Yami Gautam Dhar’s Nayyi Navelli follows Mohini, a perfect daughter-in-law in Meerut who hides a supernatural secret. Directed by Balaji Mohan, the film shows Mohini as a daayan fighting a Raavan-like evil force. Yami got praise for her nonchalant acting, as she took charge to save her family from trouble.
What happens when the perfect bahu turns out to be a daayan? And what if she has a much bigger battle to fight? Yami Gautam Dhar's Nayyi Navelli starts with a familiar family situation but soon takes an unexpected turn. Set in Meerut, the film follows Mohini, a seemingly perfect daughter-in-law whose behaviour makes her family suspicious. But discovering that she is a daayan is only the beginning!
Directed by Balaji Mohan, Nayyi Navelli introduces Mohini as the kind of daughter-in-law every family would want. She cooks well, looks after the household, and quickly wins over her in-laws. She appears to have everything under control, and that is precisely what makes one family member suspicious.
In a world where even the smallest family habit can become a subject of discussion, Mohini's flawless behaviour becomes a reason to doubt her. The suspicion soon takes a supernatural turn when Mohini is revealed to be a daayan. But the film has another surprise waiting.
The story takes a wild turn when Mohini comes face to face with a Raavan-like evil force. Suddenly, being a daayan is the least surprising thing about her. Mohini has a bigger battle on her hands, but what does she have against this powerful enemy? And is there more to her supernatural identity than meets the eye? The answers lie at the heart of Nayyi Navelli's biggest mystery.
Nayyi Navelli finds its funniest moments in a family that cannot believe its new bahu is actually that good. The idea turns familiar family expectations on their head, and the comic punches land well. Yami Gautam's nonchalant approach elevates the humour. While her family tries to figure her out, Mohini remains unbothered.
The film also deserves credit for giving its female lead the space usually reserved for a male hero. Mohini takes charge, faces the threat herself, and does not wait around to be rescued. Yami carries this responsibility with confidence.
However, the screenplay occasionally takes convenient turns to move the story forward. Some developments could have been better established, making the conflict more convincing. The premise has enough potential to support tighter writing, especially when Mohini's supernatural identity connects with her larger battle.
Still, the film is at its best when Mohini's calm attitude drives the comedy and she takes charge of the action.
Yami Gautam is the biggest reason to watch Nayyi Navelli. She plays Mohini with a nonchalant attitude that suits the character. Even when the situation changes, she does not suddenly turn dramatic. Her reactions remain measured, and that makes the shift between the perfect bahu and the 'daayan' feel seamless.
Director Balaji Mohan deserves credit for giving Mohini the space to lead the story. He does not treat her supernatural identity as just a device to shock the audience. Instead, he builds the narrative around her and the battle she must fight. The shift from family comedy to a supernatural thriller gives the film its central appeal.
Nayyi Navelli has a simple but effective idea at its centre. A perfect daughter-in-law turns out to be a daayan, but she has bigger problems than convincing her family that she is not what they think. Yami Gautam brings the right attitude to Mohini, and the comedy makes the character fun to watch.