Hi (film)

Hi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVishnu Edavan
Written byVishnu Edavan
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRajesh Shukla
Edited byPhilomin Raj
Music byJen Martin
Production
companies
Distributed byRed Giant Movies
Release date
  • 28 August 2026 (2026-08-28)
Running time
144 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Hi (stylised as Hi :)) is a 2026 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy drama film written and directed by Vishnu Edavan in his directorial debut. Jointly produced by Zee Studios, Rowdy Pictures and Seven Screen Studio, the film stars Kavin and Nayanthara in the lead roles, alongside Prabhu, K. Bhagyaraj, Radikaa Sarathkumar, VTV Ganesh and Sathyan in supporting roles. It has music composed by Jen Martin, cinematography handled by Rajesh Shukla and editing by Philomin Raj. Hi was released in theatres on 28 August 2026.

Plot

A man with a steady career seeks marriage with a woman who meets his specific criteria. Their journey from an unconventional beginning to finding love forms the heart of this uplifting romantic tale.

Cast

Production

The film marks the directorial debut of Vishnu Edavan, a lyricist who previously worked as an assistant director with Lokesh Kanagaraj on Kaithi, Master and Vikram. Additional screenplay and dialogues were written by C. U. Muthuselvan.[2]

The project is produced by Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan under their banner Rowdy Pictures, S. S. Lalit Kumar of Seven Screen Studio and Zee Studios. Vinoth C. J. and K. S. Mayil Vaganan serve as co-producers, while V. K. Kubendran is credited as creative producer.[2][3]

The technical crew includes cinematographer Rajesh Shukla, editor Philomin Raj and production designer S. Kannan, with action sequences choreographed by Dinesh Kasi. Speaking about the project, Edavan described the film as a wholesome family entertainer without a conventional antagonist, comparing its tone to earlier Tamil family films such as Darling, Darling, Darling, Santosh Subramaniam and Yaaradi Nee Mohini.[2][3] Filming had reached its final stages by April 2026.[4][3]

Music

Hi
Soundtrack album by
Jen Martin
Released25 August 2026
Recorded2025–2026
GenreFeature film soundtrack
LanguageTamil
LabelSony Music
ProducerJen Music
Jen Martin chronology
Kiss
(2025)		 Hi
(2026)		 Raawadi
(2026)
Singles from Hi
  1. "Kannakuzhiya"
    Released: 21 April 2026
  2. "Rasagulla"
    Released: 22 July 2026
  3. "Pacha Pulla"
    Released: 30 July 2026
  4. "Kudikara Nenju"
    Released: 24 August 2026

The soundtrack and score are composed by Jen Martin, with lyrics written by Vishnu Edavan and Ashique AR. The first single, "Kannakuzhiya", sung by G. V. Prakash Kumar, was released on 21 April 2026 and crossed around three million digital views.[4] The second single, "Rasagulla", sung by Anirudh Ravichander and choreographed by Brinda, was released on July 2026.[5] The third single "Pacha Pulla" was released on 30 July 2026.[6] The last single titled "Kudikara Nenju" was released on 24 August 2026.[7] The entire soundtrack album was released on 25 August 2026.[8][9]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kannakuzhiya"Vishnu EdavanG. V. Prakash Kumar3:06
2."Rasagulla"Vishnu EdavanAnirudh Ravichander3:46
3."Pacha Pulla"Ashique ARSathya Narayanan3:40
4."Kudikara Nenju"Vishnu EdavanDhruv Vikram 
5."Alexa"Vishnu EdavanAnanya Chakraborty2:29
6."Kathakali Kattappa"Vishnu EdavanJen Martin
Sathya Narayanan		2:42
7."Sakkaraiye"Vishnu EdavanDeepthi Suresh2:44
8."Theme of Hi"–Jen Martin1:36
Total length:24:06

Release

Theatrical

Hi was initially scheduled for an April 2026 release, which was later revised.[2][4] In July 2026 the makers announced that the film would receive a worldwide theatrical release on 14 August 2026, during the Independence Day weekend. Journalists noted that this set up a box office clash with Vishwanath & Sons.[10] The film's release was subsequently postponed to 28 August 2026.[11] It premiered in North America on 27 August 2026.[12][13]

Distribution

Hi was distributed by Red Giant Movies in Tamil Nadu.[14]

Home media

The post-theatrical satellite and streaming rights have been acquired by Zee Tamil and ZEE5 respectively.[15]

Reception

Abhinav Subramanian of The Times of India wrote, "The wheel stays unreinvented. It spins nicely all the same".[16] Bhuvanesh Chandar of The Hindu wrote, "With its warm and colourful frames, soulful songs, low-stakes drama, and writing that understands the enduring appeal of simple stories, Vishnu Edavan's film brings back a comforting strain of Tamil cinema, with a superb cast doing much of the heavy lifting".[17] Manivasagan Namasivayam of DT Next wrote, "At a time when guns and glamour are being used to elevate heroism, debutant director Vishnu Edavan's Hi takes a refreshingly different route. It is a light-hearted, feel-good drama that makes for an engaging watch, particularly for family audiences".[18]

Avinash Ramachandran of Cinema Express wrote, "This is an idea as old as love itself, and Vishnu doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, he allows the film, just like love, to find its own way, and where Hi ends up is in a place where desire doesn't have to be sacrificed on the altar of fear, and I think… that's beautiful".[19] Latha Srinivasan of NDTV wrote, "Hi doesn't offer any novelty in any sense, and that's perhaps its biggest weakness. It is a pleasant rom-com, but the premise is dated and the conflicts are familiar tropes".[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Hi". Central Board of Film Certification. Archived from the original on 30 August 2026. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Nayanthara-Kavin's Hi: a debut for April release". News Today. 12 March 2026. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Nayanthara & Kavin's 'Hi' set for a grand worldwide release on August 14". Telugu Times. 21 July 2026. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "'Kannakuzhiya' song from Nayanthara-Kavin film Hi released". DT Next. 22 April 2026. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Hi second single Rasagulla released". News Today. 23 July 2026. Archived from the original on 23 July 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "நயன்தாரா, கவின் நடித்துள்ள ஹாய் படத்தின் 3வது பாடல் தேதி!". Dinamani (in Tamil). 29 July 2026. Archived from the original on 30 July 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "'Kudikara Nenju' from Nayanthara-Kavin starrer Hi out". Cinema Express. 24 August 2026. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Zee Studios South [@zeestudiossouth] (26 August 2026). "HI Jukebox is OUT NOW! 🎶❤️‍🔥 A playlist full of melodies, moods & magic. 🎧✨ #HiMovie Mark your calendars for AUGUST 28 as the most heartwarming entertainer of the season arrives in theatres. Get ready for the fun-filled Hi, featuring #Nayanthara and @Kavin_m_0431 ❤️" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 August 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  9. ↑ Sony Music South (25 August 2026). Hi – Audio Jukebox | Nayanthara, Kavin | Jen Martin | Vishnu Edavan. Retrieved 28 August 2026 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "Nayanthara-Kavin's Hi locks release, setting up a major Tamil box office showdown". Outlook. 21 July 2026. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Hi, starring Nayanthara and Kavin, postpones its release". The New Indian Express. 8 August 2026. Archived from the original on 14 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Bala, Ramesh [@rameshlaus] (26 August 2026). "#Hi USA Theatre List. Premieres on Aug 27. #Nayanthara @Kavin_m_0431 Good reviews from press show... 👍" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 August 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  13. ↑ Bala, Ramesh [@rameshlaus] (27 August 2026). "Here is the updated North America Theatre List of Kavin, Nayantara starring #Hi. Premieres From Today 6 pm EST" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 August 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  14. ↑ Red Giant Movies [@RedGiantMovies_] (27 August 2026). "AUGUST 28. THE DAY IS SET. 🔥 ❤️‍🔥 Tamil Nadu theatrical release by @RedGiantMovies_ Time to book your HI! 🎟️ BOOKINGS OPEN NOW! Mark your calendars for AUGUST 28 as the most heartwarming entertainer of the season arrives in theatres" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 August 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  15. ↑ "'Hi' OTT release date: Nayanthara and Kavin's film OTT rights sealed". The Times of India. 9 October 2025. Archived from the original on 19 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Subramanian, Abhinav (27 August 2026). "Hi Movie Review: Charm and casting carry a familiar courtship". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 August 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  17. ↑ Chandar, Bhuvanesh (28 August 2026). "'Hi' movie review: Kavin, Nayanthara anchor Vishnu Edavan's old-school wholesome entertainer". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Namasivayam, Manivasagan (28 August 2026). "'Hi' film review: This Nayanthara-Kavin starrer is a simple story with heart and humour". DT Next. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Ramachandran, Avinash (28 August 2026). "Hi Movie Review: Nayanthara and Kavin anchor a charming love story that revels in its simplicity". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Srinivasan, Latha (28 August 2026). "Hi Review: Nayanthara's Role In This Rom-Com Shows A Softer Side After Toxic". NDTV. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
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