Film Review: Nadaaniyan is too 'Nadaan' of a film

Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, the story revolves around the two leads, Arjun Mehta (Ibrahim Ali Khan), son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, and Pia Jaisingh (Khushi Kapoor), daughter of Boney Kapoor and Sridevi.

After a falling out with her friends, Pia, an ultra-rich teenager from South Delhi, fabricates a boyfriend to maintain her social status.

She enlists Arjun, a middle-class student and new transfer at her elite school, to pose as her fake boyfriend on social media. As they navigate this arrangement, the film explores themes of class differences, teenage relationships, and the complexities of social hierarchies. 

Despite its glamorous appeal, Nadaaniyan falls short in several critical areas. The film heavily relies on overused teen rom-com tropes, making the storyline predictable and uninspired.

The writing is exceptionally naïve, unmatched with low-quality lyrics and music. The character development feels shallow, with Arjun’s transformation becoming more cosmetic than meaningful and Pia’s privileged struggles failing to evoke genuine sympathy.

Ibrahim Ali Khan’s performance lacks emotional depth, often appearing stiff and disconnected from the role, while the chemistry between the leads feels forced rather than natural.

The dialogues, meant to be witty and engaging, often come off as cringe-worthy, failing to capture the authenticity of teenage relationships.

Furthermore, the film struggles with pacing—some sequences drag unnecessarily, while others rush through potentially impactful moments.

While attempting to reflect modern youth culture and social media obsession, Nadaaniyan merely skims the surface, lacking the depth or sharp commentary needed to make a lasting impression.

Ultimately, it feels more like a glossy social media post than a heartfelt story, making it an underwhelming addition to the genre.

Nadaaniyan is an entirely forgettable movie. I will give a 0.5 out of 5 to the film.