‘Once More’ trailer: Arjun Das gets a romantic makeover opposite Aditi Shankar | WATCH

Arjun Das is stepping into a softer space with 'Once More', and the newly released trailer gives us a glimpse of a romance that may not be as straightforward as it first appears.

Starring Arjun Das and Aditi Shankar, the film is written and directed by debutant Vignesh Srikanth and is set to hit theatres on August 28.

The roughly two-and-a-half-minute trailer brings together romance, humour and a hint of mystery, while keeping the more important parts of the story under wraps. At first glance, Once More looks like a breezy romantic entertainer, but there seems to be something heavier underneath.

Arjun Das has often been associated with intense characters, so seeing him in a more vulnerable romantic role makes Once More interesting right away.

His character, Raghu, appears to be carrying the weight of a past relationship. He is caught in grief and seems in no hurry to let someone new into his life. Then comes Anjali, played by Aditi Shankar, who approaches him with a very different kind of energy.

The contrast between the two is one of the trailer's biggest draws. Raghu is withdrawn and emotionally guarded, while Anjali is lively, persistent and seemingly determined to get through to him. Their interactions bring most of the trailer's lighter moments, and there is an easy charm to their pairing.

Rather than presenting their romance as love at first sight, the trailer seems more interested in showing how two people at very different emotional points begin to find their way towards each other.

Aditi Shankar gets a lively character in Once More, and the trailer gives her plenty of room to make an impression.

Anjali doesn't seem particularly interested in waiting around for Raghu to open up on his own. Her attempts to get closer to him create a playful push-and-pull between the two characters, giving the romance a slightly mischievous edge.

At the same time, the film doesn't appear to be treating her character simply as the cheerful girl who enters the hero's life. There are hints that her interest in Raghu could have more behind it, which gives the relationship an added layer of curiosity.

While the romance takes centre stage, it also leaves questions about Raghu's past. His character appears to be struggling to move on from an earlier relationship, and the arrival of Anjali seems to reopen emotions he would rather leave alone.

The film's official story points towards themes of second chances, healing and closure, while the trailer suggests that the past may have a bigger role in the present-day relationship than initially expected.

There is also Sona Olickal, who plays an important role in the film and is described as one of the two love interests of Arjun Das' character. That detail alone adds another question to the mix and suggests that Once More may have more emotional complications than its cheerful romantic moments indicate.

The trailer wisely doesn't spell everything out, which works in its favour. It gives enough of the relationship to make you curious without giving away the reasons behind the characters' actions.

Vignesh Srikanth makes his directorial debut

'Once More' marks Vignesh Srikanth's first film as a director. He has also written the film, which follows two people from contrasting emotional and social worlds as their lives begin to overlap. In an earlier conversation with Cinema Express, Srikanth described the story as one where the different worlds of the two leads and their families and friends collide.

Malayalam composer Hesham Abdul Wahab, known for films including Hridayam and Hi Nanna, is making his Tamil debut with 'Once More'. The soundtrack has already been released as a 13-song jukebox, with Srikanth also credited as the lyricist.