When Past Love Meets the Present - 'Once More' Movie Review

Raghuvaran is a man who has withdrawn from life after going through a painful breakup. Emotionally closed off and unwilling to get close to anyone, he finds his routine disturbed when Anjali, his college junior, enters his life with an open declaration of love. Raghuvaran initially resists her advances, but Anjali refuses to give up. Gradually, he begins to move beyond his past and accepts her love. Just when their relationship appears to be heading towards marriage, Indra, Raghuvaran’s former lover, contacts him after several years and asks to meet him. That unexpected reunion brings his buried past back into the present and forces him to confront a choice that he thought he had already made.

Written and directed by Vignesh Srikanth, ‘Once More’ takes a familiar romantic premise and attempts to build its drama around the emotional consequences of first love, separation and second chances. The central idea has enough potential to sustain a romantic drama, but the screenplay does not always give its emotional conflicts the depth they require.

Arjun Das makes an interesting departure from the intense and often aggressive characters he has played in several films. As Raghuvaran, he portrays a man carrying the weight of a failed relationship and deliberately keeping his emotions under control. His restrained body language works particularly well during the first half, when the character is meant to appear detached and irritated by Anjali’s persistent attempts to get close to him. However, the transformation into a more youthful and romantic version of Raghuvaran is not equally convincing throughout.

Aditi Shankar emerges as one of the film’s strongest assets. Her Anjali is energetic, outspoken and persistent without losing the character’s affectionate side. She brings considerable liveliness to scenes that otherwise could have become repetitive. Her expressions and body language help establish Anjali as someone who genuinely believes in her feelings rather than simply functioning as a conventional romantic heroine.

Sona Olickal, playing Indra, has an important role because her character is directly connected to Raghuvaran’s past. The emotional impact of her return, however, could have been considerably stronger if the screenplay had provided a more convincing explanation for the relationship, its breakdown and the reasons behind her reappearance. Even so, Olickal makes a sincere effort with the material.

The supporting cast, including Dravid Selvam, Anusha Prabhu, Jagabar, Monish Elamaran, Varnika Varadh, Arunkumar Mani, Sowndarya Manoharan, Kannan D and Richie Richardson, contribute effectively in their respective roles. Devadarshini Chetan brings credibility to the therapist character Lavanya, while Jenson Dhivakar makes an impression as Father Edwin. Chitra Lakshmanan, Dhayalan, Maheshwar, Rama Rajendra and Lakshmi Saravanan also provide the required support as members of the protagonists’ families. The rest of the ensemble fits naturally into the film’s world.

Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music is among the more appealing elements of ‘Once More’. The songs complement the romantic mood without feeling completely disconnected from the narrative. His background score also helps strengthen several emotional and relationship-driven sequences. The melodic portions in particular give the film some of its more memorable moments.

Aravind Viswanathan’s cinematography gives the film a pleasant visual texture, especially in its romantic and outdoor sequences. The camera work also attempts to reflect the changing emotional states of the characters. Nash’s editing keeps the first half reasonably engaging, but the second half could have benefited from tighter trimming. Several relationship-focused sequences tend to stretch longer than necessary, affecting the pace.

The film’s core conflict comes from the contrast between Raghuvaran’s present relationship with Anjali and the unresolved emotions connected to Indra. This provides the screenplay with an opportunity to explore how people deal with memories, regret and unfinished relationships. Unfortunately, the emotional conflict does not always receive enough dramatic weight. Some developments become predictable well before they unfold, particularly as the film approaches its final act.

The film nevertheless deserves credit for attempting to present Arjun Das in a different romantic space. Aditi Shankar’s lively performance gives the proceedings much-needed energy, while Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music adds warmth to the love story. These elements prevent the film from becoming entirely flat despite the screenplay’s shortcomings.

‘Once More’ does not attempt to reinvent the romantic genre. Instead, it follows a familiar path involving a new relationship, an old love and the difficult choice between the two. The premise has potential, but the writing needed stronger emotional foundations and a more tightly paced second half. For viewers who enjoy straightforward romantic dramas, the film offers a few engaging moments, but it falls short of becoming a deeply affecting love story.

Rating: 3/5