Ithiri Neram

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Ithiri Neram
Ithiri Neram 2025 Film.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPrasanth Vijay
Written byVishak Shakti
Produced by
  • Jomon Jacob
  • Dijo Augustine
  • Einstin Zac Paul
  • Vishnu Rajan
  • Sajin S Raj
Starring
CinematographyRakesh Dharan
Edited byFrancies Louis
Music byBasil C J
Production
companies
Mankind Cinemas, Einstin Media, Symmetry Cinemas
Release date
  • 7 November 2025 (2025-11-07)
Running time
137 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Ithiri Neram is a 2025 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film directed by Prasanth Vijay and written by Vishak Shakti. The film stars Roshan Mathew and Zarin Shihab in the lead roles, with supporting performances by Nandu, Anand Manmadhan and Jeo Baby. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

The narrative follows Anish (Roshan Mathew), a podcast host who, on the eve of his daughter’s baptism, plans a night out with friends. Unexpectedly, he receives a call from his former college lover Anjana (Zarin Shihab), who is soon leaving for the United States. Their chance reunion leads to candid conversations and emotional confrontations over the course of one night, exploring themes of love, memory, closure and the lingering impact of past relationships.

Cast

Production

The idea for the film originated from a Facebook post by a journalist describing a real-life incident involving a man and a woman over the course of a night. Director Prasanth Vijay and writer Vishak Shakti adapted this incident into a fictional narrative, developing backstories for the central characters and introducing additional supporting characters. [3] The film was produced by Jomon Jacob, Dijo Augustine, Einstin Zac Paul, Vishnu Rajan and Sajin S Raj and presented by Jeo Baby. Cinematography was handled by Rakesh Dharan, with music composed by Basil C J who has also penned the lyrics. [4]

Release

Ithiri Neram premiered in cinemas in India on 7 November 2025. [5] After its theatrical run, the film was released on SunNXT on 31 December 2025 and Prime Video on 2 January 2026. [6]

Critical reception

Writing for The Week , Sajin Shrijith described the film as being “laden with poignant moments and humour,” noting that the two lead actors complement Prasanth Vijay’s direction with “stirring performances” that appeal to both the heart and intellect. [7] In The Hindu , S. R. Praveen characterised the film as a “deeply felt conversational drama,” observing that Vijay crafts the narrative with an “uncommon turn” that distinguishes it from more conventional romantic films. [8]

Janani K, reviewing the film for India Today , referred to it as “a mature, nuanced take on love, loss and second chances,” calling it a bittersweet drama anchored by the performances of Roshan Mathew and Zarin Shihab. [9] Anna Mathews of The Times of India echoed this sentiment, writing that Ithiri Neram “breaks the mould of today’s style of filmmaking” and suggesting that its approach could appeal to audiences across generations. She highlighted the film’s “brave decision to take the narrative at a slow pace,” commending its script and direction and noting that the story of lost love was “beautifully woven,” with strong performances that kept viewers engaged throughout. [10]

Vishal Menon of The Hollywood Reporter India wrote that the film leaves viewers feeling “the pleasures of returning to a dreamlike moment in the past and the pain that only long-lost love can make you feel,” highlighting the chemistry between the lead actors and the film’s nostalgic tone. [11] Vivek Santhosh of The New Indian Express described it as “a tender and talk-heavy drama,” praising its sincerity and the emotional weight carried by its performances. [12] In The Indian Express , Anandu Suresh noted that while the film follows narrative stylistics reminiscent of ’96, it differentiates itself through the way it “manages to instil a sense of tension” within its largely conversational framework. [13]

Rasmi Binoy, writing for The News Minute , offered a positive assessment, stating that rather than forcing the audience to take a stand, the film presents “a scenario that could happen to any of us,” and remarking that it “emphatically marks Prasanth Vijay’s arrival in the mainstream.” [14] A more critical perspective came from Maria Teresa Raju, also writing for The News Minute, who questioned certain narrative and emotional choices, expressing reservations about the film’s thematic framing despite acknowledging the strength of its performances. [15]

Soundtrack

Ithiri Neram
Soundtrack album by
Basil CJ
Recorded2025
Genre Feature film soundtrack
Length33:36
LanguageMalayalam
Label Think Music

The film's songs and background score were composed by Basil C J, who has also written the lyrics. The film has six songs.

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Neeyorikkal" Viswajith CT, Sithara Krishnakumar 6:21
2."Akalunnu Melle" Sooraj Santhosh 5:20
3."Nishayil"Veetrag5:39
4."Theeram Thodaathe" Sooraj Santhosh, Mridula Warrier 5:28
5."Madhuramoorunna" Kapil Kapilan 5:28
6."Akalunnu Melle" (Duet version) Sooraj Santhosh, Chithra Arun5:20
Total length:33:36

References

  1. "Ithiri Neram Movie Review: Pain of lost love captured beautifully". The Times of India. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  2. "Roshan Mathew and Zarin Shihab's Ithiri Neram First Look Promises a Tender Tale of Second Chances". Filmfare. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  3. Madhu, Vignesh (2025-10-31). "Ithiri Neram director Prasanth Vijay: You need a commercial release to be taken seriously". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  4. "Ithiri Neram (2025) | Ithiri Neram Malayalam Movie | Movie Reviews, Showtimes". NOWRUNNING. 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  5. "Roshan Mathew-Zarin Shihab starrer Ithiri Neram gets a release date". The New Indian Express. 2025-10-27. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  6. "Weekly OTT Roundup Stranger Things finale and more: Everything new on Netflix, Prime Video, Zee5 & JioHotstar". Deccan Herald. 2025-10-31. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  7. Shrijith, Sajin. "'Ithiri Neram' review: Roshan Mathew and Zarin Shihab bring genuine feelings to the table". The Week. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  8. Praveen, S.R. "'Ithiri Neram' movie review: Roshan Mathew and Zarin Shihab ace in a deeply-felt conversational drama". The Hindu. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  9. K, Janani. "'Ithiri Neram review: A mature, nuanced take on love, loss and second chances". India Today. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  10. "Ithiri Neram Movie Review: Pain of lost love captured beautifully". The Times of India. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  11. "'Ithiri Neram' Movie Review: Roshan Mathew and Zarin Shihab Have Sparkling Chemistry In This Night To Remember". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  12. Santhosh, Vivek (2025-11-07). "Ithiri Neram Movie Review: An imperfect yet sincere look at love that never truly left". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  13. "Ithiri Neram movie review: Roshan Mathew, Zarin Shihab shine in Malayalam cinema's '96". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  14. Binoy, Rasmi (2025-11-12). "Love, regret, and the Malayali man: What Ithiri Neram gets right". The News Minute. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  15. Raju, Maria Teresa (2025-11-07). "Ithiri Neram review: A marathon of missed connections and murky motives". The News Minute. Retrieved 2026-01-23.