Baththa

Baththa is a wholesome story about the coming-of-age of both a boy and a gangster, said with utmost respect to both of them, giving the young boy as much complexity as films usually impart to adults and treating the gangster with as much empathy as films would a child. The film stands out with its incredible restraint and hawkish grip on its tone, offering whatever you want out of it—a fun commercial family entertainer, a parable on an arrogant man's ego death, or a deep psychological dissection of human experience.

Baththa is a warm, engaging period drama elevated by the creative understanding between Balaji Tharaneetharan and Vijay Sethupathi. While the screenplay could have delved deeper into the consequences of its protagonist's actions, the film's central relationship, humour and performances compensate for its uneven pacing and tonal shifts.

Baththa is a film about that realisation, and what it feels to experience kindness. It is also, unexpectedly, one of the most original and humane Tamil films of all time. What makes Baththa work is not one thing. It is everything arriving at the same place at the same time.

Baththa works because it gives us something different from what its gangster premise promises. The result is a warm, refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable theatrical experience that leaves you with a smile.

Baththa works majorly because of Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Prithviraj's brilliant performances. Baththa may have a few rough edges, particularly towards the climax, but its heart is always in the right place. It is a film that makes you laugh, melts your heart and leaves you smiling long after the credits roll.

Despite some minor flaws, the film is a big surprise package. Such a rollicking fun movie for the most part, the little boy Sai steals the show with nice intent from VJS as well. Excellent writing and executed with utmost conviction by Balaji Tharaneetharan.