Little Hearts brings realism with freshness
Little Hearts has become one of the surprise hits of the year, showing how a small-budget rom-com can fill theatres with laughter and joy. The film, directed by Sai Marthand and produced under ETV Win Originals, stars Mouli Tanuj and Shivani Nagaram in lead roles. What makes it stand out is not only the lighthearted story but also the way it was shot. Cinematographer Suriya Balaji, who made his debut with the film, gave it a visual tone that feels soft, natural, and closer to real life.
Unlike many Telugu commercial films that rely heavily on glamour and scale, Little Hearts was designed to sit in between cinematic fiction and realism. Inspired by Malayalam films like Thanneer Mathan Dinangal, the makers decided to adopt a fresh style that mixes planned shots with guerrilla filmmaking. This unique approach gave the movie its liveliness and relatability, making it connect deeply with audiences across cities and small towns.
Little Hearts and the magic of guerrilla filmmaking
One of the highlights of Little Hearts is its unusual shooting style. Instead of relying on large sets or extensive crews, many sequences were shot on location in Hyderabad and Bengaluru using a lightweight camera setup. Cinematographer Suriya Balaji explained that the team often worked with minimal equipment, using just a Sony FX3 camera and a gimbal for certain shots. Scenes like the popular ‘Hello’ song and candid montages in city streets were filmed in a run-and-gun style, often without permissions, which added a sense of spontaneity.
This approach brought real energy to the film. For example, the opening sequence in Bengaluru, where the leads are seen walking naturally on the streets, was filmed without staging. These moments gave audiences the feeling of watching real life unfold on screen rather than carefully staged drama. The team also preferred to shoot on overcast days to capture soft lighting, which matched the gentle tone of the story. Combined with Panchrome lenses and the Alexa Mini, the visuals looked richer than the film’s modest budget would suggest.
Little Hearts box office success and audience response
What began as a small experiment has now turned into a box office success. Little Hearts was produced on a budget of around 2.4 crore, but the team wanted it to look like a much bigger film. Their belief paid off as audiences embraced it wholeheartedly. Reports from theatres in smaller towns like Khammam showed housefull boards, proving the film’s universal appeal. Even industry figures like SS Karthikeya and Shobu Yarlagadda praised it, calling it a “clean laugh riot.”
The story of Akhil, an underachieving student, and Shivani, who navigates her family pressures, resonated with young audiences. The film avoids unnecessary commercial tropes, instead choosing simple dialogues, relatable settings, and humor drawn from everyday life. This approach struck a chord with both youth and family audiences, creating word-of-mouth buzz that kept growing stronger week after week.
Little Hearts proves small films can dream big
The success of Little Hearts carries an important message for Telugu cinema. With limited resources, the team managed to create a film that looks polished, feels authentic, and entertains widely. Director Sai Marthand and producer Aditya Hasan trusted the process, keeping the runtime crisp while giving freedom to the cinematographer and actors to bring freshness to each frame. The gamble worked, showing that honesty in storytelling and smart filmmaking choices can be just as powerful as a big-budget spectacle. Also Read: Leonardo DiCaprio’s 49 Years of Stardom Trigger Bold Reflection on Pace
Conclusion
Little Hearts is more than just a rom-com; it is a reminder that cinema rooted in simplicity, supported by strong teamwork, can reach audiences everywhere. Its box office success and audience love prove that heartwarming stories will always find their place, no matter the size of the budget.
