Nadaaniyan

Nadaaniyan Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Mahima Chaudhry

Director: Shauna Gautam

What’s Good: The premise and the cast.

What’s Bad: Nothing in particular to point out!

Loo Break: Your OTT window, your rules!

Watch or Not?: Love Prince meet Princess romance? Definitely Yes!

Language: Hindi

Available On: Netflix

Runtime: 1 hour 59 minutes

User Rating:

It was 36 years ago that Bollywood presented love in the most happening way it could when a coy yet naughty Prem told a shy yet sharp Suman, Maine Pyaar Kiya. Years passed, and it was the cool college romance when short skirts were ooh-so-sexy, and chewing gums were oh-so-cool! A Rahul with a neck-chain saying ‘Cool’ made our hearts flutter and when an Anjali told him, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Rahul, Tum Nahi Samjhoge.” From that, Rahul and Anjali, we have straight jumped to Nadaaniyan, where Khushi Kapoor’s Pia Jaisingh and Ibrahim Ali Khan‘s Arjun Mehta are falling in love in a school, but that is how time has changed!

There are entire generations in between who have been living on the old-school romance because there was a void that was not being filled by new-age romance! In fact, ever since Genelia and Imran’s Jaane Tu…Ya, Jaane Naa, Bollywood did not witness a good school-college romance completely until there was Student Of The Year. Even that was ages ago!

Nadaaniyan Movie Review: Script Analysis

The story of the film is linear and without any complexities and twists because it clearly needs to focus on the two youngsters, their thought processes, and emotional dilemmas! Especially when the two, from two very different worlds, come together to co-exist. Will their differences play a role in their lives? Will their career choices affect their lives? And most importantly, does love conquer all?

The writing of the film by Ishani Moitra, Jehan Handa, and Shauna Gautam has been very simple and appealing to its target audiences. There are no ‘Meer,’ ‘Faiz,’ and ‘Elia’ trying to deliver some heavy dialogues on Pyaar, Ishq, or Mohabbat! In fact, it is the Gen-Z couple who lives in a world where they give an update about themselves every 10 minutes on their social media! They believe in effective and impactful communication, which clearly forms the premise of the film and is taken into consideration in every scene and dialogue!

The story is as simple as narrated by the trailer of Nadaaniyan. Pia Jaisingh hires Arjun Mehta to be her fake boyfriend and pays him as well. Pia has a lot of money to spend, and Arjun needs a lot of money for savings to later invest in something meaningful, not burdening his parents. It was a simple barter without any plot twists or hidden agendas. They just did not know that love arrives in the simplest of emotions and unexpected timings! So what happens when Cupid strikes is what makes Nadaaniyan a simple, heart-touching romance that a lot of Gen-Z kids might relate to!

Nadaaniyan Movie Review: Star Performance

The best aspect of this romantic drama is the stellar cast! Ibrahim Ali Khan is the quintessential chocolate boy that Bollywood has been missing on screen. Currently, none of the actors rule this genre, and the last time someone tried to fill the void was Sidharth Malhotra! In fact, honestly and ironically, it was only Saif Ali Khan who truly defined the metrosexual chocolate boy and ruled with the image for almost 10 years! Right from Dil Chahta Hai to Love Aaj Kal! Ibrahim rightfully steps into his dad’s shoes and impresses with his honest and sincere acting skills! He has the charm and the wit to rule, and hopefully, he will!

Khushi Kapoor, on the other hand, plays the royal princess arriving from Disney World. She definitely lives up to her part, and her chemistry with Ibrahim is believable and effortless – just like their fake but real romance in the film!

Supporting these two youngsters is the original chocolate boy from the 90s, Jugal Hansraj, who plays a Gen-Z father perfectly and beautifully, supported by Dia Mirza as Ibrahim’s mother! Her confrontation scene acts like an impactful debate between two generations. Meanwhile, Mahima Chaudhary and Suniel Shetty play the parents of Khushi Kapoor and depict the dilemmas of a broken family! Archana Puran Singh is the icing on this cake as the cute Mrs Briganza Malhotra, trying to learn the lingos of today’s kids and acting as the friendliest Principal ever! Meezan Jaffrey arrives for a short time but impresses with his baritone and demeanor! We have our eyes on him!