Yami Gautam returns in a striking new avatar with Nayyi Navelli, a horror mystery that blends family drama, humour, fantasy and action.
Yami Gautam is stepping into a very different world with her upcoming film Nayyi Navelli. The trailer for the horror mystery was unveiled on Wednesday, offering a glimpse of a story that begins like a traditional family drama before taking a supernatural turn.
Coming after her National Award win for Best Actress, Yami takes on the role of Mohini, a newly married woman who enters the Awasthi household as its new daughter-in-law.
But her arrival soon raises questions. Is Mohini simply a new bride trying to find her place in the family, or is there something far more mysterious hiding beneath her seemingly familiar persona?
Yami Gautam’s Mohini Has More Than One Side
The Nayyi Navelli trailer introduces Mohini as a new bride entering her husband’s family home.
Initially, the atmosphere appears welcoming, with the Awasthi family receiving her warmly. However, the mood gradually changes as doubts begin to emerge about Mohini’s identity and intentions.
The trailer hints that some characters suspect she could be a “daayan”, adding a supernatural layer to what initially appears to be a story about marriage and family relationships.
Rather than revealing the mystery outright, the trailer keeps viewers guessing about Mohini and the secrets connected to her past.
A Horror Mystery With a Family-Entertainment Angle
Nayyi Navelli appears to combine several genres rather than functioning solely as a conventional horror film.
The story brings together family drama, humour, emotion, fantasy and action, with Mohini positioned at the centre of the narrative.
Yami has described the character as someone who constantly challenges expectations.
“What drew me to Mohini is that she is never quite what you expect. There’s a warmth and familiarity to her, but also a mystery that slowly reveals itself,” she said in a statement shared in connection with the film.
The actress added that the project allowed her to explore a character moving between different genres while remaining emotionally grounded.
Yami on Exploring Mohini
Speaking about the role, Yami said:
“Nayyi Navelli gave me the opportunity to explore a character that moves seamlessly between family, humour, emotion, fantasy and action, while still staying rooted at heart.”
The comments offer some indication of why the role marks a departure from the actress’s recent screen appearances. Mohini appears to require Yami to balance an ordinary family setting with elements of mystery and fantasy.
Who Stars in Nayyi Navelli?
Alongside Yami Gautam, the film features an ensemble cast that includes Addinath M Kothare, Anurag Thakur, Sunita Rajwar, Mita Vasisth, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Susmita Mukherjee and Prateek Pachori in key roles.
The film is directed by Balaji Mohan and written by Himanshu Sharma and Divy Nidhi Sharma.
Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma are producing the project, while G. V. Prakash Kumar has composed the music.
Nayyi Navelli Release Date
Nayyi Navelli is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on October 16.
The release period could make for an interesting theatrical window, with Drishyam: The Conclusion and Jailer 2 also reported to be arriving around the same time.
For now, the trailer leaves the central mystery deliberately open: whether Mohini is an ordinary new bride caught in an unusual family situation or something much more supernatural.
Yami Gautam’s transformation into the enigmatic Mohini is likely to be one of the key attractions of Nayyi Navelli when the film reaches theatres.
