Film Review: Nadaaniyan

Netflix and Dharmatic Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.’s Nadaaniyan is a love story. Pia Jaisingh (Khushi Kapoor) pretends to be in a relationship with her close friend Arjun Mehta (Ibrahim Ali Khan), only to find herself falling in genuine love. Pia’s parents, Neelu Jaisingh (Mahima Chaudhary) and Rajat Jaisingh (Sunil Shetty), have been separated for years, and their unresolved bitterness continues to cast a long shadow over Pia’s life. Adding to her frustration is her family’s constant bias in favour of the male child.

Arjun’s home environment, by contrast, is grounded and respectable his father, Sanjay Mehta (Jugal Hansraj), is a doctor, while his mother, Nandini Mehta (Dia Mirza), teaches in the same college where Pia and Arjun study. Their principal is the sharp-witted Mrs. Braganza-Malhotra (Archna Pooran Singh). Complicating Pia and Arjun’s romance is Ayaan Nanda (Dev Agasteya), who is infatuated with Pia and determined to prove that Arjun isn’t “good enough” for her. His interference soon creates cracks in Pia and Arjun’s budding relationship. Do the two reconcile, or does Pia yield to family pressures and Ayaan’s persistence?

Story & Screenplay

Riva Razdan Kapoor’s story wanders without direction, never quite deciding what it wants to say. The sluggish pace stretches patience thin, and the screenplay (by Ishita Moitra, Riva Razdan Kapoor and Jehan Handa) compounds matters with contrived turns and convenient resolutions. Far too much attention is lavished on Pia’s estranged parents’ relationship, creating tonal imbalance with the central romance. Outdated themes like male child preference feel irrelevant in today’s context, while the Ayaan-Pia-Arjun triangle seems forced given Arjun’s solid family background. Pia’s gimmick of announcing her boyfriend’s identity on an “auspicious date” feels unrelatable for a contemporary love story. The absence of genuine emotional highs or lighthearted humour leaves the audience cold. Dialogues (by Moitra and Handa) are functional, occasionally sharp but mostly ordinary.

Performances

Ibrahim Ali Khan makes a promising debut as Arjun Mehta. He looks convincing in the role and delivers his lines with sincerity, though there is scope for growth. Khushi Kapoor fares better she brings confidence, poise, and screen presence to Pia, with strong dialogue delivery. Sunil Shetty adds gravitas as Rajat, while Mahima Chaudhary is steady as Neelu. Dia Mirza and Jugal Hansraj lend natural support as Arjun’s parents. Dev Agasteya makes a strong mark as the entitled, arrogant Ayaan. Archna Pooran Singh injects charm and energy as the principal. Meezan Jafri shines in his extended cameo as Rudra. The supporting ensemble (Agasthya Shah, Neel Deewan, Riya Sen, Orry, among others) adds flavour, though many remain underdeveloped.

Direction & Technical Aspects

Shauna Gautam’s directorial debut shows technical competence but is held back by the weak script. She manages to mount the film attractively but struggles to generate emotional connect. Sachin-Jigar’s music stands out as the highlight several songs, particularly Tirkit Dhoom (choreographed by Vijay Ganguly), are catchy and youthful. Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics fit the college-romance setting. Tushar Lall’s background score is serviceable. Anuj Samtani’s cinematography is polished and glossy, while production design (Sabrina Singh, Amrita Mahal Nakai) is lavish. Editing (Vaishnavi Bhate, Sidhant Seth, with supervision by Nitin Baid) ought to have been crisper to cut down the drag.

Final Verdict

Nadaaniyan is a sluggish, half-baked love story that fails to resonate emotionally. Though the film benefits from Khushi Kapoor’s spirited performance, Ibrahim Ali Khan’s promising debut, and Sachin-Jigar’s music, it is weighed down by weak writing and lack of conviction. Its release on Netflix is a saving grace; had it released theatrically, its prospects would have been grim.