Dileep, coming off the success of Prince and the Family, joins hands with debutant director Dhananjay Shankar for Bha Bha Ba, a film that makes no bones about what it wants be, a chaotic and mindless entertainer mainly meant to be consumed for fun. Supporting him is a cast of Vineeth Sreenivasan, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Baiju Santhosh, Sandy and several other familiar faces with a cameo from Kerala’s biggest star, the legendary Mohanlal, who has enjoyed a phenomenal 2025 with 3 of his releases being box-office hits and the crowning glory of being awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. With expectations set straight for a no logic only madness type of film, how does this fare?
The film revolves around Ram Damodar, fondly known as Radar (Dileep), a man who kidnaps Chief Minister, C.K Joseph (Baiju Santhosh), during a public speech and how Noble Joseph (Vineeth Sreenivasan), C.K Joseph’s son sets out to rescue his father. What follows is a chain of absurd situations driven by Radar’s intentions, Noble’s rescue attempts, and a world that thrives entirely on madness rather than logic. This tug-of-war between chaos and comedy forms the crux of the film’s two-and-a-half-hour runtime.
The story itself is extremely predictable and offers very little depth, which is hardly surprising the kind of genre the film aims to cater to. Writers Fahim Safar and Noorin Shareef craft a screenplay where absurdity is at its peak and logic is just thrown out of the window. The narrative is packed with references to Dileep’s older movies and includes callbacks to many of Vijay’s films, which makes the film a compilation reel designed for fan service. While this approach works sporadically, it does not sustain for a longer period and loses momentum. Both halves manage to raise a few chuckles here and there but are really flat until the last 45-50 minutes, mainly due to Mohanlal’s cameo. His entry instantly injects energy into an otherwise dull narrative. must be pointed out that one particular scene, seemingly attempting satire related to the 2017 actress assault case, feels unnecessary, distasteful, and poorly thought out. It stands out as a glaring misstep that could and should have been avoided. Director Dhananjay Shankar deserves some credit for staying true to the genre throughout the film. While the film loses grip, it can still serve as a strict one-time watch meant to be enjoyed in a packed theatre with a lively crowd. Performance wise, Dileep, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Baiju Santhosh, Dhyan Sreenivasan and the rest of the cast do what is required of them. The standout is definitely Mohanlal who towers everyone else, carrying his majestic aura and dominating the screen with his trademark and effortless charisma. His brief appearance still leaves a lasting impact and reaffirms his unmatched aura.
On the technical front, Armo’s cinematography stands out as the film’s biggest strength. Several creative shots and visual choices manage to elevate the otherwise sluggish mood. The music, unfortunately, is largely forgettable, with the exception of the Azhinjattam song and the background score accompanying Mohanlal’s introduction, both of which register well.
Overall, Bha Bha Ba serves as a film for those who want to switch off their brains and enjoy a mindless and chaotic entertainer with some friends in a packed theatre. It offers little substance, relies heavily on references and fan moments, and overstays its welcome. Mohanlal’s cameo remains the film’s biggest highlight, making it just about tolerable as a one-time watch.
Rating: 2.25/5.