Story

Nelson (Kavin), the son of divorced parents, grows up disenchanted with the very idea of love. Cynical, sardonic, and detached, he walks through life with disdain for romance. His life takes a bizarre turn when he comes across a mysterious book that bestows him with an unusual power — whenever he sees a couple kiss, he gets visions of their fate.

From awkward proposals to weddings, and even stray dogs indulging in PDA, Nelson unwillingly becomes a spectator of love stories destined to fail. But things complicate when he crosses paths with Sarah (Preethi Asrani), a spirited dance instructor who is connected to the book. Nelson’s pursuit of answers about the book slowly leads him towards Sarah, but does his bitterness allow him to embrace love? And will the legend tied to the book and the “ring of fire” curse dictate his destiny too?

Kiss sets out to be a cocktail of fantasy, comedy, and romance — but while the premise is refreshing, the execution falters.

Performances

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  • Kavin: He shoulders the film with ease. As Nelson, he pulls off the “disdainful anti-romantic” act convincingly, adding casual charm and subtle humor. His body language and comic timing often carry scenes that would have otherwise fallen flat.

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  • Preethi Asrani: Brings warmth to Sarah, but her character feels underwritten. The chemistry between her and Kavin is inconsistent, largely because the script doesn’t establish the emotional bridge well.

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  • Supporting Cast: RJ Vijay and VTV Ganesh provide scattered moments of comedy, but they feel like add-ons rather than integral parts of the narrative. devayani and kausalya make brief but notable appearances, but the emotional beats involving them don’t fully land.

Technicalities

• • Cinematography: Stylish and neon-lit visuals give the film a quirky, youthful vibe. The framing in fantasy portions has flair, though it doesn’t always translate to emotional heft.

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  • Music & Dance: Songs and background score inject energy, particularly during fantasy/comedy setups. The dance-driven flavor complements Sarah’s character but isn’t consistently memorable.

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  • Editing: The biggest weakness. The film jumps between fantasy, romance, and comedy without balance, making it tonally confused. Several sequences drag and dilute the impact of key moments.

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  • Direction & Writing: The premise had real potential to be a witty, genre-bending entertainer. But the screenplay doesn’t flesh out Nelson’s trauma, motivations, or his eventual change of heart convincingly. The “curse” angle and parental backstory feel like last-minute fillers rather than organic narrative drivers.

Analysis

• At its core, Kiss is a film with a clever hook — a man cursed/blessed with the ability to see love’s future in a kiss. The idea has scope for dark humor, fantasy thrills, and even poignant romance. Unfortunately, the writing only scratches the surface.

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  • The lack of emotional depth is glaring. Nelson’s hatred for romance is pinned vaguely on his parents’ divorce, but the film never explores his psyche beyond surface-level cynicism.

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• • The romance between Nelson and Sarah feels forced. While she pursues him, the audience is left wondering why he reciprocates — there’s little emotional groundwork.

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• • The fantasy element (curse, ring of fire, book) begins intriguingly but fizzles out without a coherent explanation.

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• • Comedy works in bits, but over-reliance on pop culture references (serials, shows, etc.) makes it feel shallow.

• That said, the film is not entirely a miss. Its stylish presentation, Kavin’s performance, and a handful of cleverly staged fantasy-comedy bits make it sporadically engaging. It’s a film that tries to juggle too much, loses focus, and ends up muddled — though not entirely without charm.

✅ What Works

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  • Fresh Premise: The idea of a man cursed to see couples’ futures through a kiss is quirky, novel, and has scope for fantasy-comedy.

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  • Kavin’s Performance: He nails the cynical, anti-romantic vibe with ease and keeps the character watchable even when the writing falters.

• • Visual Style: Neon-lit frames and slick cinematography give the film a stylish, youthful touch.

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  • Moments of Humor: RJ Vijay and VTV Ganesh bring in some scattered laughs; a few one-liners land well.

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  • Fantasy Touches: The animated prologue and occasional imaginative bits (like the “ring of fire” motif) show flair, even if underused.

❌ What Doesn’t Work

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  • Uneven Writing: The script jumps between fantasy, romance, and comedy without balance, leaving the film tonally confused.

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  • Lack of Emotional Depth: Nelson’s hatred for romance is never fully explored; his eventual love story with Sarah feels unearned.

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  • Weak Romance Arc: The chemistry between Kavin and Preethi asrani is underdeveloped, with little emotional payoff.

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  • Half-Baked Fantasy Lore: The curse, the mysterious book, and the “ring of fire” setup promise much but are never clearly fleshed out.

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  • Inconsistent Humor: Cross-dressing gags and over-reliance on pop culture references feel outdated and forced.

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  • Pacing Issues: The narrative meanders, with many scenes dragging or repeating beats without progression.

Final Verdict

Kiss is a film with a fascinating idea but uneven execution. It flirts with fantasy, romance, and comedy without fully committing to any. Kavin’s effortless performance and the film’s vibrant style keep it afloat, but the lack of emotional resonance and a muddled script stop it from kissing greatness.

⭐ Rating

• India Herald Percentage: 54%

• Ratings: ⭐⭐½ out of 5

Overall, A watchable experiment with potential, but ultimately a half-hearted kiss that doesn’t linger.