Kadhal Reset Repeat – Movie Review

What the Film Tries to Be

Kadhal Reset Repeat, directed by Vijay, attempts to present itself as a quirky romantic drama built around a unique premise: a woman suffering from memory loss that resets every day. The film tries to blend romance, humour, and sentimentality while relying heavily on Harris Jayaraj’s romantic music to sell the idea of a breezy love story.

However, beneath the surface lies a darker narrative that the film never fully acknowledges. What could have been an intriguing psychological thriller about obsession instead tries to frame itself as a sweet love story.

Narrative Structure – Where It Falters

The story follows Siddharth (Madumkesh), who claims to be taking care of his girlfriend Aditi (Jiya Shankar), a woman whose memories reset every day due to amnesia. Every morning, he explains their relationship to her while keeping her isolated in a cabin on the outskirts of Scotland.

Initially, the setup sounds interesting and emotionally engaging. But the film soon reveals that Siddharth was never actually her boyfriend and had been secretly following her since childhood.

Instead of exploring the disturbing implications of this premise, the narrative repeatedly tries to justify his actions, turning what could have been a chilling psychological story into an uncomfortable romantic fantasy.

The screenplay also struggles with basic logic. Simple solutions—like recording videos to help Aditi remember events—are ignored until the climax, making the narrative feel contrived.

Character Utilisation

The characters suffer heavily due to weak writing.

Siddharth (Madumkesh) – The protagonist is written as a “devoted lover,” but his behaviour often resembles obsessive stalking. The character’s motivations never become convincing, and Madumkesh’s muted performance further weakens the impact.
Aditi (Jiya Shankar) – Jiya Shankar does her best to portray the confused and vulnerable Aditi. Despite her effort, the character frequently makes illogical decisions that make her difficult to empathise with.
Arri (Arjun Ashokan) – Aditi’s boyfriend who becomes another narrative device rather than a fully realised character.

Veteran actors like MS Bhaskar, Viji Chandrasekhar, and Jayaprakash appear largely underutilised, seemingly struggling with the bland dialogues and poorly developed scenes.

Visual & Technical Merits

Technically, the film has some redeeming qualities.

The Scottish landscapes and cabin setting provide a visually pleasing backdrop. The cinematography captures the isolation of the environment effectively, complementing the story’s premise.

Harris Jayaraj’s music is melodious as always, but the abundance of sugary romantic tracks feels misplaced given the disturbing undertones of the narrative.

Theme vs Execution

The film attempts to explore themes of love, memory, devotion, and fate. Unfortunately, its execution undermines these ideas.

Instead of critically examining obsession or manipulation, the screenplay romanticises them. The result is a story that unintentionally raises uncomfortable questions about consent and emotional manipulation.

What could have been a genre-bending psychological thriller becomes a conventional romance with problematic undertones.

Plus Points

Interesting core premise involving memory loss
Pleasant cinematography and scenic locations
Jiya Shankar’s earnest performance
Harris Jayaraj’s melodic music

Minus Points

Problematic romanticisation of stalking behaviour
Weak and illogical screenplay
Corny dialogues and forced humour
Underwhelming performance from the lead actor
Predictable narrative with missed potential

Final Verdict

Kadhal Reset Repeat had the potential to be a compelling psychological drama or thriller, but it settles for a problematic and shallow romantic narrative. Despite a promising premise and a few technical positives, the film is dragged down by weak writing, uncomfortable character motivations, and excessive melodrama.