'What A Cheap Thing To Do': Nani, Mrunal Thakur's Hi Nanna Accused Of Plagiarism By Kannada Producer A Year After Release

Telugu actor Nani’s film Hi Nanna, which hit theaters in December, 2023, has landed in controversy after Kannada producer Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah accused the makers of copying his 2020 film Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja without securing official remake rights.  

Mallikarjunaiah, known for producing Kannada hits like Avane Srimannarayana and Kirik Party, took to Instagram to call out Nani and his team. In a now-deleted story, he wrote, "Without taking remake rights, Hi Nanna has been made by copying our original movie Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja. What a cheap thing to do, @nameisnani." He also shared side-by-side posters of both films.  

According to Mallikarjunaiah, Hi Nanna is an unofficial remake of his film, and the Telugu filmmakers failed to follow proper legal procedures.  

Hi Nanna, a romantic drama directed by debutant Shouryuv, stars Nani alongside actress Mrunal Thakur. The film was appreciated for its emotional storytelling and became both a critical and commercial success. However, these plagiarism accusations now cast a shadow over its reputation.  

So far, neither Nani nor the makers of Hi Nanna have responded to the claims. Whether the controversy escalates into legal action or the filmmakers issue an official clarification remains to be seen.

Apart from Nani and Mrunal Thakur, Hi Nanna also features Kiara Khanna and Angad Bedi in crucial roles.

About Mallikarjunaiah's Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja

Directed by Karthik Saragur and produced by Mallikarjunaiah, Rakshit, and Hemanth M. Rao, the film premiered in 2020 on an OTT platform. Originally intended for a theatrical release, the film was instead released digitally due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starring Aravinnd Iyer and Aarohi Narayan alongside Priyanka, Aadya, and Achyut Kumar in pivotal roles, the film follows the journey of a cook who recounts his love story to a stranger.