The plot focuses on a love story between a Kuthu Vilakku (lamp) shop owner and a BDS student.

Chinna Vandu, who studied in his uncle's son's home, falls in love with Vanaroja, who comes there to visit her grandmother and see the village festival.

In an interview with the Times of India, Sarkunam said, "Yes, Dhanush has agreed to play the lead in my next film and has signed up for the project though we are yet to confirm the producer.

[8] While the names of Amala Paul, Samantha and Hansika Motwani were being floated around at various stages of the film's pre-production, the filmmaker has finally zeroed in on Nazriya Nazim, a child actress-turned-heroine in Mollywood, to pair opposite Dhanush.

[11] She filed a complaint with the Chennai city Police Commissioner against Sarkunam, demanding that the director should show the film to her before its release.

Mani C. Kappan says that he had planned to remake the film in Hindi and the Tamil release had weakened this opportunity.

[18] Baradwaj Rangan wrote "Naiyaandi slavishly follows the Kollywood formula, with thoroughly exaggerated characters whom we see only on screen" and called the film a "vile mess".

[19] Sify wrote, "Naiyaandi is not astounding but it is not a damp squib like most draft comedies we’ve had in recent times".

[6] The Times of India gave 2.75 out of 5 stars and wrote "Naiyandi is a leisurely-paced film, a genteel comedy set in a small town, revolving around a romance.

[5] Hindustan Times wrote "Naiyaandi is a silly romp through school-boyish pranks, juvenile romantic inclinations, choreographed fights and a yawn of a story".

[20] Rediff gave 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that the film "lacks a good story and seems more like an amateur, half-hearted and a disappointing attempt" and called it a "disaster".