who expect a deep story or shocking twists should adjust a little. Watch it on Netflix as a Valentine's Day special!
Recommendation: This movie is a great treat for those who like romantic comedies and feel-good movies. It may seem a little uncomfortable to watch with family, so it's better solo or with couples.
Rating: 3/5