Habeebi On Sony LIV: A Tamil Love Story Told Through Letters, Cassettes And Gulf Migration

Before video calls and WhatsApp, love across distance meant letters that took weeks, phone calls that cost a fortune and cassette tapes recorded in one country and played in another. Habeebi, the Tamil period romance now streaming on Sony LIV from September 25, is built entirely around that world, and for anyone whose family was shaped by Gulf migration, it is likely to hit very close to home.

What Habeebi Is About

Set in and around Tirunelveli in southern Tamil Nadu, the story spans four decades within a Tamil Muslim community. Mohammad Yousuf is trying to keep his family's ancestral handloom craft alive as the industry declines. His son Abuthahir quietly loves Nilofar, but finds himself caught between family legacy and his own heart. As migration to the Gulf pulls families apart, the relationship survives through handwritten letters, audio cassettes and long-delayed reunions.

Sony LIV describes it as a tender portrait of a disappearing craft, changing traditions and a love shaped by distance.

The Cast

Esha M plays Abuthahir, Malavika Manoj plays Nilofar and veteran filmmaker-actor Kasthoori Raja plays Mohammad Yousuf. Dhanasree Sudhakaran, Arulkumar and Anusreya Rajan round out the cast.

The Team Behind The Film

Habeebi is directed by Meera Kathiravan from a screenplay by V.S. Mohamed Ameen. Mahesh Muthuswami handles cinematography, Mathi VS edits, and Sam C.S., one of Tamil cinema's busiest composers, delivers the music. The film first released in theatres on June 12, 2026.

Why It Speaks To The Diaspora

Stories about the South Indian Gulf diaspora are still rare on screen, even though millions of families in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have lived that reality for generations. Habeebi puts those families, the ones who waited at home, at its centre. It is a quieter watch than most OTT releases this week, but it may be the one that stays with you longest. Sony LIV is available internationally, so viewers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the Gulf itself should be able to stream it.

Quick Facts

• Film: Habeebi

• Platform: Sony LIV

• Streaming from: September 25, 2026

• Theatrical release: June 12, 2026

• Director: Meera Kathiravan

• Screenplay: V.S. Mohamed Ameen

• Cast: Esha M, Malavika Manoj, Kasthoori Raja, Dhanasree Sudhakaran, Arulkumar, Anusreya Rajan

• Music: Sam C.S.

• Language: Tamil

FAQs

Where can I watch Habeebi online?

Habeebi is streaming on Sony LIV from September 25, 2026.

What is Habeebi about?

A four-decade love story set in a Tamil Muslim community near Tirunelveli, shaped by a declining handloom trade and migration to the Gulf.

Who directed Habeebi?

Meera Kathiravan directed the film.

Who composed the music for Habeebi?

Sam C.S.