Kadhalikka Neramillai Review: Nithya Menen Charms, But Clichés Overstay
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The 2025 Tamil romance Kadhalikka Neramillai starts off strong, introducing its lead couple in long-term relationships with different people. However, both relationships end on an acrimonious note. Nithya Menen plays Shriya, a cheerful Chennai-based architect set to marry her boyfriend Karan (John Kokken) and move to the U.S. to start a family – until she catches him cheating. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, structural engineer Siddharth (Ravi Mohan) is ghosted by his girlfriend on their engagement day because he doesn’t believe in marriage and is firmly against having children. When Shriya and Siddharth cross paths after these heartbreaks, sparks fly – but can a woman eager to have children make it work with a man dead set against it?
Written and directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, Kadhalikka Neramillai struggles to solve its own central dilemma. Siddharth’s aversion to children simply vanishes because he “truly falls in love” with Shriya, a lazy resolution to an otherwise compelling conflict. While the film touches on modern themes like IVF for single mothers, sperm freezing, and gay marriage, it ultimately drowns in clichés, contrived coincidences, and emotional manipulation. Its ‘woke-ness’ feels forced.
It is Nithya Menen’s delightful, easygoing performance that makes Kadhalikka Neramillai watchable. She brings charm and depth to Shriya, a fiercely independent woman who follows her heart. Ravi Mohan, on the other hand, lacks the effortless charisma the role demands. For instance, when Shriya and Siddharth first meet as strangers in a Bengaluru pub, she is so taken aback by his appearance that she is momentarily speechless – an unconvincing moment. Even more baffling is when she agrees to go home with him and two of his male friends the same night – barely an hour after meeting them. Are we supposed to assume she shares her live location with a friend in case they murder her and dump her in a dark alley?
The second half of Kadhalikka Neramillai drags, weighed down by yet another impractical twist and some overstretched drama. The story jumps ahead a few years, with Shriya and Siddharth once again getting to know each other – smitten but not officially together. Just when it seems like things might finally move forward, Siddharth’s ex-girlfriend surprises him by showing up unannounced at his doorstep. A ridiculous twist, because you cannot miss your own engagement, break up via a letter delivered by your parents, disappear for years, and then expect your ex to be thrilled by your grand return. L-O-L. Although, T.J Bhanu in her small cameo as the ex-girlfriend is really good. There’s a whole other sub-plot which is just cheesy, but I am not going to write anything about it to avoid major spoilers.
If you’re a Nithya Menen fan and have a soft spot for old-school romances where things are driven by emotions and not logic, Kadhalikka Neramillai might seem like a decent one time watch.
Rating: 2.5 on 5 stars. Watch the film Netflix.
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