While celebrating in a club, the group get into a physical altercation with a passer-by who was livestreaming Vinod in the costume without his consent, leading to their arrests.

Jannath struggles to be accepted by her conservative father, who disapproves of her relationship with Arjun; knowing that they won’t get his blessing, the couple have a courthouse wedding.

Sajith comes from a financially struggling family; his minimal English and lack of social skills make it difficult for him to find job interviews.

Things eventually become better for the group: Jannath and Arjun are expecting a baby, Sajith secures a well-paying job, and Shyam has taken over his family business.

[6] Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost wrote, “Dear Friend is matter of fact yet intriguing, and the finale is nicely open-ended.

[8] Cris of The News Minute wrote that "But for the abruptness of the ending which makes you feel a little cheated, the film is a cosy and engaging watch".

[9] S. R. Praveen of The Hindu wrote that "Filmmaker Vineeth Kumar's second outing has an interesting premise, but what the film serves in the end — after all the painful work of building the suspense — is quite disappointing".

[10] Anjana George of The Times of India said that "Dear Friend is for those who cherish intimate friendships as an important part of the fabric of their life.

[11] Sajin Srijith of The New Indian Express opined that "Dear Friend is one of those films that should inspire young aspiring filmmakers who think out of the box because this is a work that screams simplicity".