Striving for Simplicity: A Review of ‘Little Hearts’ featuring Shane Nigam and Mahima Nambiar

Remember those heartwarming Little Hearts biscuits that used to brighten our days and bring a smile to our faces? Well, the romantic comedy-drama ‘Little Hearts’, directed by Anto Jose Pereira and Aby Treesa Paul, aims to do just that – keep the audience smiling. The story unfolds in the serene village of Pushpakandam in Idukki district, focusing on three intertwining romantic relationships and the challenges they face. Childhood friends Sibi (played by Shane Nigam) and Shosha (portrayed by Mahima Nambiar) hide their love from their families to avoid potential conflicts. Sibi’s widowed father, Baby (acted by Baburaj), finds love with Cicily (played by Ramya Suvi), but their happiness is hindered by Cicily’s daughter’s disapproval, leading to a period of separation. In a surprising turn, Sosha’s brother, Sharon (portrayed by Shine Tom Chacko), confides in Sibi about his homosexuality and enlists his help to reveal his relationship with a foreign partner to their parents. The movie unfolds as these characters navigate their intertwined lives and relationships.

While Anto and Aby’s tale is sweet and could potentially evolve into a charming film about intertwined relationships and their bumpy journeys towards a happy conclusion, Rajesh Pinnadan’s script feels underdeveloped, leaving it vulnerable to collapse with the slightest shake. Initially aiming for a simple and authentic tone, ‘Little Hearts’ struggles as it leans heavily on clichés. Whether it’s depicting Sibi as the community’s go-to guy or Baby as the fatherly best friend, scenes like chasing a wild boar with a homemade gun, nightly drinks between father and son, and the dad’s awkward use of social media feel forced and out of place in the storyline.

Little Hearts initially captures the audience with the endearing moments shared between Baby and Cicily, but unfortunately, these heartwarming scenes become scarce as the movie progresses, especially for the other couples. Instead of focusing on genuine connections, the film delves into conflicts, with characters merely reacting to them. The script suffers from overly convenient plot twists, and the lack of depth in character development makes it challenging for viewers to connect with them. Even Sibi, who is prominently featured throughout the film, appears inconsistently due to weak character portrayal. Among the three relationships depicted, the homosexual relationship between Sharon and his partner feels the most underdeveloped. While the movie attempts to handle this theme sensitively, it seems hesitant to explore it further, possibly out of fear of mishandling it and facing criticism. As a result, the relationship is superficially explored, mainly through the reactions of others. Sharon’s character is portrayed as a passive observer in his own life, lacking substantial depth beyond drinking, smoking, and appearing tense. His partner, on the other hand, is portrayed as a stereotypical outsider amazed by the Kerala landscape. Despite this, it’s heartening to see more films embracing LGBTQ+ themes, especially in ordinary settings. The fact that such movies are being released gives hope for the normalization of these themes, albeit at a gradual pace. The movie’s attempts at humor often fall flat, except for a few moments, particularly when Shane and Baburaj share the screen. Their bond, reminiscent of father-son relationships in other films, is genuinely heartwarming.

Although Kailas’ music provides a soothing backdrop, it doesn’t quite manage to lift up the struggling storyline of Little Hearts. On the bright side, Arun Jose’s art direction stands out for creating a realistic setting that complements the narrative effectively. While Luke Jose’s cinematography and Noufal Abdullah’s editing show skill in many scenes, they fall short of elevating the movie to a more impactful level.

Cast of Little Hearts: Shane Nigam, Mahima Nambiar, Shine Tom Chacko, Baburaj, Ramya Suvi Directors of Little Hearts: Anto Jose Pereira and Aby Treesa Paul Rating for Little Hearts: 1.5 stars