With Love (2026): A Nostalgic Romcom About School Crushes and Second Chances

With Love (2026) is a teen romantic comedy that mixes nostalgia with modern relationship dilemmas. Directed by debutant Madhan, the film revolves around two strangers on a blind date who revisit their unresolved school crushes before deciding whether they belong together. My rating: 3/5.

The film doesn’t aim for grand romance or dramatic spectacle. Instead, With Love focuses on awkward conversations, youthful insecurities, and the lingering memories of first love — a mix that makes the story relatable even when the narrative follows familiar romcom beats.

Plot Overview

The story begins with Sathya Seelan, a designer who avoids the idea of marriage despite family pressure. His sister sets him up on a blind date with Monisha, a younger woman who studied at the same school as him.

What starts as an uncomfortable meeting soon turns into a nostalgic conversation. Sathya shares the story of his school crush, Anisha, whom he never confessed his feelings to after discovering she was dating his friend Dinesh.

Monisha, in return, talks about her own teenage crush on Balaji, the school topper whose presence shaped her adolescent memories.

Their conversations lead to an unusual decision: before committing to a relationship, they should seek closure with the people they once loved.

This idea sends them on a journey to track down their old crushes and confront the emotions they never resolved.

However, the process also exposes their insecurities. Jealousy, misunderstandings, and impulsive decisions complicate their growing connection.

As the two navigate awkward encounters and emotional revelations, they must decide whether their past defines them — or whether their present feelings deserve a chance.

Performances

Abishan Jeevinth makes a confident lead debut as Sathya. His boy-next-door presence works well for the character, especially in scenes where Sathya’s insecurity and vulnerability surface.

The performance feels natural rather than dramatic, which suits the film’s conversational style.

Anaswara Rajan stands out as Monisha. She handles the emotional and comedic moments with ease, giving the character a believable mix of maturity and youthful confusion.

Her chemistry with Abishan Jeevinth becomes one of the film’s biggest strengths.

Supporting actors such as Harish Kumar, Sacchin Nachiappan, and Kavya Anil appear mainly in flashbacks but contribute to the nostalgic tone of the story.

Their performances help make the school sequences feel authentic.

Direction and Technical Elements

Director Madhan approaches the film as a grounded romantic comedy rather than a glossy love story.

The structure relies heavily on conversations and flashbacks. The blind date narrative gradually unfolds into multiple school memories that explain how both characters developed their ideas about love.

The film finds its rhythm once these flashbacks begin.

Visually, the cinematography by Shreyaas Krishna captures Chennai and Tiruchirappalli with a relaxed, natural tone. The locations feel familiar rather than stylized, which matches the film’s everyday storytelling approach.

Sean Roldan’s music adds energy to the romantic and nostalgic portions of the film. Songs like “Aiyo Kadhaley” and “Marandhu Poche” complement the youthful mood and help elevate several key moments.

Editing by Suresh Kumar keeps the film moving smoothly once the narrative settles into its flashback structure.

However, the early portions of the film take time to find their footing.

Strengths

The biggest strength of With Love is its relatable concept.

Many viewers can connect with the idea of unresolved school crushes and the curiosity about “what might have been.”

The film’s humor also works best when it comes from character-specific interactions rather than generic romantic dialogue.

Anaswara Rajan’s performance and the natural chemistry between the leads keep the story engaging even when the plot feels predictable.

The music and school nostalgia also contribute significantly to the film’s charm.

Weaknesses

The film takes time to find its rhythm.

The opening scenes feel slightly awkward, and the early conversations between the leads lack the energy the story later develops.

The film also leans on familiar romantic comedy patterns. While this familiarity gives the story comfort, it also prevents the narrative from feeling truly fresh.

Certain emotional statements about love also feel a bit forced rather than naturally emerging from the characters.

Box Office and Audience Response

With Love turned out to be one of the surprise hits of early 2026 in Tamil cinema.

The film opened with ₹1.6 crore on its first day in India and collected around ₹7.3 crore over its opening weekend.

Made on an estimated ₹4 crore budget, the movie quickly entered the profit zone.

Within its theatrical run, the film reportedly crossed ₹30 crore India net and nearly ₹39 crore worldwide gross, delivering strong returns for its producers.

Positive word-of-mouth played a major role in the film’s success, especially among younger audiences who connected with its nostalgic school themes.