12 critics on Nayyi Navelli: 3 positive, 5 mixed, 4 negative. Every verdict quoted, with ratings and links to the full reviews.
12 critics have reviewed Nayyi Navelli so far. By our reading of each review, 3 positive, 5 mixed, 4 negative. Below, every critic's verdict in their own words, with the rating where they gave one and a link to the full review.
Critics at a glance
Bollywood Shaadis
"Yami Gautam is back with another film, 'Nayyi Navelli', but it seems to leave little mark on the audience, failing to deliver chills or laughs"
Also: "The addition of religious symboism is not upto the mark, and the climax is laughable"
Read Bollywood Shaadis's full review
The Hindu
"Nothing can prepare you for Yami Gautam’s Nayyi Navelli. The film begins as a typical small-town comedy. It then shows patchy horror elements before turning into a devotional, mythological extravaganza, trying to cash in on recent trends"
Also: "The visual cues are outdated, as evil characters suddenly develop deadly fangs and start roaring in full volume"
Read The Hindu's full review
Zee News
"An unusual and reasonably entertaining family fantasy that gets more right than wrong, even if sharper editing and more memorable music could have made it stronger"
Also: "The dialogues deserve a mention, too. Their desi flavour gives the family interactions a relatable quality, while certain exchanges poke fun at social prejudices"
[Read Zee News's full review]( https://zeenews.india.com/bollywood/nayyi-navelli-review-ramayana-references-desi-humour-and-yami-gautam-s-performance-make-it-stand-out-3076181.html )
Koimoi: 4 stars
"It is a delight. Take your entire family – bacche, boodhe, jawan – go all!"
Also: "This is Yami in a completely different avatar. She’s best known for serious roles like A Thursday, Lost, and Article 370, which won her a National Award, so seeing her in a fantasy comedy is a treat in itself"
Read Koimoi's full review
DNA India: 4.5 Stars
"Despite some pacing and musical shortcomings, Balaji Mohan delivers a reasonably engaging experience"
Also: "The colloquial dialogue is another highlight. Its rooted, desi flavour makes the humour accessible, and a few moments have the potential to become meme-worthy"
Read DNA India's full review
Rediff
"Nayyi Navelli is a chaotic and forgettable cinematic experience, struggling to blend mythological, horror, and social commentary into a cohesive narrative"
Also: "Spewing 'paap aur punya ki ladaai' brand of dated dialogues, the drivel's belief in hyper dramatic music, sloppy VFX overkill and tacky production values adds to the agony"
Read Rediff's full review
PINKVILLA
"What begins as a promising mix of humor, horror and mythology ends up being an uneven entertainer"
Also: "The second half feels predictable, reducing the tension that a comedy-horror film needs to keep audiences invested"
Read PINKVILLA's full review
Filmibeat · Bollywood
"Nayyi Navelli starts on an entertaining note and gets several things right in its first half. Sadly, the second half is a letdown"
Also: "The interval point is particularly effective. It brings an unexpected twist that makes you curious about what comes next"
Read Filmibeat · Bollywood's full review
Filmibeat
"Nayyi Navelli starts on an entertaining note and gets several things right in its first half. Sadly, the second half is a letdown"
Also: "The interval point is particularly effective. It brings an unexpected twist that makes you curious about what comes next"
Read Filmibeat's full review
Bolly Movie Reviewz: 3/5
"The film could spring a pleasant surprise if the devotional angle strikes a chord with audiences"
Also: "The references to Lord Rama and Ravana also leave the viewers unconcerned so much so that they quite alienate themselves from the unfolding drama"
Read Bolly Movie Reviewz's full review
Cinema Express
"This could be playing the old tune all over again, but with every new film that arrives in theatres, you realise how deeply the OTT culture has impacted how we consume cinema"
Also: "the humour (and the punchlines) often comes across as forced. Some of the one-liners work, but others feel equally out-of-place and too desperate to evoke a reaction"
Read Cinema Express's full review
Glamsham
"Yami Gautam shines in Balaji Mohan’s supernatural comedy, but an overcomplicated mythological plot loses its way"
Also: "The eventual victory of good over evil and the expected happy resolution provide closure, but the journey feels increasingly cluttered"
Read Glamsham's full review
More on the film
Updated 20 October 2026. CutMirchi does not review films itself: this page gathers published critics' reviews, quoted word for word and linked, and is updated as more arrive. "Verdict" is our one-word reading of each review; ratings are as each outlet printed them.
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