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Hi Nanna (2023) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Hi Nanna (2023) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 155 mins · Telugu
Echo score 90
Directed by
Shouryuv
Starring
Mrunal Thakur, Angad Bedi, Jayaram, Neha Sharma, Shruti Haasan, Nassar
Budget
$7.8M

Six-year-old Mahi, who has cystic fibrosis, shares a close and complicated relationship with her father, Viraj, a single parent and fashion photographer. Driven by curiosity about her mother, Mahi embarks on a journey of discovery, running away with her dog, Pluto. Along the way, she meets Yashna, and their encounter leads to surprising revelations and connects their lives in unforeseen ways. The story explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the importance of family, showcasing a young girl's resilience and the enduring power of connection.

Romance Family Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Characters explained (9)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (4)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Every angle

9 main characters · contains spoilers

Hi Nanna Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Hi Nanna (2023), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Yashna (Mrunal Thakur)

    A compassionate stranger who rescues Mahi and becomes part of the family. She later discovers she is Varsha, the mother, and initially deals with amnesia that hides her past. Her bond with Viraj deepens, and she navigates love, memory, and truth while tying the family back together.

    • ❤️ Compassionate
    • 🧠 Complex Identity
    • 💞 Rebuilt Love

  • Dr. Aravind

    played by Angad Bedi

    A neurosurgeon who is engaged to Yashna and helps with Mahi’s medical needs. He provides professional support and becomes a stabilizing presence as the family confronts past secrets. His role underscores care, expertise, and partnership in crisis.

    • 💼 Professional
    • 🫶 Supportive

  • Viraj (Nani)

    A successful fashion photographer and devoted father who protects his daughter and carries the memory of Varsha. He narrates parts of the family history and reveals how he adapted the truth to shield Mahi from pain. His steadfast love drives the eventual reunion and healing.

    • 💖 Fatherly
    • 🛡️ Protective
    • 💬 Storyteller

  • Varsha / Yashna's Mother

    played by Shilpa Tulaskar

    Varsha is the mother whose past with Viraj and Mahi is central to the twist. Her memory, deceits, and eventual truth shape the emotional arc and the path to reconciliation. She acts as a catalyst for the revelations that bind the family.

    • 🫶 Maternal figure
    • 🧭 Guiding truth

  • Yashna (Voice) (Chinmayi Sripaada)

    Voice representation of Yashna, reinforcing the character’s presence in the memory and storytelling aspects of the film. This portrayal adds a layer to the character’s emotional resonance within the narrative.

    • 🎙️ Voice Identity
    • 🌀 Emotional Echo

  • Mahi (Child) — Baby Kiara Khanna

    Six-year-old Mahi, who lives with a life-threatening illness and drives the family’s emotional journey. Her questions about her mother propel the story forward and test the parents’ willingness to confront truth.

    • 🧒 Child Protagonist
    • 💗 Innocence

  • Mahi (Adult) — Ritika Nayak

    Adult Mahi represents the lasting impact of her early experiences, embodying resilience and singing as a symbol of healing and connection with her mother. She embodies the film’s message of reconciliation and continuity.

    • 🫂 Resilience
    • 🎤 Artistry

  • Ranjan

    played by Nassar

    A supporting character portrayed by Nassar whose role is part of the broader family circle. The exact plot details involving Ranjan are not detailed in the summary, but he is part of the film’s web of relationships.

    • 🧩 Supporting Character
    • 🟠 Family Ties

  • Mahi's Grandfather

    played by Jayaram

    A paternal figure in Mahi’s life, portrayed by Jayaram. He is part of the extended family sphere that informs Mahi’s upbringing and the emotional texture of the story.

    • 👴 Family Elder
    • 🕊️ Wisdom

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:54

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Setting

Where and When Does Hi Nanna Take Place?

The setting of Hi Nanna (2023): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Contemporary

The narrative unfolds in modern-day India, with past events occurring roughly a decade earlier. It blends present-day family dynamics with recollections of Varsha and Viraj’s history, including a life-changing accident and a caregiving period. The timeline emphasizes real-world pacing—relationships, illness, and reunion unfold across plausible, current-day contexts.

Location

Mumbai, Coonoor, Goa

The story is anchored in Mumbai, where Mahi and Viraj live, before taking the characters to the tranquil hill station of Coonoor for memories and revelations. Goa provides a seaside retreat that tests their choices and offers a setting for healing moments. These locations reflect the contrast between a crowded urban life, peaceful natural spaces, and a sunlit escape that frames the emotional journey.

  • 🏙️ Bustling metropolis
  • 🏞️ Scenic hill station
  • 🏖️ Coastal city

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:54

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4 major themes

Hi Nanna Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Hi Nanna (2023) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Family

    Family bonds drive the plot, weaving together the lives of Viraj, Mahi, Yashna, and Varsha. The film examines how love withstands pain, secrecy, and memory loss. It highlights sacrifice, forgiveness, and the enduring pull of kinship that guides difficult decisions.

  • Memory

    Memory and identity are central as amnesia reshapes relationships and alters understanding of the past. The story plays with restored and revised memories, revealing how truth and perception influence loyalty. The eventual revelation reconfigures what each character believes about family and destiny.

  • Caregiving

    Illness frames daily life, with Mahi’s cystic fibrosis shaping routines, priorities, and courage. Viraj’s dedication as a single father underscores the meaning of caregiving beyond romance. The narrative shows resilience in the face of medical and emotional challenges.

  • Destiny

    Fate threads the relationships, guiding reunions and the reconciliation of past mistakes. The plot pivots on the idea that love and truth can converge despite long separations and hidden identities. The ending suggests a destined unity for the family despite circumstantial twists.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:54

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Character & theme questions

Hi Nanna Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Hi Nanna (2023): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Hi Nanna set?

The movie is set primarily in Mumbai, with key scenes taking place in the hill station of Coonoor and the coastal city of Goa. These three locations create a contrast between urban繁忙, peaceful natural surroundings, and a healing seaside escape that mirrors the family's emotional journey.

  • mumbai
  • coonoor
  • goa
  • setting
  • locations
Q2

What role does Coonoor play in the story?

Coonoor serves as the location where key memories and revelations occur. It provides a tranquil, scenic backdrop that contrasts with Mumbai's bustling urban life, representing a space where the family can confront past secrets and experience emotional breakthroughs.

  • coonoor
  • hill station
  • memory
  • revelations
Q3

When does the story take place?

The narrative unfolds in contemporary modern-day India, with past events occurring roughly a decade earlier. The story blends present-day family dynamics with memories of the characters' history, including a life-changing accident and a period of caregiving.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern day
  • india
Q4

What are the main themes in Hi Nanna?

The movie explores several interconnected themes: family bonds and sacrifice, memory and identity, caregiving in the face of illness, and destiny guiding reunions. These themes weave together to examine how love withstands pain, secrecy, and memory loss while ultimately guiding characters toward reconciliation.

  • themes
  • family
  • memory
  • destiny
  • caregiving
Q5

What does the movie say about family?

The family theme emphasizes that bonds persist through pain, secrecy, and memory loss. The film highlights sacrifice, forgiveness, and the enduring pull of kinship that guides difficult decisions, showing how love can withstand adversity and reunite people despite years of separation.

  • family bonds
  • sacrifice
  • forgiveness
  • kinship
Q6

How does the movie handle memory and identity?

Memory and identity are central as amnesia reshapes relationships and alters understanding of the past. The story explores how restored and revised memories reveal truth and perception's influence on loyalty, with the eventual revelation reconfiguring what each character believes about family and destiny.

  • memory
  • identity
  • amnesia
  • perception
  • truth
Q7

Who is Mahi in the movie?

Mahi is a six-year-old girl living with cystic fibrosis who drives the family's emotional journey. Her curiosity about her mother propels the story forward, and her illness shapes the family's daily routines, priorities, and courage. She represents resilience in the face of medical and emotional challenges.

  • mahi
  • cystic fibrosis
  • child
  • illness
  • resilience
Q8

Who is Yashna and what is her significance?

Yashna is a compassionate stranger who rescues Mahi and becomes part of the family. She later discovers she is Varsha, the mother who had been living with amnesia that hid her past. Her journey involves navigating love, memory, and truth while tying the family back together.

  • yashna
  • varsha
  • mother
  • amnesia
  • identity
Q9

Who is Viraj and what drives him?

Viraj is a successful fashion photographer and devoted single father to Mahi. He carries the memory of Varsha and protects his daughter by adapting the truth to shield her from pain. His steadfast love for Mahi and his determination to reunite the family drive the emotional core of the story.

  • viraj
  • father
  • single parent
  • photographer
  • devotion
Q10

What role does destiny play in the story?

Destiny threads the relationships, guiding reunions and the reconciliation of past mistakes. The plot pivots on the idea that love and truth can converge despite long separations and hidden identities. The ending suggests a destined unity for the family despite circumstantial twists.

  • destiny
  • fate
  • reunion
  • love
  • truth
Q11

How does the movie portray caregiving?

Illness frames daily life throughout the film, with Mahi's cystic fibrosis shaping routines, priorities, and courage. Viraj's dedication as a single father exemplifies caregiving beyond romance, while Dr. Aravind provides professional medical support. The narrative showcases resilience in the face of both medical and emotional challenges.

  • caregiving
  • illness
  • cystic fibrosis
  • medical
  • support
Q12

What is Goa's role in the movie?

Goa serves as a seaside retreat that tests the family's choices and offers a setting for healing moments. Its sunlit, coastal environment provides a contrast to Mumbai's urban intensity and represents a space where characters can experience emotional renewal and reconciliation.

  • goa
  • beach
  • healing
  • retreat
  • coastal
Q13

Who is Dr. Aravind in the story?

Dr. Aravind is a neurosurgeon who is engaged to Yashna and helps with Mahi's medical needs. He provides professional support and becomes a stabilizing presence as the family confronts past secrets, underscoring themes of care, expertise, and partnership during crisis.

  • dr aravind
  • doctor
  • neurosurgeon
  • medical support
  • engaged

Movie threads

More Movies Like Hi Nanna, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Hi Nanna tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with emotional family revelations like Hi Nanna

Family secrets slowly unveiled lead to healing and reconciliation. If you liked the way Hi Nanna unveils family secrets to heal old wounds, you'll enjoy these movies. They feature similar journeys of discovery, reconciliation, and emotional healing, offering heartfelt stories about the power of truth and love to mend families.

  • heartfelt
  • melancholic
  • uplifting
  • tender
  • family-oriented
  • emotional
  • Tone: hopeful, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often use a mystery from the past—such as an accident, a disappearance, or amnesia—that is methodically uncovered, frequently through the perspective of a child or a new connection. The revelation process is central to the plot, driving character growth and leading to a cathartic, happy resolution.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on unraveling a poignant family mystery as a catalyst for emotional healing. The tone balances melancholic themes with hopeful perseverance, and the pacing is steady, allowing the emotional weight of the revelations to land effectively.

Safe Harbour movie poster

Safe Harbour

2007
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The Secret: Dare to Dream

2020
The Family movie poster

The Family

2013
The Family Star movie poster

The Family Star

2024
Resurrection movie poster

Resurrection

1980
Where the Heart Is movie poster

Where the Heart Is

2000
The Secret Garden movie poster

The Secret Garden

2020
Love Happens movie poster

Love Happens

2009

Movies with second-chance romance and family drama like Hi Nanna

Lost love rekindled through the catalyst of family bonds and unexpected circumstances. Fans of Hi Nanna's blend of rekindled love and family bonds will find more to love here. These movies feature romantic leads separated by past events who find their way back to each other, with the story often centered around children and familial reconciliation.

  • romantic
  • heartfelt
  • hopeful
  • tender
  • family-oriented
  • uplifting
  • Tone: hopeful, romantic, tender
  • Pacing: steady, thoughtful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a couple separated by a past misunderstanding or tragedy. Their paths cross again, frequently due to the actions of a child or an external family crisis. The story explores their history while building a new future, emphasizing that their love was not lost but dormant.

Why they belong together: They share a core structure where a romantic arc is inseparable from a family drama. The mood is a specific mix of heartfelt romance and tender family moments, with a steady pace that allows the emotional connections to develop authentically, leading to a satisfying, happy conclusion.

Second Act movie poster

Second Act

2018
Comeback Season movie poster

Comeback Season

2006
Hope Springs movie poster

Hope Springs

2003
Persuasion movie poster

Persuasion

2007
Past Tense movie poster

Past Tense

2014
Return to Two Moon Junction movie poster

Return to Two Moon Junction

1994
Ticket to Paradise movie poster

Ticket to Paradise

2011
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Second Act

2023

Every angle

Hi Nanna (2023) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Hi Nanna in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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