Credits
Banner: Vyra Entertainments
Cast: Nani, Mrunal Thakur, Baby Kiara Khanna, Priyadarshi, Jayaram, Nassar, Angad Bedi, Viraj Ashwin, Shruti Haasan (cameo),
Music: Hesham Abdul Wahab
Cinematography: Sanu John Varughese ISC
Editor: Praveen Anthony
Production Design: Avinash Kolla
Story - Screenplay - Direction: Shouryuv
Producers: Mohan Cherukuri (CVM) and Dr Vijender Reddy Teegala
Release Date: Dec 7th, 2023
Writing/Direction: So our podcast motto is if the writing is good, the way you make the movie will good as well. For Hi Nanna thats apt for the most part.
The story seems like a rom com between 3 characters but much like Jersey it actually does genre shifts and its purely a drama movie. The writing is actually very good for all the emotional scenes and director has written some good threads.
Good part first is that the movie is all about relationships and how it affects others. Nani daughter one, Nani Mrunal one, Nani mother in law, Mother and Jayaram and how it affects Mrunal, all of these bring conflict into he story. Also everybody wants something
Mahi wants to know who her mom is, Yashna wants just wants to be happy, Viraj wants to be free from his guilt of what happened to his wife, Jayaram doesnt want to fail as a parent.
The writing is very strong especially in emotional scenes. The hospital scene, pre climax, and climax are so strong that you will get tears from your eyes. If you got cry then you eyes definitely will get wet for sure. Its that strong and relatable. Through Yashna’s character, director has created a lot of relatability and actually her character is the best.
I felt this is the movie Kushi wanted to be in terms of husband wife conflict but failed miserably at. The brilliance of Hi Nanna actually is that the whole flashback sequence its not convincing their love story its just there and I’ll come back to that but their conflict after marriage is very convincing so you relate to their marriage and love story during that part,. Due to strong emotions, things work.
I felt the most emotional part is that Viraj is such a dedicated father that he attended every ceremony based on cystic fibrosis and lives his daughter so much hes willing to any extent and fight withe everybody to make sure that she lives. That part hit hard.
Also loved the thread between Pluto and Yashna. She doesn't like dogs but then the dog gave her confirm, she likes dogs and then that day Pluto still remembered her after all these years despite her not remembering him.
Interval twist was expected but accident scene was heartbreaking man. So crazy. Also liked the two mass warning scenes basically when Yashna’s mom tries to insult Viraj in the hotel and then at wedding party in 2nd half he also gives her warning. There was no fight.
Also the symbolism of doors closing. Idk if you guys noticed. Every time Mahi asks Nani to tell her about her mom, Viraj always shuts the door implying that chapter is closed and he doesnt want to talk about it. But Mahi does. And then in operation room, the door starts to close and last thing Mahi sees is her mom and dad outside the ER ward showing that this chapter has finally been opened and now its closed. She knows the truth.Very cool.
2nd half has a trope of bakra track and initially I thought why is Angad Bedi there. Greatest bakra ever asalu the level of class and respect was too good. We got whistles in our theater when he came in climax to do the operations.
Interestingly, the movie keeps going just based on emotion. Theres no traditional commercial elements or entertainment. I wish there was more because movie has inconsistent pacing. Towards the interval and then post interval movie really felt flat and slow but then last 30 mins is outstanding with emotion that you leave the theater with a feel good feeling. The two scenes are when they hide in the cabinet and Nai runs away and then their fight after they drunk in Odiyamma song, Wish more scenes were there like that.
