Haati Haati Paa Paa (2025) [Movie Review] — A gentle, familiar family drama

Directed by Arnab K Middya and written by Priyanka Poddar, Haati Haati Paa Paa follows Mou (Rukmini Maitra) and her father Deepak (Chiranjit) as they navigate the slow work of living after the mother’s absence. The film aims to be a close study of caregiving, memory and the little negotiations that shape a parent–child relationship. Its strengths are honesty and restraint: Middya prefers observation over melodrama, and the result is a movie that often feels like eavesdropping on real life.

Story — Familiar beats, tender moments

Predictability tempered by genuine warmth

The narrative arcs are simple: Mou balances her ambitions with filial duty; Deepak learns to loosen his grip while confronting his loneliness. What the screenplay does is string together ordinary incidents — missed appointments, awkward conversations, small celebrations — until an emotional truth gradually becomes clear. The first half leans on tried-and-tested domestic setups and uneven comic notes, which can feel repetitive. Yet the second half opens up, gaining momentum as new characters and revelations nudge the leads toward honest reckoning.

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Performances — Heartfelt, dependable work from a seasoned cast

Acting keeps the film grounded when the plot drifts

Chiranjit (Chiranjeet Chakraborty) anchors the film with a warm, lived-in portrayal of a father learning to let go. He brings a mix of gentle pride and rueful humour that makes Deepak believable and sympathetic. Rukmini Maitra’s Mou is quietly resilient; she carries the film’s emotional labour with nuance, even when scenes ask little of her. Tulika Basu, Bishwarup Bandyopadhyay and Anjana Basu add welcome texture: Anjana’s late appearance injects energy at a turning point, while the supporting ensemble provides sincerity that masks some of the script’s lapses. Overall, performances are the film’s steady pulse.

Direction & Screenplay — Observational strength, structural weakness

An earnest directorial voice that sometimes lets scenes meander

Arnab K Middya directs with a soft hand, favouring longish takes and unforced interactions. Priyanka Poddar’s script is attentive to emotional detail, but it tries to juggle too many ideas — grief, memory, independence, ageing — within a compact runtime. That diffusion means some subplots feel rushed while others overstay. Still, Middya’s sensitivity to tone ensures the film rarely tips into sentimentality; when it works, the movie’s small, unspoken moments land with surprising clarity.

Technicals — Simple craft that accentuates the domestic setting

Production choices that respect the story’s intimacy

Cinematography and production design keep the film firmly domestic: modest interiors, daylight interiors, and the visual rhythms of a small household. The pacing benefits from the sound design and a restrained score that never overwhelms. Editing could have been tighter — a leaner cut would have sharpened emotional payoffs — but the overall technical package supports the film’s aim: quiet, character-driven storytelling.

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Verdict — Heartfelt, imperfect, worth a watch

A moving watch for those who prefer realism over melodrama

Haati Haati Paa Paa won’t rewrite the rules of family cinema, but it offers a sincere take on the responsibilities and small mercies of loving someone who is ageing. For viewers seeking big plot twists, it may feel slow; for those who appreciate subtle performances and lived-in detail, it delivers moments that linger. The film’s uneven pacing keeps it from being exceptional, yet the warmth of the lead performances and the director’s empathetic eye make it a worthwhile, quietly moving experience.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)