Suniel Shetty’s new film Nanhey Dil will open in theatres on 20 November. The makers have released the trailer after a run at international film festivals, where the film was presented under the title Fly High Little Hearts.
What the film is about
Nanhey Dil is a children’s drama set in a school. Shetty plays the principal of a well-known institution. The story follows Raghu, a bright boy whose father is a dhobi. The principal spots his talent and gives him a chance to study alongside children from wealthy families.
From there, the film looks at what happens when a child from a working-class home walks into an unfamiliar world. Going by the trailer, the focus is on class, confidence and equal opportunity rather than on big dramatic twists. Box Office Worldwide described the trailer as intimate and performance-driven.
The poster shows a young schoolboy in uniform wearing a flowing red cape, a hint at the “fly high” idea in the international title.
The people behind it
- Director and writer: Swarup Raj Medara
- Screenplay and creative producer: Saiwyn Quadras
- Production: Navaras Entertainment
- Presented by: Srinathji’s Hospitality and Ninefold Pictures
- Producers: Sowmay Jain, Shriya Torne, Dhruva Karunakar and Aishwarya Yadav
- Cast: Suniel Shetty, Gaurav Shivaji, Rajgopal Iyer and Surendra Pal
Bollywood Hungama reported that the film was shot in 37 days and screened at international festivals, including Toronto. Reports so far have not named the young actor who plays Raghu.
What Shetty said
Shetty has called the film “a beautiful message” and said it “could definitely be an eye-opener for modern-day parents,” according to Bollywood Hungama.
The role is a change of pace for an actor known mostly for action films in the 1990s. In recent years, he has picked more character parts, and a gentle school drama fits that shift.
A crowded Friday
Nanhey Dil arrives on the same day as the Dhanush and Mammootty action film OM, while Ramayana: Part One will be entering its third week. A small, emotional film can struggle for screens in such a week. Its best chance lies in word of mouth, school groups and families looking for something different.
Films about children and schools, such as Taare Zameen Par and Stanley Ka Dabba, have shown that this genre can find a loyal audience when the story connects.
Reporting based on Bollywood Hungama and Box Office Worldwide.
Featured image: Bernard Gagnon, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
