Hi Nanna review: A poignant tale of emotional upheaval, love, suffering, and triumph

Hi Nanna unveils a poignant narrative of three lives — an aspiring photographer Viraj (Natural star Nani), his daughter Mahi (Kiara Khanna), and his defiant wife Varsha (Mrunal Thakur) who is yearning to discover true love.

As they’re just about to discover a new life, an unforeseen tragedy strikes the family, prompting Viraj to embrace single parenthood.

Viraj gradually establishes himself as a celebrated lensman in Mumbai, he finds himself in an inescapable position when his sick daughter insists him to tell the story of his mother.

What destiny awaits Viraj? Will Mahi triumph over her life-threatening disease? — is about the story.

Synopsis

This touching tale of Hi Nanna should have at least been released before Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal. For those who are vexed watching violence in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s directorial, Nani has certainly added some succour to eyes with a heart-warming tale.

But the story has its pitfalls when it comes to how debutant director Shouryuv treated the story.

The story starts on an emotional note with the characters of Viraj and Mahi being established in the first hour.

The most interesting part of Hi Nanna is it doesn’t bore you with the regular sentiment-laden dialogues nor does it have the melodramatic tone.

The director takes you directly into the story. The picturesque locales of Coonoor, and drifting back to Mumbai — the rich visuals seem as if the story happens in some foreign location.

When the character Yashna comes into the frame, the story goes out of pace.

The two singles in the first half do not infuse any emotion.

When there is a moment where movie lovers, who are already tripping over Animal euphoria, are about to feel a sense of fatigue, the interval bang wakes them up leaving them perplexed.

It bombards us with questions like why the director chose to tell everything in the first half.

Related: Why Nani’s ‘Hi Nanna’ is being released as ‘Hi Nanna’ in all South Indian languages

Second half lifts the film

Surprisingly, the second half of the narrative elevates the mood and atmosphere with the right answers, connecting each event to these lovely souls of the father-daughter duo.

The second half sets the perfect rhythm for what the director wanted to tell before bringing this father-daughter story to a logical end.

You wonder why the characterisation of father Viraj has knee-jerk moments. You won’t understand why Viraj has to deliberately distance himself from his wife Yashna when she keeps pursuing him.

And it seems silly when he loses his mind and takes the advice of Yashna’s sister on what to do next. Viraj should at least genuinely know the facts before doing so.

You may ponder why the character of Viraj has abrupt knee-jerk moments. The deliberate distancing from Yashna, despite her persistent efforts to get closer to him, might perplex you.

Additionally, it appears somewhat silly when he loses his composure and seeks advice from Yashna’s sister without trying to know the truth. And you wouldn’t imagine how cruel doctors might turn when you see the personal bodyguards around Angad Bedi.

They thrash the protagonist Viraj black and blue and later diagnose the little girl.

Performances

For those accustomed to watching Nani portray numerous emotional characters in his past films, his performance in Hi Nanna may seem somewhat routine.

Mrunal Thakur as Yashna might add more fans in the coming days.

The little girl Kiara, who played Mahi, has a bright future as an actor.

Viraj Ashwin, Jayaram, and Angad Bedi are decent in their roles.

You find yourself wondering why Shruti Haasan is part of the film.

The music should have been more uplifting when Abdul Hesham Wahab is onboard given his records on how he brings magic to every story.

Sanu Varghese’s cinematographer is decent.

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Final take

Hi Nanna is certainly a heartwarming tale. But unlucky to have it released in theatres when Animal is running berserk with almost housefull boards. Nani’s movie would have reached more had it been released on OTT.

(Views expressed here are personal.)