To hide a deception at her school, Pia Jaisingh, who comes from a family of lawyers, employs scholarship recipient arjun Mehta as a phony boyfriend.  He excels academically and athletically, but he struggles with relationships.  Sincere sentiments grow as their masquerade intensifies, but a misunderstanding causes chaos.  In order to face their inner demons and discover genuine love, how far will Pia and arjun go?
 
Nadaaniyan adds insult to injury by portraying Ibrahim ali Khan, the eldest son of Saif ali Khan, and Khushi Kapoor, the younger daughter of Sridevi, as students at an exclusive school for pampered brats from filthy-rich families. Everything about the school exudes wealth, abs, nice clothes, parties, and well-known last names.
 
Set in a karan johar universe, the movie is a standard Netflix teen drama (did we mention Student of the Year?).  In addition to inserting a Romeo and Juliet connection, the authors take the story's justification—an AI-generated answer from a Netflix algorithm—very seriously.  It is a Delhi-based story about a middle-class boy and a wealthy girl who are more infatuated with luxury.
 
Nadaaniyan is quite clear about what it wants to do.  When Pia claims that students at her school spend more money on therapy than on instruction, she is not entirely incorrect.  Even though the filmmaker gives the impression that Pia is the weaker of the group, she is also a member of the group that thinks that money can solve any issue.  What other reason might she have for paying a scholarship recipient to act as a fictitious boyfriend?
 
Ibrahim (who portrays Arjun) adds to the irony when he defends the middle classes in response to a bully who makes disparaging remarks about his standing and threatens him about leading the school debate team (if only we knew what the film's conception of the middle class was all about).  At the very least, some self-aware writing could have saved the "genius" casting decision.
 
Nadaaniyan functions better as a dharma productions showreel when the movie doesn't work (which is, for the most part), with Braganza Malhotra from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai making fun of social networking acronyms.  It's The Time To Disco by Kal Ho Na Ho turns into ITTTD.  Orry makes a special appearance, and there are lively tunes and vibrant designer clothes.  Much work is done to conceal its shallowness.
 
The movie's perspective is so exclusive that it doesn't allow for any hint of vulnerability.  The majority of scenes are as deep as a social media reel.  It simply doesn't care to genuinely examine any aspect of the (flimsy) plot, despite taking its elegant appearance seriously.  It doesn't adequately address the class gap or examine how impetuous adolescent loves may be.
 
 
  
 
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Nadaaniyan

G GOWTHAM

12/03/2025 11:13 AM