Nadaniyaan Review
Nadaniyaan, the latest Netflix campus romance directed by Shauna Gautam based on Riva Razdan Kapoor's story, fails to create any ripples with its lack of charm, chemistry, and cheek. In a film that attempts to revamp Bollywood's Gen Z stories, Nadaniyaan takes a step back into a familiar Gen X mindset, relying on tired tropes and recycled plotlines.
Set in a swanky Delhi international school where twelfth graders converse in social media catchwords, contemplate Ivy league education in designer totes, and portray friendships as scrapbooks of selfies stamped in animated hearts and emojis, Nadaniyaan feels like back to college with Gulshan Grover in his windbag era all over again. The film's attempt to mock at classmates hailing from not-so-upscale parts of the city in an over-the-top snobbish tone falls flat.
The story follows Pia Jaisingh (Khushi Kapoor), the "poster princess" of this "privileged and entitled" kingdom, who kicks off a charade when her two best friends refuse to believe she has nothing to do with the cad one of them is crushing on. Instead of feeling disgusted at a classmate's stalker syndrome towards Pia, her pal wonders why she's leading him on by not responding to his creepy texts. A few scenes later, the same pal proudly proclaims, 'stalking is my number one talent.' And yet, pushover Pia fabricates a boyfriend just to erase her bestie's doubts.
The other BFF is no better and congratulates this fake paramour by saying, 'Great job landing P.' For a movie so hung up on red flags, Pia's own backyard is teeming with trouble. A classic poor little rich girl standing in front of her friends (and family) asking them to love her yet not entirely above mischief if need be, Pia is the sort of spirited, sneaky, scatterbrained yet sensitive character that Lindsay Lohan's entire teenage career is built on and in recent times only Maitreyi Ramakrishnan's portrayal of Devi Vishwakumar in Never Have I Ever has been able to do full justice to. Khushi Kapoor, however, fails to capture the impishness of Pia's impulses.
The Star Kid Factor
Nadaniyaan's prime purpose is to showcase Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan's son, Ibrahim Ali Khan, as Arjun Mehta, a national-level swimmer, class topper, debate champion, and all-around perfect son. While Jugal Hansraj shines as the lovable but grounded screen daddy, the film's overemphasis on Arjun's character overshadows the rest of the cast.
Dia Mirza is grace personified but doesn't quite exude teen mother energy. Suniel Shetty, as the hot topic of Delhi's kitty party circles, tries to pull off a callous dad role but his affable persona is simply too strong to convince. Mahima Chaudhry, on the other hand, succeeds in revealing her inner trauma in very little screen time.
The Music that Saves the Day
One redeeming quality of Nadaniyaan is its score, composed by Sachin-Jigar and Amitabh Bhattacharya. The lively and happy tunes are easily the liveliest thing about the film, bringing a spark to an otherwise dull narrative. Archana Puran Singh shines as Mrs Braganza Malhotra, providing the rom-com some easy laughs.
One wishes that Dhritiman Chatterjee's calibre wasn't squandered away to play a now you see him, now you don't preserver of patriarchy. But overall, the music is a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster film.