Bha. Bha. Ba. (2025) Movie: Mohanlal’s Cameo Steals the Show in This Messy Entertainer
Bha Bha Ba landed in cinemas on December 18, 2025, bringing Malayalam audiences a film they’ve been buzzing about for months. Dhananjay Shankar makes his directorial debut with this action-comedy that stars Dileep alongside Vineeth and Dhyan Sreenivasan. There’s also a cameo from Mohanlal that’s been getting everyone talking on social media.
The title breaks down to Bhayam, Bhakthi, Bahumanam – three Malayalam words meaning Fear, Devotion, and Respect. Gokulam Gopalan backed the project through Sree Gokulam Movies, and the result is a 165-minute ride. Shaan Rahman handled the songs while Gopi Sundar composed the background music, giving us a film that sounds as polished as it looks.
The Story
Three characters find their lives tangled together in ways they never expected. The main guy is a con artist who’s been smooth-talking his way through life without ever really paying for it. Now things are catching up to him, and what started as personal trouble turns into something much bigger.
The writing tries to juggle comedy with action, and for the most part, it works. You get plenty of laughs, some solid punch-up scenes, and characters who feel lively even when the plot gets predictable. The script knows what kind of movie it wants to be – a crowd-pleaser that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
How Everyone Performs
Dileep owns this film, plain and simple. His timing with jokes hits right, and when the action kicks in, he matches that energy. The first half especially belongs to him – packed with moments that get the crowd hooting and clapping. Watching him move from cocky hustler to someone facing real heat gives the character some dimension.
Vineeth Sreenivasan brings something different to his role. He’s not just there for laughs – there’s real feeling in what he does. His scenes create a nice contrast to Dileep’s more explosive style. Dhyan Sreenivasan keeps things fresh with his youthful vibe, making sure younger viewers have someone to connect with. When these three share the screen, something clicks.
Mohanlal shows up briefly but makes every second count. His dance moves alone are worth the price of admission for some fans. Balu Varghese, Baiju Santhosh, and Saranya Ponvannan all do their jobs well, though you wish they had more room to stretch. The whole cast gels together nicely.
The Good Stuff
That first half really cooks. The comedy feels natural, not like someone’s trying too hard to be funny. Dileep gets his hero moments that fans came to see, and the scene right before intermission sets you up perfectly for what’s coming. Mohanlal’s dancing portion in the second half is genuinely fun – you can feel the theater energy spike when he appears.
The technical work stands out. Armo shot this film beautifully – the camera moves with purpose, whether it’s a quiet conversation or a full-blown action scene. Nothing feels static or boring to look at. Ranjan Abraham kept the editing tight in most places, though the movie’s length does show up as a problem later.
Gopi Sundar’s music choices really boost the big moments. Action scenes hit harder, emotional beats land better – he knows how to support what’s happening on screen. There are also these nice little nods to other South Indian films, like that Ghilli reference that Tamil cinema fans will catch and appreciate. Those touches show the filmmakers were having fun.
Where It Falls Short
Two hours and forty-five minutes is a lot of movie. The second half starts dragging even with Mohanlal around and a decent climax. Some jokes go on longer than they should, and a few side stories feel half-finished. Cut twenty or thirty minutes and you’d have a tighter, punchier film.
The main story doesn’t really surprise you. If you’ve watched enough masala movies, you’ll see most of the turns coming. The ending wraps up exactly how you’d guess. Two years of screenplay work should have given us something fresher than what we got – it leans too hard on formulas we’ve seen before.
Some actors don’t get enough to do. Saranya Ponvannan has the skills to deliver more but gets limited screen time. Same goes for others in the supporting cast – they show up, do their bit, and disappear. The movie talks about fear, devotion, and respect but never really digs into what those ideas mean. It stays on the surface.
What People Are Saying
Early viewers give it around 3.75 out of 5 stars, calling it solid entertainment if nothing groundbreaking. The first half gets consistent praise as peak Dileep, while the second half rides on Mohanlal’s energy and some surprise appearances. People who just want a fun time at the movies seem satisfied.
But there’s a bigger conversation happening around this release. Dileep’s recent legal history means opinions are split down the middle. Some refuse to watch on principle, while others say they can separate the performer from the person. Social media shows both sides going at it pretty hard.
Film critics point out it delivers as a commercial product but doesn’t try anything bold. Holiday timing helps – families looking for entertainment during the festival season give it a built-in audience. Kerala theaters and overseas markets with Malayalam speakers show strong turnout, though protests and debates continue around whether people should support this film at all.
My Take
Bha Bha Ba gives you what the poster promises – big action, bigger laughs, and movie stars doing their thing. Dileep proves he still has the screen presence and timing that made him popular. Everyone else supports him capably. The people behind the camera did solid work making it look and sound good.
That said, you can predict where this goes pretty early on. The runtime gets heavy by the end. The themes it claims to explore never get explored properly – they’re just window dressing on a standard masala framework. It works when it stops trying to be deep and just commits to being loud, fun, and unserious.
The controversy around the lead actor is impossible to ignore. That shapes how people receive this movie beyond any discussion of filmmaking quality. Some will watch it anyway, some won’t on principle, and that’s a choice everyone has to make for themselves.
If you’re going in for a straightforward entertainer and can handle the baggage, Bha Bha Ba offers enough laughs and action to fill an evening. It’s not pushing Malayalam cinema forward, but it knows its job and mostly does it. Just be ready for a longer sit than necessary.
Rating: 4/5
