South Africa tour of India 2019
"Hi Nanna" Review: A Moderately Captivating Emotional Drama
"Hi Nanna" is a Telugu romantic family drama film written and directed by debutant Shouryuv. The movie stars Nani and Mrunal Thakur in lead roles, with significant contributions from Baby Kiara Khanna, Jayaram, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Angad Bedi, Viraj Ashwin, Drishty Talwar, Ritika Nayak, and others. The film's music is composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab, and it is produced by Mohan Cherukuri, Dr. Vijender Reddy Teegala, and Murthy K. S. under the Vyra Entertainments banner.
The story follows Viraj (Nani), a single father caring for his terminally ill 6-year-old daughter Mahi (Kiara Khanna). Viraj narrates a bedtime story to Mahi, involving various characters in their lives, excluding Mahi's mother. When Mahi insists on hearing the story of her mother, Viraj recounts his love story. The film explores Mahi's mother's identity and unfolds the complete narrative, involving Yashna (Mrunal Thakur), a friend of Mahi.
In terms of on-screen performances, Nani delivers a natural and emotionally resonant performance, especially excelling in romantic scenes. Child artist Kiara Khanna steals the show with her adorable portrayal of Mahi, overshadowing others with her captivating screen presence. Mrunal Thakur delivers a memorable performance as Yashna, showcasing good chemistry with Nani. However, certain supporting roles lack impact and synchronization in dubbing.
Regarding off-screen talents, the story by Shouryuv is somewhat predictable, resembling Chiranjeevi's 'Daddy' in places, with weak conflict points affecting the overall pacing. The dialogues, though well-written, provide emotional depth. Director Shouryuv impresses with presentation but struggles to engage the audience due to slow narration, affecting the film's flow. The music by Hesham Abdul Wahab stands out, with soulful songs like "Samayama" and "Ammaadi." Cinematography by Sanu John Varghese is commendable, capturing the film with the right colors and lighting. However, the editing by Praveen Anthony could have been improved to eliminate dragged-out scenes.
Nani's performance, Baby Kiara's portrayal, Mrunal Thakur's acting, soulful music, emotional scenes, and certain plot twists receive positive acclaim. On the flip side, the film's slow-paced narrative and weak conflict points are notable drawbacks.
In conclusion, "Hi Nanna" is a moderately engaging emotional drama that benefits from strong performances and emotional moments, making it worth watching for those who appreciate such films on the big screen.
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