What Is Hi Nanna About?
The premise of Hi Nanna in 298 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In bustling Mumbai, a young girl navigates a world that swirls with color, sound, and the ever‑present hum of the city’s rhythm. Mahi, a six‑year‑old with cystic fibrosis, lives in a modest apartment with her devoted father, her grandfather, and their loyal dog. The film paints their daily life with a tender realism, balancing the challenges of illness with moments of play, laughter, and quiet wonder. Viraj, a successful fashion photographer, has built his world around caring for his daughter, his love expressed through patience, art, and a protective devotion that feels both intimate and expansive.
Pluto serves as more than a pet; he is a silent confidant who shares Mahi’s curiosity and adventurous spirit. When questions about the mother who never appears in their home linger in Mahi’s mind, her yearning for answers becomes a gentle undercurrent that drives her imagination. The city’s streets, markets, and fleeting glimpses of strangers become a canvas for her to explore, hinting at a larger story that waits just beyond the familiar walls.
A chance encounter leads Mahi and Pluto to cross paths with Yashna, a kind‑hearted woman whose presence introduces a new layer of warmth and mystery. Their meeting feels serendipitous, offering Mahi a glimpse of the missing pieces of her family’s puzzle. The tone remains hopeful, underscored by the quiet strength of a child who refuses to be defined solely by her condition, and the deep, unspoken bonds that tie a single parent and child together.
Through its gentle humor, vivid cityscape, and an undercurrent of longing, the film invites viewers to contemplate the enduring power of love, sacrifice, and the invisible threads that connect us all. It remains an intimate portrait of resilience, where every smile, whispered question, and fleeting connection hints at deeper revelations waiting to unfold.
What Happens in Hi Nanna?
The complete story of Hi Nanna, from the first scene to the last, in 596 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Six-year-old Mahi (Baby Kiara Khanna) lives in Mumbai with her father Viraj, their grandfather Jayaram, and their loyal dog Pluto. Mahi suffers from cystic fibrosis, and Viraj, a successful fashion photographer, devotes himself to caring for her. Whenever Mahi asks about her absent mother, Viraj avoids the topic, and the quiet tension between them grows. Upset by his silence, Mahi runs away from home with Pluto, hoping to find answers or at least a little peace.
They are saved from an accident by Yashna (Mrunal Thakur), a kind woman who seems to understand their longing. At Mahi’s request, Yashna invites Viraj to a restaurant, where she and Mahi coax him into telling the story of her mother, Varsha. To help Mahi imagine Varsha more clearly, Yashna steps into that memory herself, playing Varsha for the moment and guiding the retelling with care and tenderness.
Viraj’s recounting reveals a ten-year-old memory, tracing how he met Varsha in Coonoor, a woman who had been unsettled by her parents’ divorce but who eventually found the courage to marry him despite her mother’s objections. They endure financial hardships, yet their little family feels whole. When Viraj’s career begins to soar, he longs for a child, and Varsha, initially hesitant, finally agrees. Their happiness is heartbreakingly short-lived: their daughter Mahi is born with a fatal illness, and Varsha blames Viraj while she grapples with regrets about their marriage.
Mahi, listening to the story, grows visibly affected and asks Viraj to stop. Privately, Yashna—still emotionally connected to Varsha’s past—urges him to finish, and Viraj reveals a further tragedy: shortly after Varsha’s breakdown, the couple is involved in a car accident. A twist soon follows: Yashna is Varsha herself, who survived the crash but woke with amnesia, forgetting her past, her marriage, and her child. Her mother had lied to Viraj, claiming Yashna wanted a divorce, and forced Viraj to stay away. Crushed yet loving, Viraj raised Mahi alone, and Pluto’s recognition of Yashna helps reunite the family, even as memories remain fractured.
To prevent further pain, Viraj narrates their story with certain details altered, keeping Yashna from fully recalling her past. Meanwhile, Yashna learns she is engaged to Dr. Aravind, a neurosurgeon who once treated her—Angad Bedi appears as the devoted physician in the background of these revelations. The trio escapes to Goa, hoping for distance and healing, but Mahi secretly invites Yashna to join them, and the bond between them deepens again. Yashna finds herself drawn to both Viraj and Mahi, and love begins to reawaken, even as the truth about their past shadows their days.
On the wedding day, Yashna’s mother’s revelations hit hard, and Mahi is left devastated by the tangled history. Yet another layer surfaces when Yashna’s estranged father shares that Viraj had raised Mahi with boundless care and selfless love, suggesting that destiny may still be on their side. In a moment of crisis, Yashna abandons the wedding and races to the hospital, where Mahi experiences a sudden health scare that requires urgent care. With Aravind and his medical team by their side, Mahi undergoes a life-saving operation, a sequence that tests every member of the family.
Before the surgery, Yashna promises Mahi that she will stay and teach her a song—a simple vow that carries the weight of their renewed bond. The film closes on a hopeful note: a grown-up, healthy Mahi takes the stage and sings the song taught by her mother, a tender testament to a family rebuilt by love, memory, and the belief that destiny can lead loved ones back to each other.
Hi Nanna Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Mahi runs away with Pluto after seeking her mother” to “Grown-up Mahi sings the song her mother taught her”. 9 events name a place, across 7 locations.
- 1
Mahi runs away with Pluto after seeking her mother
Six-year-old Mahi lives in Mumbai with her father Viraj, their grandfather, and a dog named Pluto. Mahi has cystic fibrosis, and Viraj pours his life into caring for her while avoiding questions about her mother. When the silence becomes too painful, Mahi runs away with Pluto, and a near accident is averted thanks to a woman named Yashna who saves them.
When:present day Where:Mumbai
- 2
Yashna rescues them and invites Viraj to tell Varsha's story
Yashna saves Mahi and Viraj from the runaway situation and invites Viraj to a restaurant where she and Mahi coax him to tell the story of Varsha, Mahi's mother. To help Mahi imagine Varsha, Yashna pretends to be her. The moment marks the beginning of a revealing evening that threads through their pasts.
When:present day Where:restaurant, Mumbai
- 3
Viraj recounts meeting Varsha in Coonoor and their marriage
Viraj recalls meeting Varsha in Coonoor ten years earlier and how their bond grew despite Varsha's fears and her parents' divorce. Varsha overcomes her fears and agrees to marry Viraj, even though money is tight and the future is uncertain. The tale hints at a fragile happiness before the storm.
When:ten years ago Where:Coonoor
- 4
Birth of Mahi and Varsha's trauma
After Varsha and Viraj wed, their joy is tempered by the birth of a daughter, Mahi, who is born with a fatal illness. Varsha blames Viraj for their misfortune and regrets the marriage, believing it doomed from the start. Yet the dream of family persists amid the hardship.
When:shortly after Mahi's birth
- 5
Varsha's breakdown and the car accident
Varsha experiences a breakdown, and soon after, Varsha and Viraj are involved in a car accident that reshapes their lives. In the aftermath, Varsha's memory of her relationship with Viraj becomes tangled, and the pair confronts loss and hope. The accident marks the end of Varsha's active life as a partner, leaving Viraj to raise Mahi alone.
When:shortly after Varsha's breakdown
- 6
The twist: Yashna is Varsha and has amnesia
In a dramatic twist, it is revealed that Yashna is Varsha herself, who survived the accident but developed amnesia, forgetting her past, marriage, and child. Varsha's mother lied to Viraj, claiming Yashna wanted a divorce and forced him to stay away. Pluto's recognition of Yashna helps bridge the gap, while Viraj continues to raise Mahi with love.
When:present day Where:restaurant
- 7
Viraj preserves the family by retelling their story with care
To shield Yashna from painful recollections, Viraj tells their story with modified details and focuses on the enduring love that has kept them connected. He and Mahi live with the truth that Varsha was once part of their lives, but he keeps the sharper memories at bay. The narrative becomes a careful map through a painful past.
When:present day Where:restaurant
- 8
Goa retreat to escape pain and reconnect
Hoping to escape the pain of the past, Viraj moves Mahi and Pluto to Goa, where the family begins to reconnect with Yashna. In this coastal setting, old ties start to re-form as Yashna feels drawn to Viraj and his daughter. The mood shifts from avoidance to tentative reunion.
When:present day Where:Goa
- 9
Mahi invites Yashna and old feelings resurface
Mahi secretly invites Yashna to stay connected, and Yashna finds herself naturally drawn to Mahi and Viraj, even falling in love with Viraj again. The renewed closeness deepens the complexity of their relationships and the choices ahead. The family begins to confront their shared past with a new sense of possibility.
When:present day Where:Goa
- 10
On Yashna's wedding day, truth unsettles Mahi
On Yashna's wedding day, Mahi learns the truth about her origins from Yashna's mother and is devastated by the revelation. The family grapples with what is real and what has been hidden, challenging their hopes for a fresh start. The moment acts as a crucible for their relationships.
When:Yashna's wedding day
Show the other 3 events of Hi Nanna Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Estranged father reveals Viraj's role in raising Mahi
Yashna's estranged father discloses that Viraj raised Mahi selflessly, underscoring the deep bond that has always connected them. The revelation reshapes Yashna's sense of loyalty and belonging. It renews the belief that they were always meant to be together if they face the truth together.
When:after truth is learned
- 12
Yashna forgives the past and faces a crisis with Mahi
Yashna abandons her wedding plans and rushes to the hospital when Mahi suffers a sudden health crisis. Dr. Aravind and his team work to save Mahi's life, while Yashna promises to stay and teach her a song. The moment marks a concrete commitment to the family and their future.
When:present Where:hospital
- 13
Grown-up Mahi sings the song her mother taught her
Years later, a healthy, grown Mahi takes the stage to sing the song her mother taught her. The performance symbolizes the family's reunion and the enduring power of love and destiny. The story closes with a hopeful, united future.
When:years later Where:stage
Who Are the Main Characters in Hi Nanna?
9 characters, among them Yashna (Mrunal Thakur), Dr. Aravind and Viraj (Nani): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- Y(
Yashna (Mrunal Thakur)
Played by 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
- DA
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
- V(
Viraj (Nani)
Played by 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
- V/
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
- Y(
Yashna (Voice) (Chinmayi Sripaada)
Played by 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
- M(
Mahi (Child) — Baby Kiara Khanna
Played by 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
- M(
Mahi (Adult) — Ritika Nayak
Played by 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
- MG
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
Where and When Is Hi Nanna Set?
Hi Nanna is set in Mumbai, Coonoor and Goa (Contemporary). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
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.
Where
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
What Are the Themes of Hi Nanna?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Family, Memory and Caregiving.
-
01
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.
-
02
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.
-
03
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.
-
04
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.
What Kind of Film Is Hi Nanna?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A heartfelt family drama unfolding at a steady pace, blending melancholic themes of illness and separation with a persistently hopeful and ultimately uplifting tone centered on love and reconciliation.
- heartfelt
- hopeful
- melancholic
- uplifting
- tender
- family-oriented
- family reunion
- chronic illness
- amnesia
- parental love
Content notes: child with illness, car accident.
Quiz
How well do you remember Hi Nanna? Test yourself on the story.
