Baththa OTT Review:
Another movie from Vijay Sethupathi is here where the initial impression is of a gangster movie; however, it is more about people, their relationships and evolution. The movie called Baththa is already out on Netflix in various languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.
The movie is directed by Balaji Tharaneetharan, starring Vijay Sethupathi, Lijomol Jose and new emerging talent Sai Prithviraj. Baththa is set in the city of Madras in 1986 and mixes elements of comedy, family drama and emotions into one without being a melodrama.
What is Baththa about?
Baththa (played by Vijay Sethupathi) is an intimidating gangster. The people in his locality are afraid of him and he has established himself based on their fear.
Things change when a young schoolboy, Sabari (Sai Prithviraj), accidentally locks Baththa inside a school restroom. The boy is too frightened to open the door and let him out.
What starts as a strange and funny situation slowly becomes something much deeper. As Baththa spends time trapped inside, his tough exterior begins to fall apart. The boy also starts seeing the human being behind the gangster image.
The story gradually moves towards Baththa looking at his own behaviour, his relationship with his wife Kannima (Lijomol Jose) and the kind of person he has become.
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How is the movie?
The biggest strength of Baththa is its simple idea. A dangerous gangster getting trapped by a scared little boy sounds like a setup for a comedy, and the film does get plenty of laughs from it.
But the movie doesn’t stop there.
Balaji Tharaneetharan uses this unusual situation to talk about masculinity, fear, ego, family and redemption. The comedy mostly comes from the situation rather than forced comedy scenes, which works nicely.
The year of its making also stands out. The retro setting of Madras, the radios, the tea stalls, the old-fashioned clothes, the old-fashioned style of living gives the film a good nostalgic vibe. There is no sense of being stuck with the period setting just for decorative purposes.
The connection between Baththa and Sabari is what makes this film work. On one side there is fear, on the other side – curiosity. In time, the curiosity develops into an unexpected bond.
Moreover, the film makes use of Baththa’s sensitive side. His connections with his wife and his daughter give his character an additional layer. The film does not make him into a good man instantly but depicts the process of becoming a better person.
One downside of the film is that at the end of the story it slows down somewhat. After a good emotional revelation, some of the following scenes become a little bit dragging. The film might end earlier.
Overall, the feeling remains very positive.
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Performances
Vijay Sethupathi is clearly the biggest reason to watch Baththa. He doesn’t overplay the gangster character. There is a certain restraint in his performance, and that makes the emotional portions work better.
But the real surprise is Sai Prithviraj. He handles Sabari’s fear, innocence and curiosity very naturally. His scenes with Vijay Sethupathi are among the best parts of the film. Cinema Express
Lijomol Jose also gets an important role as Kannima and brings the emotional side of the family story. Sahasra Sree, Santhy Balachandran and the rest of the supporting cast fit well into the world of the film.
Sai Abhyankkar’s music and background score add nicely to the nostalgic mood, while Selvakumar S.K.’s cinematography captures the period setting well. India Today
Final Verdict
It is not simply a gangster flick. In essence, Baththa is all about an unconventional friendship and a man coming to terms with the destructive nature of his actions.
The duo of Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Prithviraj have done a marvellous job. There is a very basic sort of humor, realistic emotion, and 1980s’ setting that gives this film a distinctive charm.
There are a few dull parts in the film, particularly towards its conclusion, but that doesn’t take away from the film’s overall good intentions.
If you missed Baththa in theatres, this Netflix release is definitely worth giving a chance.
Our Take: A warm, funny and emotional gangster drama that is more about humanity than violence.
