The movie Hi Nanna, starring Nani and Mrunal Thakur, was released in theaters in December 2023 and performed decently at the box office. However, nearly 14 months after its release, a Kannada producer, Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah, has accused the filmmakers of plagiarism, claiming that Hi Nanna closely follows the plot of his own Kannada film, Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja, which was released during the COVID-19 era.
Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah made a public statement alleging that the makers of Hi Nanna did not seek the remake rights of his film, yet the storyline of Hi Nanna appears to be a direct copy of Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja. According to Mallikarjunaiah, neither Nani, the lead actor, nor the director or producer of Hi Nanna made any efforts to obtain proper rights or acknowledgment for using his film’s concept.
The accusations have stirred controversy within the industry, with the filmmakers of Hi Nanna yet to respond to the claims. This issue has raised questions about intellectual property rights in the Indian film industry, particularly when it comes to borrowing ideas or stories from other regional films.
As of now, Mallikarjunaiah’s allegations are being discussed widely in both the Kannada and Telugu film industries, with many waiting for an official statement from the Hi Nanna team.