It was with high expectations that I tuned in for Hi Nanna. I mean seriously, who doesn’t love Nani? Plus dear Mrunal who has eternally encaptured all of our hearts as Sita. It’s a dream pair. As an additional benefit, we have Hesham Abdul Wahab on the musical chair.
Another added bonus for me was the cute father-daughter relationship that the trailer promised. Being my dad’s daughter, I am a sucker for exploration of such a sacred bond.
But then why was I left with a sense of discontent by the end of the film? Want to find out? Then let us discuss the aspects of the film one by one.
Disclaimer: Please stop reading if you haven’t watched the film, yet plan to watch it later on. There will certainly be spoilers from here on.
The Cast and the Characters of Hi Nanna
Anybody who has seen the film would agree, the cast has done full justice to the film, especially the main leads.
The Main Cast
Nani as Viraj aka Nanna
Nani once again proves why he’s called the natural star. His portrayal of an angsty father worried about his child’s health really stands out. At times he reminded me of my own father. Being a differently-abled person, I have seen firsthand how much parents sacrifice their own happiness to keep their kids safe and happy.
Nani as Viraj makes us root for him. His dedication and earnestness as a father, the desperation he feels due to his daughter’s condition, his longing for Yashna etc. Nani effortlessly manages to capture the necessary emotions with all its due nuances.
However, I genuinely felt awkward for him when I saw him shaking a leg in the totally unnecessary track of Odiyamma. Don’t you agree why was that song needed in the first place? Was this the director’s attempt to portray him as stylish or something? Far from being stylish, I thought he looked uncomfortable and shabby, to say the least.
Mrunal Thakur as Yashna/ Imaginary Varsha
I consider Mrunal to be one of those artists who bring sincerity to any role they may play. Mrunal as Yashna is simply charming. I personally loved the hospital scene in the flashback. The scene acts testament to her power as a great performer.
As anticipated I loved the easy chemistry shared by Nani and Mrunal. Another plus is the cinematography that does perfect justice of capturing her beauty. She looks like a vision, especially in the flashback portions of Coonoor.
Kiara Khanna as Mahi
It’s my second time watching baby Kiara after her outing in Thank God. Needless to say, she’s still as cute as a button. Adored the scenes she shared with Nani. Their adorable chemistry is the backbone of the film, at least for me. I hope you’ll agree too.
The Supporting Cast
What is it with Jayaram and Telugu movies? Dude distances himself from his home industry (Yes I am aware that he did Abraham Ozler recently) but stars in every Telugu film in inconsequential roles. Like salt in every dish, Jayaram is present in every Telugu film I watched recently.
Here too he appears in yet another father role. As a seasoned actor, he does what is necessary but as a Malayali, I do miss the vintage Jayaram.
Coming to other members, Shilpa Tulaskar successfully plays her part as the quintessential evil mother-in-law. We find the usual supportive sister in Drishty Talwar. Also, the regular loyal friend is adequately portrayed by Priyadarshi Pulikonda.
We also get legendary actors like Nassar in a forgettable cameo-like role of Dr. Ranjan. Speaking of cameos, why did Shruti Hassan even say yes to such a useless cameo? I mean literally, what was the purpose of bringing her for an absolutely unnecessary routine dance track? Also, I saw Neha Sharma being credited for a cameo appearance. But I honestly can’t remember seeing her in the film. Can you?
Special mention to Angad Bedi for playing Dr Aravind Bhatia with ease. Though sometimes it’s sad to see talents like him wasted in such roles, won’t you agree?
Direction and Cinematography
I personally am satisfied with the direction, especially considering that it’s Shouryuv‘s debut film. Though the running time did bother me a bit, 155 minutes did seem like a stretch at certain points. Maybe the story could have avoided the unnecessary bits like the Odiyamma song for example.
Cinematography wise it was highly satisfying for me. Visuals by Sanu Varghese are literally eye-pleasing, especially fell in love with the Coonoor portions.
Musical World of Hi Nanna
Hesham once again makes us fall in love with his music after Hridayam. Be it the songs or the BGM, his music gels well with the film and its heartwarming concept. Though I still reiterate despite the stylish voices of Dhruv Vikram and Shruti Hassan, Odiyamma was unnecessary. All the songs of the album are lovely but Samayama was the one that stayed with me.
My Problems with Hi Nanna
An Echo From the Past?
My main issue with Hi Nanna is that I don’t find the plot or subject of the film to be original. Let me explain. Have you seen the 1973 Hindi film Aa Gale Lag Jaa, starring Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore?
Probably at least some of you might not have watched it. If you have, you might notice some eerie similarities. Let me provide you with a few samples.
- The female protagonists of both films meet the love of their lives during their visit to a holiday spot. If it’s Coonoor here, it was Shimla there.
- The ultra-rich heroine and the struggling hero. Their union gets spoiled by the influential in-laws. It was a scheming father-in-law before, now it’s a plotting evil mother-in-law.
- In both films, we have kids with health issues and a devoted father looking after them. Also, these kids play the cupid to finally unite their parents.
- The appearance of a doctor fiancée, it’s common in both films. In the end, it’s the same fiancée who plays an instrumental role in saving the child in both films.
Another Déjà vu?
Of course, there are certain differences as well but those seem like more of a surface-level kind. Even the 1985 film Pyar Jhukta Nahin which was inspired from the 1973 one, has some commonalities with Hi Nanna. I can give you one example from there too, for instance, the male protagonists in both films are photographers.
The new element in Hi Nanna is the female protagonist’s memory loss post-accident. But that too, isn’t something new or inventive. It’s one of those favourite tried and tested formulas in soap operas. Also, how can Viraj actually be poor if he had two acres of land in his name? At one point he also mentions about his father, but how come we never get to see him?
Is Hi Nanna Worth Your Time?
Watching Hi Nanna reminded me of a quote often attributed to Stanley Kubrick – “Everything has already been done. every story has been told every scene has been shot. it’s our job to do it one better.”
Hi Nanna for me though a good watchable film proved to be a fizzled-out affair. Maybe partially I have myself to blame for my huge expectations. Also, my knowledge of the other films made it pretty much impossible for me to not draw parallels.
However, would I recommend this to you? Sure, if heartwarming romance and family drama are your thing, then go for it. It’s definitely a worthy watch, at least once.
So these are my views on Hi Ninna. Now that I have shared my opinions, it’s your turn next. Do tell me how you feel about the film down below in the comments. I shall be waiting!
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