Aaromaley team: There is dearth of light-hearted films and we hope this film fills that gap

Even when the sets of Tamil cinema saw the excessive usage of fake weapons and bags of theatrical blood, the year 2025 also saw a gradual shift when movies began to mirror reality. Battling every day’s monotony, portraying complexities of a commoner’s life, and problems that perhaps you and I face, became the crux of stories. After the successes of films like Kudumbasthan, Tourist Family, Paranthu Po, and many others this year, yet another relatable film, in the form of romantic drama Aaromaley, is set to release this week.

‘Dearth of light-hearted films are there’

Debutant director Sarang Thiagu, who helmed Aaromaley, says, “Given a chance, I would always want to make rom-com films or romance as an idea itself. I am invested in it, because the whole psyche of understanding people and being together amid conflicts is something I love to understand. The romance genre is something I am very comfortable doing over an actioner or violent film. That is how this film, Aaromaley, happened too. I could have written a horror or action film, but there is a lot of dearth of light romantic drama. Maybe this is a starting point, I feel.”

Lead actor Kishen Das says, “I don’t understand why they romanticise larger films, and why big films cannot be just simple. I also understand that there is a commerce behind it, and values that add up if you do x, y, z. There is a belief that certain markets need action, which is why there will be purposeful stunts placed, or x number of songs in the film. So, bigger films get, they have to tick off a lot more boxes which may not seem as deep as films made on a lower budget.”

Also read: Aaromaley OTT platform: Here’s where you can stream Kishen Das’ upcoming romantic drama

The actor agrees that Tamil cinema has a clear dearth of light-hearted films, given that violence and action have taken over. “I wish many such films come. Say a Meiyazhagan is a mix of big actors doing simple films. I hope more such films come.” Meanwhile, Sarang credits Pradeep Ranganathan for breaking that and being an anomaly by making blockbusters which do not rely on bloodshed and violence.

After delivering a hit this year with Dragon, YouTuber-turned-actor Harshath Khan plays a pivotal role in Aaromaley. Opining on how social media plays a big role in today’s times, he says, “Each era or a time period has witnessed the evolution of a certain type of actors, ones who came through auditions, short films, and now through content creation and social media. Right now, even those who want to cast for cinema are looking out on social media because that is where people who are connected to the audience are present.” He also adds how the faces on social media have become relatable characters with the audience, which makes it further easier to connect. “Genres such as love, comedy, and drama have always been those that help us to connect more. Say, I play a ghost or alien, it may not be as relatable as what I am doing now. But on the other hand, I cannot keep giving them the same character without providing anything new. The onus to present roles differently is on me, too.”

Also read: Aaromaley trailer out: Kishen Das’ romantic comedy goes old-school way of finding love

Speaking about collaboration between a content creator and director, both of who come with creative responsibilities, Harshath and Sarang say how the decisions in the film were made collectively. “There is no actor-director relationship, and even locking the final edit, it is a collective decision. Beyond the professionalism, we have made this film more like friends. Sometimes, Kishen asks to shoot extra, which might be useful during the edit,” Sarang says, while Harshath Khan adds, “Since all of us are involved beyond just as an actor or director, we have had creative fights and discussions, but only healthy and straightforward.”

‘The hero is the story’

Kishen joins in by saying, “From the beginning, we worked on the script together. So, it was never me coming into the project after everything was locked. One of the great things about this film is that it is a relatable subject and that is what made us to do as well. We are very confident that Aaromaley would work favourably.”

Kishen says that with the case of Aaromaley, the hero is the story, and they are merely characters with different screentime. “It is situations that drive the story and not me, where I wake up and make me the one to drive story. Aaromaley talks about life, and how each character gets to be the hero at certain circumstances,” Kishen adds.

Giving a one-liner about Aaromaley, Sarang says, “A character is making one understand what love is, and the experiences that they come with. There is no single entity or person here who can take credits. So, if Aaromaley works, it is for each one of us, or brickbats, it belongs to us.”

Concluding the conversation, the team collectively says, “This is the best possible output we could have gotten, right from the writer’s room, to the final cut. It is about trusting the process, the experience of making a film together that keeps evolving, and the comfort that each of us gave each other.”

FAQs

Q. Who is the heroine of Aaromale movie?

A. Shivathmika Rajashekar is the female lead of the Aaromaley movie.

Q. Who is Kishen Das?

A. Kishen Das is a Tamil actor and content creator, who has starred in films like Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee, Tharunam, and the upcoming Aaromaley.