Film

Ninnu Kori

Name: Ninnu Kori
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Family
Released: 2017
Cast: Nani, Nivetha Thomas, Aadhi Pinisetty, Tanikella Bharani, Murali Sharma

Romantic comedy

A Telugu romantic comedy about an ex-boyfriend invited into a marriage, testing whether he'll sabotage it or accept what's gone. Warm, family-friendly, and interested in how people actually behave when desire crashes into decency. For anyone who enjoys messy feelings wrapped in humour and song.

TMDb rating

3.1

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy a romantic comedy built on awkward social manoeuvring, where a bad idea keeps getting worse over every shared meal, and a lightly sly sense of humour carries the mood.

Skip it if you want a love story with real emotional weight, since the comedy stays light and the 135-minute run leans on repeated schemes that circle the same tension.

What it asks of you: It asks for a feature-length sitting of close attention to small glances and cross-purposes, with a steady, bright tempo that rarely lets the scene sit still.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Hey Ram2000

Kamal Haasan navigates conflicting loves and identities across decades, with the same sharp observation of how people justify what they want. Emotionally intricate without losing humour or humanity.

But Nearly four hours long, shifts between eras and moods in ways that demand your full attention. Not always easy.

Rang De Basanti2006

Aamir Khan anchors a story about friendship, purpose, and how love—romantic or platonic—can pull you toward becoming someone better. Joyful and urgent at once.

But Veers toward earnestness in the final act. Some find the tonal shift from comedy to serious jarring.

Khosla Ka Ghosla!2006

A middle-class family comedy that respects its characters' small victories and petty conflicts with real tenderness. Funny without ever being mean.

But The pace is gentle, even slack in places. Requires patience if you want something more propulsive.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Ninnu Kori

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Dostana2008

Both films are about people performing happiness in front of others—fake it till you make it—only to discover what's true beneath the act. The difference is Dostana commits to real love, while Ninnu Kori asks whether sabotage can actually work.

Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham pretend to be a couple to rent an apartment, then actually fall in love. A mainstream Bollywood film that sneaks queer love past its own genre. Funny, touching, unexpectedly progressive for 2008.

But The first hour plays the conceit for laughs in ways that can feel uncomfortable now. It's still a mainstream film constrained by its era.

Chup2022

A thriller that plays with genre expectations and media obsession, anchored by Dulquer Salmaan's unsettling charm. Clever, visually striking, genuinely surprising.

But Violent in ways that might feel tonally odd if you're expecting something lighter. The meta-commentary can feel self-conscious.

Badhaai Ho2018

A comedy about an older couple's pregnancy that treats middle-aged desire and social shame with both humour and real warmth. Ayushmann Khurrana and Neena Gupta are wonderful.

But Relies on fairly conventional comedy beats. Some jokes haven't aged well; others land as dated even now.

O Kadhal Kanmani2015

A Tamil love story that's genuinely interested in how two people navigate commitment without losing themselves. Adult without being cynical.

But Slow-paced romance focused on dialogue and mood rather than plot. If you need incident, you'll find yourself waiting.

Ishq1997

Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla in a comedy about desire and deception that's absurd, charming, and completely uninterested in making sense. Pure fun.

But Constructed around logic that breaks down the moment you think about it. The humour is broad and doesn't suit everyone's taste.

Pelli Choopulu2016

A Telugu film about two people navigating marriage, family expectations, and what they actually want. Light without being lightweight.

But The second half loses focus. Some character choices feel unmotivated by the time the film reaches its ending.

Lovers2021

Bollywood rom-com about a couple rediscovering each other, easy to watch and genuinely affectionate about long-term relationships.

But Doesn't push itself beyond the formula. Familiar beats handled competently but without much surprise.

Udaan2010

Both explore whether someone can insert themselves into a relationship to undo it. Udaan asks: what if the person you're trying to control is trying to control you back? No one's just a victim, no one's just a villain.

A Hindi-language film about a father and son locked in a cycle of control and rebellion, with the gentleness and precision of a master. Rajkummar Rao's debut; Ronit Roy is devastating.

But Dialogue-heavy, slow, and absolutely uninterested in catharsis. If you need resolution, this will feel like it stops mid-sentence.

Memories in March2011

Both are about someone entering a marriage—one to destabilize it, one to honour it—and having to genuinely reckon with the person their intrusion affects. Memories in March is what happens when that intrusion comes from grief rather than desire, and how complicated that makes everything.

An Malayalam drama about a mother discovering her son is gay after his death, then bonding with his partner. Completely unsentimental about grief, structured like a conversation between two people learning to see each other.

But Quiet, deliberately paced, and emotionally demanding. Its power depends on your willingness to sit with discomfort and absence.