The film has been praised for staying "local" in its storytelling while achieving global emotional appeal. Critics and fans alike have noted that it feels like a "rarity" in an era dominated by machismo-driven blockbusters, offering instead a "soul-stirring" experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

: Viewers on platforms like Reddit and YouTube have noted that while the film is a "tear-jerker," it finds strength in its "tenderness and silence" rather than over-the-top melodrama.

Nanna loved small, unexpected things: a coin found under a garden stone, the hush of snow on a rooftop at dawn, a single firefly trapped, briefly, in the palm of her hand. She collected those moments in a little tin box on her windowsill, labeled with a scrawl only she could read.

At its heart, Hi Nanna is an emotional exploration of love, loss, and the bond between a father and his daughter. The story revolves around Viraj (Nani), a doting single father raising his six-year-old daughter, Mahi (Kiara Khanna). Mahi suffers from a chronic respiratory condition, and her one wish is to know the story of her mother—a topic Viraj has always avoided.