Director: Balaji Mohan
Rating: ***
Released in theaters today, October 16, 2026, Nayyi Navelli sets out with a delightfully mischievous premise: what happens if the ideal new bride who brought prosperity, healing, and harmony to a chaotic household is actually a literal daayan (witch)? Directed by Balaji Mohan (Maari, Love Failure) and headlined by Yami Gautam Dhar, this 135-minute horror-comedy tries to blend rooted North Indian folklore, quirky family dynamics, and supernatural stakes.
While the film kicks off as a breezy, genuinely hilarious domestic satire, it gradually surrenders its charm in the second half to an overstuffed, convoluted mythological battle that struggles to match the cohesive craft of modern genre benchmarks.
The Story & Screenplay
The narrative unfolds amidst the chaotic festivities of a wedding in Meerut. The groom, Raja (Addinath M Kothare), is visibly distraught because his wife, Mohini (Yami Gautam Dhar), has mysteriously vanished. Meanwhile, Raja’s intensely suspicious younger brother, Bantu (Anurag Thakur), tracks Mohini deep into a forbidden forest, discovering her in the middle of an eerie occult ritual. Armed with a local priest and a concoction of holy defenses, Bantu captures Mohini and locks her away inside the family home.
Calling an urgent council of the elders, Bantu drops an outrageous bombshell: the beloved family bhabhi is a full-fledged daayan. His claim is met with instant ridicule—after all, Mohini's entry into the household has coincided with pure good fortune. The grandmother’s chronic joint pain vanished after a simple touch of Mohini's hands, and Bantu himself miraculously cleared his long-stalled law exams under her roof.
Yet, Bantu presents his absurd dossier of suspicions: Mohini riding a headlight-less motorbike through deserted roads at midnight, her uncanny knack for materializing right before disasters strike, and bizarre dietary quirks. The film derives its sharpest comedy from Bantu’s unhinged paranoia and the family’s ridiculous efforts to test her true nature, highlighted by a laugh-out-loud sequence involving an impromptu Lakshman Rekha.
Underneath the comic friction lies a refreshing thematic touch: Mohini actively empowers the long-neglected, silenced women of the household, encouraging them to stand up for their dignity. However, this grounded social warmth is abruptly derailed post-interval when the script introduces ancient mythological baggage—involving the Kaal Sheel, an occult stone tied to Raavan and Mandodari, astrological curses, and a dark prophecy targeting Raja's nakshatra to resurrect ancient evil forces.
Direction & Narrative Balance
Director Balaji Mohan handles the first hour with comedic flair and energetic situational timing. The domestic eccentricities of a Tier-2 joint family feel lived-in and relatable, keeping the laughs coming at a rapid pace.
The misstep lies in the jarring tonal shift during the third act. As the story trades clever domestic misunderstandings for ancient curses and end-of-the-world stakes, the horror elements turn cartoonish rather than eerie. The visual depiction of demon transformations—complete with exaggerated green veins, colored contacts, and frantic roaring—feels dated and loud, sacrificing the subtle, eerie folklore tension that made films like Stree work so seamlessly.
Performances
Yami Gautam Dhar: Yami carries the film with magnetic elegance and sharp comic restraint. She effortlessly balances the sweet, devoted warmth of a traditional bahu with an enigmatic, slightly menacing edge. Even when the screenplay leaves Mohini’s exact powers unexplained, Yami’s expressive eyes and screen presence keep the character intriguing.
Anurag Thakur: Thakur is the absolute comedic powerhouse of the film. Playing Bantu with manic intensity and rapid-fire dialogue delivery, his deadpan reactions to everyday absurdities produce the film's funniest moments. His comedic timing rescues the film whenever the pacing begins to drag.
Addinath M Kothare: Kothare is earnest and reliable as the protective husband Raja, though the second-half writing forces him into repetitive bouts of melodramatic shouting and demon snarling that diminish his impact.
The Supporting Ensemble: Veteran performers Sunita Rajwar and Mita Vashist are superb as the eccentric family matriarchs, injecting natural heartland humor into every group conversation. Prateek Pachauri and social media favorite Kullu add wonderful comedic flavor to the family’s chaotic banter.
Music & Technical Craft
Soundtrack & Score: Marking the Hindi debut of celebrated South composer G.V. Prakash Kumar, the music effectively marries rustic heartland instrumentation with modern electronic rhythms. While the wedding dance track "Phata Patakha" is an undeniable foot-tapper, the rest of the album fades into the background.
Cinematography & Visual Effects: The camera work captures the tight, bustling corridors of the ancestral mansion with vibrant color palettes. However, the visual effects during the climactic supernatural showdown look uneven and hurried, relying heavily on loud sound bursts rather than genuine atmospheric dread.
Final Verdict
Nayyi Navelli is an entertaining, breezy family comedy that stumbles when it tries too hard to become a grand mythological creature-feature. Driven by an assured, glowing performance from Yami Gautam Dhar and riotous comic relief from Anurag Thakur, it offers plenty of laughs in its first half—even if the climax loses its way in the supernatural fog.
