Filmmaker Balaji Mohan is heading into a busy October with two major projects arriving within the same month. His Netflix series #Love, starring Arjun Das and Aishwarya Lekshmi, will premiere on October 2, while his Hindi directorial debut Nayyi Navelli, featuring Yami Gautam, is scheduled for release on October 16.
For Balaji, the two projects represent different storytelling formats rather than a traditional comeback. His last theatrical release was Maari 2, which arrived in 2018, but the filmmaker says he does not view his return to the screen through that lens.
Balaji Mohan Says He Does Not Consider His Return a ‘Comeback’
Balaji has been away from theatrical releases for several years, but he rejects the idea that his upcoming projects mark a comeback.
“I will not call this a comeback,” the filmmaker said, explaining that he prefers to develop certain stories for streaming platforms and others for theatrical audiences.
According to Balaji, the distinction has become increasingly important for contemporary filmmakers as the industry continues to operate across multiple formats.
With #Love heading to Netflix and Nayyi Navelli arriving as a Hindi feature, October will therefore see the director working across both mediums almost simultaneously.
#Love Explores Romance Without the Usual Comedy
Balaji Mohan is widely associated with romantic comedies and light-hearted entertainers, but he says #Love takes a different approach to the genre.
The filmmaker described the Netflix series as an exploration of “pure romance”, with the story following characters in their late 20s as they deal with relationships, personal challenges and individual ambitions.
Unlike some of Balaji’s earlier work, the series reportedly does not rely heavily on the quirky humour associated with his romantic films.
He also does not want the show to be categorised specifically as a 1990s-style romance or a Gen Z love story.
Balaji believes a well-told love story can connect with audiences across generations and prefers not to restrict the series by attaching it to a particular age group or cultural label.
Arjun Das and Aishwarya Lekshmi Lead #Love
Arjun Das and Aishwarya Lekshmi headline the Netflix series.
According to Balaji, Das was already attached to the project before he came on board, while Lekshmi joined later. The director believes the project gives Das an opportunity to explore a different side of his acting.
Balaji also expressed his desire to see Das take on more roles in the genre.
Speaking about Lekshmi’s casting, he said there is a natural connection between the actor’s personality and the character she portrays.
The filmmaker also revealed that #Love had already been in development for around a year before he became involved, with substantial work having already gone into the project.
How Balaji Mohan Approached #Love and Nayyi Navelli Differently
Although Balaji directed a script that had already been developed for #Love, he was involved in the writing process from the beginning for Nayyi Navelli.
He explained that directing an already completed screenplay requires him to understand the central idea, connect with it and then translate the written material into a visual experience.
For Nayyi Navelli, however, he had to operate both as a writer and director. Balaji described the dual responsibility as requiring additional effort during the scripting stage.
Once filming begins, though, he says his approach remains largely the same.
The filmmaker also believes Nayyi Navelli allowed him to reinvent himself creatively without abandoning the filmmaking sensibilities associated with his earlier work.
Balaji Says His Signature Style Remains in Nayyi Navelli
Moving into Hindi cinema does not mean Balaji intends to completely change his filmmaking identity.
The director said audiences will be able to identify his creative style throughout Nayyi Navelli, despite the film being made for the Hindi-speaking market.
The project stars Yami Gautam and marks Balaji’s Hindi feature directorial debut.
Rather than adapting his sensibilities specifically to fit a perceived Hindi audience, the filmmaker says he has retained his own approach to storytelling.
Why Balaji Mohan Made Maari
Balaji’s filmography took a major turn with the Maari franchise, starring Dhanush. Before that, he had gained recognition for films such as Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi and Vaayai Moodi Pesavum.
The filmmaker, however, says Maari was not a calculated attempt to move away from urban romantic comedies and target a different segment of the theatrical audience.
Balaji explained that he grew up watching Rajinikanth’s commercial films and therefore found the world of Maari familiar.
He described such films as being part of his filmmaking DNA, adding that the perception of a deliberate strategic shift came largely from how audiences viewed his earlier work.
As for another instalment in the Maari franchise, Balaji said the decision would ultimately rest with Dhanush.
Balaji Mohan Has Two Releases Coming in October
With #Love and Nayyi Navelli arriving within two weeks of each other, Balaji Mohan is entering an unusually busy phase of his career.
The filmmaker has expressed excitement about seeing both projects reach audiences around the same period.
#Love is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 2, while Nayyi Navelli is slated for October 16.
For Balaji, the simultaneous arrival of a streaming series and a theatrical feature represents an opportunity to showcase two different sides of his filmmaking while maintaining the creative identity he has developed over the years.