Neeli Hakki movie review: Ganesh Hegde explores home and the idea of belonging through the eyes of a child

Neeli Hakki movie story: Sidda (Aman S Karkera), the young son of an impoverished farmer Maasti (Gopalkrishna Deshpande) and Ganapi (Nidhi Hegde), finds joy and peace in exploring the wild. He’d rather go fishing in the stream nearby and listen to stories about the forest from his grandfather than spend time in school. But with Maasti falling deep in debt with the local grocer and a wild boar attack ending his hope of a bumper crop, he decides to uproot his family to the nearest town, for better work opportunities and a shot at a more dignified life.

Neeli Hakki movie review: How do children react to lifechanging events? Like Sumanth Bhat’s Mithya, which explored grief from the perspective of a young orphaned boy, debutant director Ganesh Hegde puts the spotlight firmly on his protagonist, a child, and how he copes with being uprooted from the life he’s known all along. Young Sidda is at the centre of the tale, for whom a stroll in the wilderness surrounding their modest abode is far more exciting than paying attention to school stuff. For his parents, it’s a struggle to make a living and when their best efforts fail, they up and leave for the city.

Sidda is never a part of that conversation; his reluctance to leave all that he holds dear behind does not register for his parents. All that matters is being able to afford 3 square meals and a modicum of dignity. Ganesh takes his sweet time to establish the life Sidda was used to and loves and then shifts abruptly to the hustle of the city. The filmmaker ever so lightly touches upon the issue of migration from villages to cities, but never demonizes the parents for aspiring for a better tomorrow.

Also read: Ganesh Hegde on getting Neeli Hakki on OTT without a theatrical release | Exclusive 

Thereon, it is a rather quick unravelling into the climax and what young Sidda makes of his new circumstance. He observes quietly and responds with a quiet determination. The problem that I felt with this was that the end did not feel like a satisfying payoff. There is a definitive end to the story, but one that didn’t really evoke an emotion. Irrespective of whether the reaction is good, bad or ugly, any film should make a viewer feel something; Neeli Hakki didn’t quite do that, despite an impressive and understated performance by young Aman S Karkera.

The film has Gopalkrishna Deshpande, as the mildly alcoholic Maasti – a solid casting choice that’s ever so subtle. Nidhi Hegde as the more aspirational Ganapi is the perfect foil for Maasti. Together, the trio get the tone of this family’s dynamics just right.

Neeli Hakki movie verdict: Ganesh Hegde’s award-winning film is not everyone’s cup of tea; it’s a festival movie. Despite a relatively shorter run-time of just about 90-minutes, it’s languidly paced, shifting between 2-3 locations only. It’s the performances that hold this one together. If simple story-telling is right up your alley, give this one a dekko.

*Neeli Hakki releases on Sun NXT (available via OTTplay Premium also) on February 27, 2026*