Chennai, Feb 12 (NationPress) The creators of the highly anticipated romantic drama, ‘Idhayam Murali’, helmed by director Aakash Baskaran and featuring stars Atharvaa Murali, Preity Mukhundhan, and Kayadu Lohar in prominent roles, have officially announced that Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil has joined the project and commenced shooting for this romantic comedy.

Dawn Pictures, the film’s production company, shared on its X timeline, "When FaFa brightened the sets of #IdhayamMurali. The one and only #FahadhFaasil is part of the directorial venture by @AakashBaskaran, set to hit theaters this summer."

The team also released a clip showing Fahadh Faasil filming scenes and engaging with the crew.

This film has generated tremendous anticipation and is among the most awaited films of the year.

It’s noteworthy that during the film's title launch, Atharvaa dedicated the project to individuals experiencing unrequited love.

At the launch event held at St Joseph’s Institute of Technology in Chennai, Atharvaa, portraying the character of Idhayam Murali, asked the students present, "How many of you have faced one-sided love?"

He further expressed, "Honestly, the joy, grief, and disappointment felt in one-sided love are far greater than what one experiences in mutual love, and those moments remain unforgettable in life. This film aims to capture that essence and honor unrequited love."

The film's title, ‘Idhayam Murali’, pays homage to the classic ‘Idhayam’, which is a notable hit from Atharvaa’s father, Murali.

Regarding the title, Atharvaa remarked, "We didn’t choose the title ‘Idhayam Murali’ simply for my dad's sake. My character embodies an Idhayam Murali. I believe many of you also possess an Idhayam Murali within you. As stated in this film, beyond Laila-Majnu and Romeo-Juliet, if one-sided love deserves recognition, it’s through Idhayam Murali. I’m thrilled to be part of this film, dedicating it to all one-sided lovers out there."

The teaser showcases Atharvaa as Idhayam Murali, starting with him in the US, watching a video of a friend proposing to his girlfriend. Just as he finishes the video, he gets a call from his uncle, inquiring about his whereabouts as all wedding guests have arrived. Idhayam responds from New York, prompting his shocked uncle to urge him to return to India. Idhayam agrees to head to the airport immediately, while his uncle stays on the line until he boards his flight back home.

One of the leading music directors in South India, Thaman, makes a comeback to acting through this film. He last appeared in director Shankar’s well-known film ‘Boys’. Interestingly, Thaman also composes the music for this project.

Besides Atharvaa, the cast includes Preity Mukundhan, Kayadu Lohar, and Thaman, alongside Natty, Niharika NM, Rakshan, Dravid, Angeline, Pragya, Sudhakar, and Yashashree among others.

Cinematography is handled by Manoj Paramahamsa, while editing is by Pradeep E Ragav. Co-director Senthilkumar Kesavan contributed to the film, with dialogues penned by Ramanagirivasan, Aakash Baskaran, and Dravid Selvam.