Mouli
Akhil
Overview
Akhil, when failed in EAMCET exam, is forced into long-term coaching after heartbreak teaches him the difference between true and shallow love. At the center, he meets Katyayani and falls for her, only to be rejected for a strange reason. Determined not to lose her, his humorous and transformative journey to win her heart becomes the soul of the story.
Cast
12 people
Shivani Nagaram
Katyayani
Shailaja Rao Durvasula
Sameera Krishnan
Rajeev Kanakala
N. Gopal Rao
S. S. Kanchi
Dr. Krishnakanth Aakula
Reviews
4 min readThe Exam That Never Ends
I’ve seen enough coming-of-age films to know the drill: the awkward first kiss, the rebellious phase, the moment of self-discovery that conveniently arrives just in time for the third-act climax. Little Hearts, Sai Marthand’s breakout Telugu rom-com, doesn’t reinvent the wheel—but it does something rarer. It remembers what it actually felt like to be young, stupid, and in love in a world that only cared about your grades.
Set in 2015 Hyderabad, the film follows Akhil (Mouli Tanuj Prasanth), a lovable underachiever who fails his engineering entrance exam and gets packed off to a year-long coaching center. There, he meets Kaathyayani (Shivani Nagaram), another academic misfit who’s attempting MBBS for the fourth time. Their romance unfolds in the kind of hyper-specific, pre-Jio world that millennials will recognize instantly: internet cafes, Facebook poke wars, and the soul-crushing pressure to become either a doctor or an engineer—or risk being labeled a failure.
What makes Little Hearts work isn’t its plot—it’s the texture. The film is drenched in the kind of nostalgia that doesn’t feel manufactured. The production design nails the mid-2010s aesthetic: the bright, slightly garish colors of coaching center banners, the clunky flip phones, the way everyone’s Facebook profile picture is either a cringe-worthy selfie or a still from Baahubali.
Even the humor feels organic, like the running gag where Akhil’s friends compare his relationship to Baahubali—dismissed at first, but destined to become a phenomenon. It’s the kind of meta-joke that could feel forced, but here, it lands because the film never takes itself too seriously.
Mouli is the film’s secret weapon. As Akhil, he’s a whirlwind of nervous energy, his comic timing so sharp it feels effortless. There’s a scene where he films a DIY music video to propose to Kaathyayani, complete with an SRK-style hair flip and a song that’s equal parts earnest and ridiculous.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A charming romantic comedy with heartfelt moments, though its predictability holds it back from greatness."
The film’s lead performances, particularly the chemistry between Mouli and Shivani Nagaram, are widely praised for bringing warmth and authenticity to the story. Many appreciate its lighthearted tone and emotional sincerity, making it an enjoyable watch for fans of feel-good romances. latestnetflix.com's take is that however, the plot’s familiarity and occasional pacing issues leave some wanting more depth and originality.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead chemistry Mouli and Shivani Nagaram’s on-screen rapport is frequently highlighted as the film’s strongest asset.
- Heartfelt moments The emotional beats resonate well, offering genuine warmth and relatability.
- Lighthearted tone The film’s breezy, feel-good approach makes it an easy and enjoyable watch.
- Supporting cast charm Rajeev Kanakala and other supporting actors add depth and humor to their roles.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn romantic comedy tropes, lacking surprises for seasoned viewers.
- Pacing issues Some scenes drag, disrupting the film’s otherwise smooth flow.
- Thin character arcs A few characters feel underdeveloped, missing opportunities for deeper engagement.
Recommended for
Romantic comedy lovers Fans of feel-good stories Telugu cinema enthusiasts Lighthearted movie nights
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe ETV Win movie that snuck into theaters and ate the year
Little Hearts was supposed to skip the box office. Wikipedia and the Telugu trades say Sai Marthand's rom-com was lined up as an ETV Win original, then landed in theaters on 5 September 2025 instead. Aditya Hasan produced it, the same Aditya Hasan who directed the 90s Middle Class Biopic series that made YouTuber Mouli Tanuj Prasanth a film face. Bunny Vas Works and Vamsi Nandipati Entertainments took the theatrical release. latestnetflix.com's take is that Great Andhra notes it as the first theatrical title under the Bunny Vas Works banner.
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Cinema Express, writing as the trailer dropped, called Marthand a debutant and flagged a clash with Anushka Shetty's Ghaati on the same Friday. Mouli plays Akhil, a failed EAMCET candidate. Shivani Nagaram plays Katyayani, a long-term coaching regular. Idlebrain, ahead of the trailer launch, tied Nagaram to Ambajipeta Marriage Band. The official logline is exam failure, heartbreak, a second-chance classroom, then a rejection for a strange reason. Wikipedia fills that reason. She is three years older and on her fourth long-term attempt. The film is set in 2015 Hyderabad. Kachoris, bunking, strict fathers, WhatsApp later. That is the nostalgia pitch, not a rumor. , ,
Then the weekend numbers outran the spend. Cinema Express, citing Sacnilk, had 7.36 crore India nett after the opening weekend and worldwide already over 12 crore. Sunday was 160 percent above Friday. A reported 2 crore budget meant the film recouped on day two. It also passed Ghaati on Saturday despite a thinner screen count. Koimoi's closing sheet later put India nett at 26.47 crore, worldwide gross at 40.58 crore, and called the return 1223.5 percent, third among Indian films in 2025 behind Su From So and Mahavatar Narsimha. Wikipedia rounds the same story to over 40 crore against a 2.4 crore budget. Treat the exact crore as trade math, not a studio audit. , ,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27HUGLRI-cU
ETV Win still got its original, just later and longer. Times Now quoted the platform's post. The extended cut would stream from 1 October, longer, sweeter, and crazier. Wikipedia records that date. On 19 December 2025, 123Telugu reported the sleeper hitting Netflix in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, bundled with another ETV Win title, AIR. The director also appears on camera. Sai Marthand plays older Nikhil, Akhil's brother, a cameo the Wikipedia cast list bothers to print. Aditya Music posted the song jukebox with Rajagadiki, Chaduvu Ledu, and Hello Ani up front. For a movie that was not supposed to have a theatrical life, that is a lot of afterlife. , , ,
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.