Kannada producer accuses Nani’s 'Hi Nanna' of plagiarism

Kannada producer Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah has recently shared a social media post accusing the makers of the family drama Telugu film 'Hi Nanna' starring Nani and Mrunal Thakur of copying his 2020 movie 'Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja' without obtaining the necessary remake rights.
In a now-deleted Instagram story, Mallikarjunaiah expressed his frustration, calling the actions of the 'Hi Nanna' team as "cheap", as per a Pinkvilla report. He shared posters of both films side by side, that 'Hi Nanna' was made without permission from the original creators. His post directly called out actor Nani, who stars in 'Hi Nanna', urging fans to recognize the alleged similarities between the two films.
He wrote, "Without taking #RemakeRights, Hi Nanna has been made by copying our original movie #BheemaSenaNalaMaharaja. What a cheap thing to do, @nameisnani."
'Hi Nanna', directed by Shouryuv and released in December 2023, tells the emotional story of a single father struggling to care for his daughter, who is battling a life-threatening illness. The film received critical acclaim and was well-received at the box office, grossing over Rs 75 crores.
It stars Nani alongside Mrunal Thakur and Kiara Khanna in the lead roles and is currently streaming on Netflix.
On the other hand, 'Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja', which premiered directly on OTT platforms during the pandemic, follows a skilled chef who shares his past love story with a woman he meets. Directed by Karthik Saragur, this Kannada film also garnered positive reviews for its storytelling and character development.