Haiku Movie Review: Aegan and Sridevi Apalla's Romantic Drama Fails to Impress – Here's Why!

Movie Name: Haiku

Release Date: October 23, 2026
Starring: Aegan, Sridevi Apalla, Femina George, Adirchi Arun, Subramanian Sethu, and Others
Director: Yuvaraj Chinnasamy
Producers: Dr. D. Arulanandhu, Mathewo Arulanandhu
Music Director: Siddhu Kumar
Cinematographer: Priyesh Gurusamy
Editor: Sakthi Pranesh

Related Links: Haiku Movie Trailer

Haiku is a Tamil romantic drama that marks the Kollywood debut of Court fame Sridevi Apalla. Aegan makes his solo debut as a lead hero with this film, which has now arrived in theatres in both Tamil and Telugu. But does this romantic drama strike the right emotional chord, or does it miss the mark? Here's our review.

Story:

Manohar (Aegan) lands in trouble with his college friends, eventually leading to his rustication. He later joins a women's college, where he becomes the only male student among 2,000 female students. During this time, he falls in love with Pavazhakodi (Sridevi Apalla).

However, complications arise, and the two eventually part ways. Years later, Manohar's colleague Nivedha (Femina George) develops feelings for him. What happens next forms the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

Aegan delivers a decent performance and makes a fair impression in his debut as a solo lead hero. Sridevi Apalla puts up a mature performance and handles a few emotional scenes quite well, leaving a reasonable impact.

Femina George brings a relatable girl-next-door charm to her character. Her bubbly performance adds a bit of fun to the proceedings at a few points.

The college episode, in which Manohar struggles to adjust to life as the only male student in a college with 2,000 girls, works reasonably well. The comedy in these portions provides some welcome relief and offers a few entertaining moments.

Minus Points:

The biggest problem with Haiku is its routine storyline. Audiences have seen similar romantic dramas for years, and the film offers very little novelty. The director also fails to communicate the intended message clearly.

In an attempt to put his point across, the director loses focus, and several scenes turn dull instead of delivering the feel-good experience the film seems to aim for.

The first half almost feels like a complete movie on its own. However, the real downfall begins in the second half, where scenes unfold without much clarity or proper flow. This stretch tests the audience's patience.

The repeated use of nicknames like "Kanna" and "Kodi" feels forced and, at times, downright cringeworthy.

Femina George's character also feels out of place in certain portions. The issue isn't her performance but the way her character is developed. Several scenes feel repetitive, making the film unnecessarily lengthy and boring.

Adirchi Arun, Subramanian Sethu, Adhiyaman, Mime Gopi, Indhumathi Manigandan, and others are also part of the cast. However, their presence doesn't contribute much to the overall narrative.

Technical Aspects:

Director Yuvaraj Chinnasamy struggles to translate his ideas effectively from paper to screen. The screenplay loses momentum, particularly in the second half, where unclear scenes and weak storytelling affect the overall experience.

Priyesh Gurusamy's cinematography is adequate, while Siddhu Kumar's music does an acceptable job. Sakthi Pranesh P's editing could have been much sharper, especially during the second half, where tighter cuts might have improved the pace.

The production values are ordinary, and the Telugu dubbing is okay.

Verdict:

Overall, Haiku turns out to be a disappointing romantic drama despite decent performances from lead actors Aegan and Sridevi Apalla. A weak screenplay, writing issues, underdeveloped character arcs, and repetitive scenes, especially in the second half, make the film a tedious watch.

While the lead cast puts in a reasonable effort, the storytelling fails to create a lasting impression.

Final Verdict: Haiku is better skipped. You can look for other movie options this weekend.