Once More is a romantic drama about love, separation, healing, and second chances. The film beautifully explores how life can give a person another opportunity to overcome the pain of the past and find happiness in the present. The story also raises an interesting question: when someone who once left you without giving a proper reason returns after many years, should you accept the past or choose the beautiful life you have built in the present?
The story follows Raghuvaran, who falls in love with Indra Vasudevan when she enters his college life during a cultural event in Kerala. Their love develops within just eight days, but the relationship suddenly comes to an end when Indra leaves Raghu for a reason that is revealed as the story progresses. Raghu is deeply affected by the separation and goes through a painful phase in his life. After eight years, his college junior Anjali enters his life. She has strong feelings for Raghu and believes that destiny will eventually bring the person she loves back to her.
Anjali openly follows her heart and tries to express her love to Raghu, but he initially rejects her. However, her genuine and soulful love slowly changes him. Raghu eventually understands her feelings and accepts Anjali. Their relationship gives him hope and helps him move forward from his painful past. The emotional journey between Raghu and Anjali forms an important part of the film and gives the story its warmth.
The situation becomes complicated in the second half when Indra returns to Raghu’s life. She admits that she made a mistake and wants another chance with him. Her return brings the past back into Raghu’s present and forces him to make a difficult choice. Should he go back to his first love or continue the beautiful relationship he has found with Anjali? The way Raghu handles this emotional situation and decides between his past and present forms the central conflict of the second half.
Arjun Das delivers a convincing performance as Raghuvaran. He effectively brings out the character’s emotional pain, loneliness, and confusion, particularly in the first half. His expressions and body language suit the character well. In the second half, his performance becomes more interesting as Raghu has to judge his past and present before making an important decision. Aditi Shankar, as Anjali, brings freshness and positive energy to the film. Her bubbly and lively character makes the first half more engaging, while her emotional scenes show another side of her performance. Sona Olickal as Indra Vasudevan handles her character with the required emotional weight, especially when she returns to Raghu’s life. Devadarshini Chetan as the therapist and Jenson Dhivakar as Father Edwin also contribute well in their respective roles.
Writer-director Vignesh Srikanth keeps the story focused on love, emotions, and personal choices. The first half is more energetic and engaging, with Anjali’s character adding life to the proceedings. The second half moves into a more emotional space and concentrates on Raghu’s dilemma. The screenplay works best when it explores the characters’ feelings and the impact of past relationships. The direction keeps the central idea simple and accessible, allowing the audience to connect with the characters.
Technically, the film receives good support from the crew. Aravind Viswanathan’s cinematography gives the film a pleasant visual quality and captures the college and emotional moments effectively. Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music supports the romantic and emotional portions of the story. Nash’s editing helps maintain the flow of the narrative, while Raj Kamal’s art direction adds to the film’s setting. The sound design by Renjith Venugopal and M. Saravana Kumar also supports the mood of the important scenes. With Vignesh Srikanth’s lyrics, Apsar’s choreography, and the contributions of the costume and production teams, the technical departments provide solid support to the film.
Overall, Once More is a simple romantic drama that talks about love, heartbreak, healing, and the importance of choosing happiness in the present. The first half is more lively, while the second half becomes more emotional as Raghu faces the return of his past. Arjun Das and Aditi Shankar are the major strengths of the film, with Sona Olickal adding importance to the emotional conflict. The film’s central idea of getting one more chance in life and deciding whether to hold on to the past or move forward gives Once More an emotional appeal for audiences who enjoy relationship-based stories.
