The much-anticipated release of Bha Bha Ba, starring Dileep and featuring a cameo by superstar Mohanlal, has landed with a resounding thud. The film, which marks the directorial debut of Dhananjay Shankar, has been critically panned, receiving a dismal rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars. Released on December 18, 2025, this meta-comedy attempts to bury its narrative flaws under a barrage of cameos and forced humour, resulting in what reviewers are calling a painfully bad cinematic experience.
A Chaotic Party No One Wanted to Attend
Reviewers have described watching Bha Bha Ba (short for Bhavam Bhakti Bahumanam) as akin to walking into an out-of-control party. The film assaults the viewer with nonsensical conversations, jokes that fall flat, and an overall sense of forced merriment. The narrative is intentionally chaotic, filled with meta-references, quirky subplots, and an excess of gags, but it completely fails to provide a coherent or enjoyable reason for the celebration it so desperately tries to portray. The film's runtime feels excessively long as it struggles to maintain its self-proclaimed 'jolly' vibe.
A Plot Lost in the Noise and Uncomfortable Real-World Echoes
The central plot involves a nameless protagonist, played by Dileep, who kidnaps the Chief Minister of Kerala, CK Joseph (Baiju Santhosh), using a laxative-laced drink. The investigation is led by the CM's son, NEA officer Noble (Vineeth Sreenivasan). The story further complicates itself with the entry of a famed gangster named Ghilli Bala, portrayed by Mohanlal. Writers Fahim Safar and Noorin Shereef take sweeping liberties, creating a world where logic is sacrificed at the altar of forced fun.
However, the film's attempt at being a carefree, self-aware comedy is severely undermined by its uncomfortable proximity to real-world events. The release comes barely two weeks after Dileep's acquittal in a high-profile assault case on December 8, 2025. The film's narrative, which features a 'professional kidnapper' as its hero and includes climactic shots hailing him as a wounded victor, creates an unsettling blur between fiction and reality. This context makes it nearly impossible to view the film as an innocuous Friday release, adding a layer of insidiousness to its supposedly upbeat spirit.
Performances and Technical Aspects Fail to Salvage the Film
Even the film's few potential bright spots are suffocated by its overindulgence. The sibling squabbles between Vineeth and Dhyan Sreenivasan provide fleeting moments of amusement, but their impact is lost in the broader chaos. Mohanlal's extended cameo, which includes a bromantic dance sequence with Dileep, is stretched to excruciating lengths, leaving audiences questioning the superstar's involvement. The film's tonal inconsistency is glaring; jokes delivered in a parody style fail to land because the surrounding scenes lack a stable comedic foundation.
Further aggravating the experience is a relentless soundtrack and a general tone of self-aggrandizement that stirs more discomfort than delight. The technical pyrotechnics and star power, including cameos from actors like Sandy, Balu Varghese, and Saranya Ponvannan, are ultimately wasted on a script that is fundamentally unsalvageable.
In conclusion, Bha Bha Ba is a cinematic misfire on almost every count. It is a dense, overlong, and tonally confused film that neither succeeds as a pure comedy nor manages to convincingly separate its reel narrative from the troubling real-world context of its lead actor. The final verdict is clear: this is one party best avoided.
