K J Surendar's Maayabimbum – A 2005 Love Story, a romantic drama headlined by Aakash and Janaki, is set to release in theaters on January 23. The film, which revisits love through the lens of the mid-2000s, promises a mix of nostalgia and emotion.

Surendar, who is also producing the film under his Self Start Productions banner, revealed that the story is rooted in a real-life incident. "The spark for Maayabimbum came from a real-life incident. We developed that core idea into a complete feature film," he told IANS. Set in 2005, the director believes the film offers a refreshing take on romance for today's audiences. He added that "Maayabimbum will feel like a nostalgic journey" for viewers who grew up in the 1990s and presents an angle on love that hasn't been explored much.

The narrative centers on the romantic bond between a third-year medical student and a nurse working at a primary health center. The film was shot across locations including Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Pudukkottai, and Thanjavur. Hari Krishnan, Rajesh, and Arun Kumar also play key supporting roles.

On the technical side, Nanda composed the music, Vinoth handled the editing, and newcomer Edwin managed the cinematography. Viveka and Padmavathi penned the lyrics for the film's songs.

Surendar is confident about the film's emotional depth. "At its heart, Maayabimbum is a strong romantic drama. Beyond that, it also places a lot of emphasis on friendship and family values,” he said.

The song 'Yenkkulae' from the film, which was recently unveiled by actor-composer GV Prakash Kumar and actress Vani Bhojan, has already generated buzz. Both praised the track, adding to the growing anticipation around the project. Veteran filmmaker Sundar C. released the film's first-look poster and lauded the team's efforts, further boosting expectations ahead of its January release.