Hi Nanna, a much-anticipated film of the season, directed by Shouryuv and featuring Nani and Mrunal Thakur, lives up to expectations, offering a cinematic experience rich in emotional depth. The 155-minute runtime expertly explores the nuances of love, marriage, and parenthood, maintaining engagement and feeding the soul. The performances by Nani, Mrunal Thakur, and Kiara Khanna bring the heartwarming family drama to life. Their portrayal of vulnerabilities and the essence of the father-daughter bond is commendable. Nani's post-Dasara transformation adds a fresh touch to his character, while Mrunal displays versatility with panache. The chemistry between the lead actors is palpable, making their on-screen moments a delight. Their characters are intricately layered and thoroughly explored. Whether stepping into the shoes of a photographer, depicting the desperation of a father, or conveying the longing of a lover, Nani strikes all the right chords, and Mrunal beautifully compliments him. Kiara Khanna, portraying Mahi, steals hearts with a brilliant performance, becoming the cutest and most beautiful aspect of the movie. Even Pluto, the pet dog, delivers an impressive performance, becoming an integral part of the plot. The film has plenty of moments that moist the eyes of the audience. The ensemble cast, including Shruti Haasan, Nassar, Priyadarshi, Angad Bedi, Jayaram, and Hemayat Rahman, contributes effectively to the film's beauty. Shruti and Nani shake a leg in the peppy song ‘The Party Anthem Odiyamma’ during an episode in Goa. And it acts as a swift break from the poetic narrative showcased in the film. Kushi fame Hesham Abdul Wahab's musical brilliance, Sanu John Varghese's cinematography, and Praveen Anthony’s editing enhance the emotional depth of the narrative, turning it into a tastefully crafted saga with top-notch production values. Despite some predictability and slow-paced narrative, all the crafts came together to create an engaging cinematic experience. While the film maintains engagement throughout, minor lags occasionally surface, providing the lead characters with ample time to establish and showcase their emotions. Hi Nanna transcends being just a movie; it's a journey through love, resilience, and the delicate threads that bind a family together. Shouryuv, Nani, Mrunal, and the entire cast have created a beautiful film that resonates with the audience, making the film a must-watch for those seeking a blend of heart and soul in cinema.Read more

Nani and Mrunal Thakur-starrer Hi Nanna wins because it differentiates itself with its treatment of the story. It is refreshing because it keeps melodrama to the minimum and depends solely on showcasing the relationships through a mature lens Think of your favorite films, or books for that matter. Why is it your favourite? Is it the story. If yes, what about the story has been memorable? I believe that these stories are all essentially the same. What makes a film or a book better is how a story is told. We may have seen many romantic films about separation, and parenting, but not all of them are memorable. Nani and Mrunal Thakur-starrer Hi Nanna wins because it differentiates itself with its treatment of the story. It is refreshing because it keeps melodrama to the minimum and depends solely on showcasing the relationships through a mature lens. If I had to break it down in a Gen Z language, you have a meet-cute, which then develops into a situationship that slowly moves into the zone of a relationship before an impending breakup. Sounds like every other romance drama out there, doesn’t it. However, director Shouryuv and writer Nagendra Kasi set Hi Nanna apart by drawing us into Viraj’s beautiful little world. He and his daughter have a heartwarming bond, one that is clearly become strong despite the absence of a mother figure in the family. Sure, the daughter craves for information about her mother, but this is more an impetus that was created by her friends repeatedly asking her about her mother. This impetus gives birth to a curiosity that Mahi (Kiara Khanna), Viraj’s (Nani) 6-year-old daughter attempts to appease. The story of what really happened to Mahi’s mother is something that Viraj would rather keep Mahi in the dark about. Is it because he is scared of becoming the bad person in his daughter’s eye? After all, Viraj clearly states that he cares of no one’s opinion but his daughter’s. It is clear that the story will traumatise his daughter, no matter whose fault it is. However, it cannot stay a secret forever either. Here’s where I really liked the writing, because of how it incorporated a flashback. It is dramatic, romantic and yet not over-the-top. When the central conflict in the couple’s relationship is revealed, I was a tad bit worried that the fears of the female lead about marriage and kids may be discounted. Interestingly, it isn’t. In fact, it is reiterated that Varsha’s fear was valid. Sure, love trumps her fear, but it is not a one time grand event. It is once the conflict is established that the film struggles a little bit. Speaking too much about conflict resolution will be giving away the plot of the film too much. So what I would like to mention here is that in rooting for these characters’ happy ending, certain subplots do not come together as seamlessly as we would have wished for. There is predictability in terms of the narrative, as I said earlier. This is no new story. Towards the end, the film does dramatise to a great extent to elicit reaction from the audience, which works to a large extent as well. However, here, the predictability wins. As the film races towards its ending, we already know what will occur, just as we knew there was a twist coming. There were tiny things here and there that irked me too. For one, there is a shot of Mrunal Thakur’s waist in a sari that I wish was better captured, because I do understand the point that the director was trying to make here. I won’t say it is objectification, but intimate portrayal of a human body needs finesse. Despite this, what I will remember about Hi Nanna is that it is a lovely tale about a family — that moves from being dysfunctional to functional.Read more