Premalu Review: A Breezy, Laugh-Out-Loud Romcom That Became a Blockbuster

Romantic comedies are everywhere, but very few feel as effortless as Premalu. In this Premalu review, we look at the 2024 film that turned Naslen and Mamitha Baiju into stars, made “Amal Davis” a household name and earned more than ₹130 crore worldwide — a staggering figure for a small-budget romcom without a superstar.

Directed by Girish A.D. and produced by Bhavana Studios, Premalu is the kind of film you watch once in a theatre and then rewatch with your family on OTT. Here is why it works so well.

Premalu: Movie Details

Director	Girish A.D.
Writers	Girish A.D., Kiran Josey
Cast	Naslen, Mamitha Baiju, Sangeeth Prathap, Shyam Mohan, Akhila Bhargavan
Music	Vishnu Vijay
Production	Bhavana Studios (Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan, Syam Pushkaran)
Release date	9 February 2024
OTT	Disney+ Hotstar (now JioHotstar)

Story (No Spoilers)

Sachin (Naslen) is a directionless young man from Kerala whose plans to go abroad have stalled. To kill time, he takes a GATE coaching course in Hyderabad with his best friend Amal Davis (Sangeeth Prathap). At a wedding, Sachin meets Reenu (Mamitha Baiju), a confident IT professional, and falls for her instantly.

The problem? Reenu has her life sorted out, and her office senior Aadhi (Shyam Mohan) — a self-declared “nice guy” — is also very interested in her. What follows is a series of awkward, hilarious attempts by Sachin to win her over, complicated by misunderstandings, jealousy and Amal’s terrible advice.

Performances

Naslen is the beating heart of the film. He plays Sachin with an endearing mix of laziness, insecurity and charm. His comic timing — especially in reaction shots — is superb, and the film made him one of the most bankable young actors in Malayalam.

Mamitha Baiju brings strength and warmth to Reenu. She is not just the “girl to be won”; she has her own ambitions and opinions, and the film respects them.

But the scene-stealer is Sangeeth Prathap as Amal Davis. His deadpan delivery and loyal-friend energy made his lines into instant memes. Shyam Mohan as Aadhi is equally funny, playing the “JK” (just kidding) catchphrase to perfection.

Writing and Direction

Girish A.D. had already shown his talent for youthful comedy in Thanneer Mathan Dinangal and Super Sharanya. With Premalu, he scales up without losing the observational humour that made those films special. The jokes come from character, not from forced situations. The dialogues, co-written with Kiran Josey, reflect how young Malayalis actually talk — mixing Malayalam, English and a bit of Telugu.

The Hyderabad setting is also used well. It gives the film a fresh look and makes the characters feel like outsiders trying to fit in, which adds to the comedy. Ajmal Sabu’s cinematography is bright and colourful, and Vishnu Vijay’s songs blend smoothly into the story.

What Works and What Doesn’t

What works

• Natural, character-driven humour that never feels cheap.
• Excellent chemistry between Naslen and Mamitha Baiju.
• A supporting cast where everyone gets a memorable moment.
• Clean, family-friendly entertainment.

What doesn’t

• The story follows a familiar romcom template.
• A few comic bits in the second half run slightly too long.

Premalu Review: Why It Became a Phenomenon

Premalu opened modestly but grew week after week on word of mouth. Its Telugu dubbed version, released by S.S. Karthikeya, was a hit too, and the film found huge popularity after streaming. It went on to win the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value. Its success also led Bhavana Studios to announce a sequel, Premalu 2, though the project was later called off — read our Premalu 2 report. Girish A.D. later topped this success with Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, now the highest grossing Malayalam movie.

Rating Breakdown

Aspect	Score
Story	3.5/5
Humour & dialogue	4.5/5
Performances	4.5/5
Music	4/5
Rewatch value	5/5

Who should watch it?

Anyone who needs a break from heavy dramas and violent action films. Premalu is ideal for a weekend family watch, a date night or a hostel movie session with friends. Young viewers will see themselves in Sachin and Reenu, while parents will enjoy the gentle humour about career pressure and “settling down”. It is also a great starting point for anyone exploring Malayalam films for the first time.

Best moments (spoiler-free)

• Sachin and Amal’s first days at the coaching centre.
• Aadhi’s “JK” moments, which get funnier every time.
• The late-night bus journey sequence, a lovely mix of romance and comedy.

This Premalu review is based on a theatre viewing and a repeat watch on OTT — and the jokes landed even better the second time.

Final Verdict

To conclude this Premalu review: it is a delightful, light-hearted film that does exactly what a romantic comedy should — it makes you laugh, makes you root for the lovers and leaves you in a good mood. It is not trying to reinvent cinema, but it is crafted with real skill and affection.

Cinemas Diary Rating: 4/5

Frequently Asked Questions

See full credits on Wikipedia.