When your dad is single, and he isn’t in a relationship with someone else, naturally, a kid would wonder about their real biological mother. Hi Nanna is a take on this familiar tale, though Shouryuv’s directorial debut makes it feel brand new by telling the love story in a way a father would tell his daughter– mindful of the audience, so slightly embellished, but no less sweet. By doing so, it makes the viewers yearn for the lost love before raising our hopes and revealing the possibility of getting it back, especially with the natural chemistry of Nani and the striking Mrunal Thakur.

Hi Nanna doesn’t set out to reinvent the romance drama– if anything, it feels reminiscent of other films. The most obvious would be Definitely, Maybe (2008), as Mahi tries to pry the truth from her father about what really happened to her mother. However, even when Shouryuv borrows from the genre, the way every element pieces together just works. Complicated plot lines aren’t necessarily better than simple ones, and sometimes, great direction, excellent chemistry, and a carefully timed plot twist are all one needs to make old tropes work. Hi Nanna proves this through its earnest belief in love.