Movie Name : Baththa
Streaming Date : October 29, 2026
Streaming Platform : Netflix
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Vijay Sethupathi, Lijomol Jose & others
Director : Balaji Tharaneetharan
Producers : Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee, Alok Jain & Ajit Andhare
Music Director : SaiAbhyankkar
Cinematographer :Selva Kumar S.K
Editor : R. Kalaivanan
Related Links : Trailer
Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi’s recent Tamil comedy-drama Baththa arrived on Netflix today. The Telugu version is also available to watch. Check out the review below to know how the film fares.
Story:
Set in 1986 in Tamil Nadu, Baththa (Vijay Sethupathi) is a rowdy whom everyone fears. Meanwhile, Sabari (Master Sai Prudhviraj) is a schoolboy who becomes the reason for Baththa getting locked inside his school’s bathroom. Soon, his family and the villagers become worried as they have no idea where Baththa is or what happened to him. What happens next forms the rest of the story.
Plus Points:
The way director Balaji Tharaneetharan blends humour and emotion is one of the biggest highlights of the movie. His narration is impressive, and he has designed the character arcs well, especially that of Vijay Sethupathi. The way Baththa’s rugged and stubborn nature is portrayed is also well done.
Vijay Sethupathi delivers a strong performance as Baththa, whose crude and seemingly invincible nature is put to the test when a crisis makes him realise his helplessness. The survival episode has a deeper meaning, with the sturdy door serving as a metaphor for enduring hardships. Breaking through that barrier shows how life on the other side can be beautiful and how struggles can make a person more resilient.
Apart from Sethupathi, the child artist also delivers an outstanding performance. His scenes with the lead actor work well, especially the emotional scene in the climax, which is sure to touch the audience’s hearts.
Lijomol Jose delivers a neat performance as Baththa’s wife. Her scenes with Vijay Sethupathi feel natural, and the other artists also do their part well.
Minus Points:
Though the comedy works well, especially when blended with emotion, the film feels a bit slow in the initial portions. Viewers need to sit through this stretch to get to the more engaging parts. At times, the proceedings also remind us of Drishyam.
The suspense factor doesn’t feel entirely fresh, as some parts seem familiar from films we have watched before. The explanation of why Sethupathi’s character goes to the school and the backstory also feel a bit unconvincing and silly.
Technical Aspects:
Balaji Tharaneetharan does a good job with both the writing and narration. The way he blends comedy and emotion keeps the proceedings engaging. The production values deserve appreciation, as the team has recreated the period setting quite well.
Sai Abhyankkar’s music also helps create an impact during the thrilling moments and other key scenes. Selvakumar S. K.’s cinematography and R. Kalaivanan’s editing are decent. The Telugu dubbing is also done neatly, but the voice used for Vijay Sethupathi doesn’t quite match his character.
Verdict:
On the whole, Baththa is an entertaining and emotional film that can be watched with family. Vijay Sethupathi and Master Sai Prudhviraj deliver good performances, and their combination scenes are among the film’s highlights. Director Balaji Tharaneetharan does a good job of keeping the film entertaining with a mix of comedy and emotion. However, the slow initial portions and the unconvincing backstory are the main drawbacks. Despite these issues, Baththa makes for an enjoyable watch.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team