Balaji Mohan makes his Hindi film debut with Nayyi Navelli, a supernatural comedy that gives Yami Gautam an unusual role. Playing Mohini, a seemingly perfect bride who transforms her husband’s chaotic Meerut household into a happy home, Yami brings energy and confidence to a character surrounded by mystery.
However, her brother in law Bantu (Anurag Thakur) suspects something is wrong. Convinced that Mohini is a daayan, he begins investigating her, leading to several amusing situations. The first half benefits from this unusual family dynamic, with Yami’s playful performance and Anurag’s comic timing keeping things entertaining.
When mythology takes over the comedy
Unfortunately, the film loses its grip when the story moves beyond its interesting central idea. The introduction of the fictional ‘Kaal Sheel’ stone, references to Ram, Ravana, Lakshmana and Lord Krishna, and a Dussehra climax involving the ten headed Ravana make the narrative unnecessarily complicated.
While the intention of combining mythology with the victory of good over evil is understandable, these additions gradually overshadow the humour and mystery that initially worked. The screenplay becomes crowded with ideas without giving them enough emotional depth.
Yami remains the film’s biggest strength, confidently handling its comedy and physical demands. Anurag also provides an enjoyable contrast to her character.
Nayyi Navelli eventually delivers its expected happy ending, but the journey feels stretched. What begins as a quirky supernatural comedy turns into an overloaded fantasy. A tighter screenplay could have made this experiment far more rewarding.
Movie: Nayyi Navelli
Directed by: Balaji Mohan
Featuring: Yami Gautam, Adinath Kothare, Anurag Tahkur, Mita Vashisht, Sonal Jha, Sunita Rajwar, Rajesh Dubeay, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Prateek Pachauri, Sushmita Mukherjee
Screenplay by: Divy Nidhi Sharma
Story by: Himanshu Sharma
Music by: G. V. Prakash Kumar
Theatrical Release Date: 16 October 2026
Run Time: 2hrs 18mins
