Nadaaniyan Review: A breezy watch despite flaws
Nadaaniyan Movie Rating: 2.5 Stars
Watched Nadaaniyan movie on Netflix. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Mahima Chaudhry, Dia Mirza, Suniel Shetty, and Jugal Hansraj
Director: Shauna Gautam
Release Date: 7th March 2025 on Netflix
Story: Movie revolves around Pia Jai Singh (Khushi Kapoor) who is the epitome of a South Delhi socialite stylish, privileged and navigating the complexities of love like it’s the most high-stakes business deal she’ll ever make. Her misogynistic father Rajat Jaisingh (Suniel Shetty) always wanted a boy instead of Pia and is now having an affair with a younger girl named Anahita (Riya Sen). Her mother is the long-suffering socialite Neelu (Mahima Chaudhry).
On the other hand, Arjun Mehta (Ibrahim Ali Khan) is the poster child for the aspirational middle-class dreamer from Greater Noida. His father, Sanjay Mehta (Jugal Hansraj) is a doctor while his mother Nandini Mehta (Dia Mirza) is a teacher in the same college in which Pia and Arjun study.
Pia best friends since childhood are Rhea (Apoorva Mukhija) and Sahira (Aaliyah Qureishi). Both are not talking to Pia as they assume that she is interested in their classmate Ayaan (Dev Agasteya), who is Sahira’s crush. To save her friendship and stop Ayaan from spreading rumors, Pia lies that she already has a boyfriend and assures them that she’ll introduce him soon. In reality, Pia doesn’t have a partner, and she starts looking for one. She bumps into Arjun who has just joined Falcon High through a scholarship.
She asks him to pretend to be his boyfriend. Arjun is apprehensive and Pia offers to pay him Rs. 25,000 a week to be her fake boyfriend. Ayaan keeps insulting Arjun and considers him as not being up to the level of Pia and himself. There comes a stage when cracks develop in the relationship between Pia and Arjun. What happens thereafter? Do Arjun and Pia live happily ever after? Or does Pia make peace with Ayaan Nanda?
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Music
4. Direction
Negatives
1. Length
2. Story
3. Screenplay
4. Climax
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie in my free time as loved the trailer and music. It tells the story of a privileged South Delhi school girl who gets a boyfriend-for-hire to get back at her family and classmate
Nadaaniyan story is modern. Its screenplay has its share of blemishes and should have been more convincing. While dialogues are conversational, and a few one-liners stand out. Relationships aren’t as dreamy as they seem on social media. They take effort, communication and patience. Modern love’s biggest dilemma, our obsession to document everything virtually but inability to communicate our feelings IRL (in real life), lies at the heart of the story. The thought is relevant, and director Shauna Gautam doesn’t sexualize her story, which is refreshing. Ibrahim Ali Khan has a refreshing debut while for me it’s a best Khushi Kapoor film. They are impressively supported by Bollywood veterans Suniel Shetty and Mahima Chaudhary (as Pia’s parents) and Dia Mirza and Jugal Hansraj (as Arjun’s). Both couples bring gravitas to the chaos in this stormy romance. Shauna Gautam, too, makes her directorial debut and definitely succeeds in her task. Yes, the story does tend to be distracting at times, and the script could be tweaked, but she keeps the engaged all through the film. The film’s production design is one of its strongest points. The makers have invested significantly to give the movie a grand and stylish look. The sets, costumes, and visuals perfectly capture the high-class South Delhi vibe. What stands out the most in this film are its end credits, where photos of every artist (not just actors) can be seen along with their names. This is a great initiative. Sachin-Jigar’s music is of chartbuster variety. The title song is okay, but ‘Ishq Mein’ stands out.
The storyline is predictable and lacks depth, which makes it clear why the filmmakers chose an OTT release over a theatrical one. The entire bit of Pia lying about having a boyfriend is unconvincing. Hence, the base of the story itself is shaky. The film attempts to depict Gen Z culture but presents an exaggerated and unrealistic version of teenage life. The high school students in the movie constantly bully, party, or fake relationships as if it’s the norm. While this might appeal to a niche audience, most viewers will find it over the top and hard to relate to. Despite having a runtime of less than two hours, the film feels stretched. The biggest issue is the unnecessary songs. Just when the story starts moving forward, a song pops up, slowing the pace. Tighter editing could have avoided this drag. Overall, movie rushes forward like a roller coaster ride, sweeping you along before you’ve even had time to process the logic of it all. It’s precisely this absurdity that makes it oddly endearing. It’s a breezy watch that puts style above substance. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted teenage rom com then this one is good option. My view on this movie Time Pass.
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