Hi OTT Review:
Movie: Hi
Director: Vishnu Edavan
Cast: Nayanthara, Kavin, K. Bhagyaraj, Radikaa Sarathkumar, Prabhu, Suhasini, VTV Ganesh, Sathyan and others
Streaming Platform: ZEE5
Languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam
Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes
Nayanthara and Kavin’s Hi has now arrived on OTT, giving audiences who missed it in theatres a chance to catch the film from home. The movie is currently streaming on ZEE5 in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
Directed by Vishnu Edavan, Hi is a romantic comedy-drama about two people who run away from marriages they don’t want and eventually cross paths in Hyderabad. It’s a familiar setup, but the film tries to keep things entertaining with humour, family drama and romance.
What is Hi about?
Kavin portrays the role of Subramaniam, an innocent young man from Rajahmundry who is extremely attached to his family. Subramaniam is attracted to his maternal uncle’s daughter but when he proposes to her, she rejects him.
Heart-broken, Subramaniam writes a letter and travels to Hyderabad.
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Nayanthara acts as Devasena, a head-strong woman hailing from Bhimavaram. Devasena’s father raises her up after her mother leaves their home when she was little. But now, her father wants her to get married but Devasena is not interested in marrying someone.
In her marriage day, she escapes from her place and heads to Hyderabad.
Finally, both Subramaniam and Devasena meet each other and are made to stay together due to some reason or another. There is an interesting blend of friendship, uncomfortable situations, family problems and love blossoms.
Everything becomes worse when Subramaniam lies to his family about Devasena being pregnant. The biggest source of entertainment in the film comes from this lie.
How is the movie?
The basic story of Hi is nothing particularly new. We have seen plenty of films where two people escape unwanted marriages, meet by chance and slowly fall in love.
What makes Hi reasonably enjoyable is the way the familiar story is presented.
The first half is largely carried by the chemistry between Kavin and Nayanthara. Kavin’s innocent personality and Nayanthara’s outspoken nature make for a decent combination.
Their scenes together have some genuinely funny moments, and the movie works best when it simply allows these two characters to interact naturally.
The second half moves more towards family comedy after the characters return to Rajahmundry. The pregnancy lie creates several situations where Subramaniam and his friend struggle to keep the truth hidden.
Some of these scenes are genuinely entertaining, particularly the cat-and-mouse game that continues almost until the pre-climax.
However, once the truth starts coming out, the film takes a more emotional turn. This is also where the writing becomes predictable. A few portions start feeling more like a television serial than a romantic comedy.
There are no major surprises in the climax either.
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Performances
Kavin is one of the main reasons the film works. His portrayal of the innocent Subramaniam is likeable, and his comic timing suits the character well.
Nayanthara fits comfortably into the role of Devasena. She brings the required attitude and warmth to the character and handles the emotional scenes effectively.
The supporting cast is packed with experienced actors. K. Bhagyaraj gets a substantial role, while Radikaa Sarathkumar, Prabhu, Suhasini and VTV Ganesh play familiar but effective characters.
Bhagyaraj’s presence is particularly poignant, as Hi is among his final screen appearances.
What works and what doesn’t?
The biggest strength is the cast. Kavin and Nayanthara make the simple story watchable, while their contrasting personalities provide most of the entertainment.
The dialogues and one-liners also add to the fun, particularly during the lighter portions.
The biggest weakness is the predictable storyline. Once the basic setup is established, it is fairly easy to guess where the relationship is heading.
The climax also becomes more emotional than the earlier portions, and a few scenes feel stretched.
Final Verdict
Hi isn’t trying to reinvent the romantic comedy. It takes a familiar love story, adds family drama and humour, and depends heavily on the charm of Kavin and Nayanthara.
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And that mostly works.
If you’re looking for a serious or layered romantic drama, this may not offer much. But if you want something light, clean and easy to watch over the weekend, Hi is a decent OTT option.
The story may be routine, but the performances, humour and lead-pair chemistry give it enough charm to make the journey enjoyable.
Bottom line: A familiar romantic drama made watchable by Kavin and Nayanthara. Now
