Bha. Bha. Ba (2025) Movie: Does Dileep’s Comeback Film Deliver Beyond the Controversy?

Bha Bha Ba hit theaters on December 18, 2025, carrying the weight of both expectations and controversy. The Malayalam action comedy, directed by newcomer Dhananjay Shankar, stars Dileep in what many see as his comeback vehicle following years of legal troubles.

The title translates to Fear, Devotion, and Respect, three themes the film attempts to weave through its 165-minute runtime. With Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan playing key roles, plus a much-discussed cameo from Mohanlal, the movie arrives with considerable star power behind it.

What’s the Story About

Three lives cross paths in this film, with the main focus on a conman who’s made a career out of fooling people. He’s smart, slippery, and somehow never faces the music for his actions. The story plays out through these connected characters, each dealing with their own version of fear, devotion, or respect.

I’ll be honest, the plot isn’t breaking new ground. It’s a straightforward revenge comedy wrapped in action sequences and emotional moments. The first hour moves quickly with comedy and energy, but you can see where things are heading from early on. The screenplay doesn’t take risks or surprise you much.

The Performances

Dileep owns this film, for better or worse. He’s doing what he does best, physical comedy, mass dialogue delivery, and those signature expressions his fans love. If you’ve enjoyed his previous work, you’ll find familiar territory here. He brings energy and commitment to every frame, clearly determined to remind audiences why he was once called the People’s Hero.

I found Vineeth Sreenivasan to be a grounding presence. His performance adds some emotional weight when things threaten to become too loud or over-the-top. Dhyan Sreenivasan matches the film’s energetic tone, bringing a younger appeal that helps balance out the cast.

Then there’s Mohanlal. His cameo works exactly as intended, it’s a commercial masterstroke that gets people talking and cheering in theaters. The dance sequence featuring him alongside Dileep became an instant talking point. Whether this collaboration sits well with you depends entirely on your perspective about the controversies involved.

The supporting players, Sandy, Balu Varghese, Baiju Santhosh, Saranya Ponvannan, all do their jobs competently. No one’s phoning it in, but no one’s stealing scenes either. They serve the story and move it forward.

What I Enjoyed

The opening hour really works. Dileep gets several laugh-out-loud moments, and the comedy sequences have good timing. The film knows its audience and delivers what they came for, entertainment without pretense. When it leans into being a full commercial entertainer, it succeeds.

Gopi Sundar’s background score deserves specific mention. It pumps up the action sequences and adds drama where needed. The music doesn’t just support scenes; it drives them forward. The climax benefits greatly from this, turning what could have been a standard finish into something more impactful.

The action choreography keeps things simple and effective. No one’s trying to reinvent fight sequences here, it’s straightforward mass cinema action that connects with its target crowd. The pre-interval block particularly stands out, building momentum exactly when it needs to.

Where It Stumbles

After a strong first half, the film loses steam. There’s a solid 10-minute stretch in the second half where things drag noticeably. The energy drops, scenes feel unnecessarily stretched, and the noise level cranks up to compensate. I checked my watch during this portion, never a good sign.

The story’s simplicity works against it too. This isn’t a film trying to say something meaningful or explore complex ideas. It’s surface-level entertainment, which is fine, but at nearly three hours, that thinness becomes obvious. Characters don’t grow or change, they just move from scene to scene.

I was disappointed by the song Azhinjattam. Despite having two major stars dancing, the composition feels bland and the lyrics don’t stand out. Music has always been a strength in Malayalam cinema, so this felt like a missed opportunity.

The film’s length is genuinely excessive. You could trim 20 minutes easily without losing anything essential. Tighter editing would have maintained the first half’s energy throughout instead of letting things sag.

How People Are Responding

Audience reactions split pretty clearly. Die-hard Dileep fans are celebrating it as a proper comeback, rating it between 3.5 to 4 stars. They’re getting exactly what they wanted, their star back on screen doing what made them fans in the first place.

Critics are more measured, acknowledging the entertainment value while pointing out the thin plot and familiar beats. Early advance bookings crossed the 1 crore mark, showing that commercial appeal remains strong despite ongoing controversies.

The elephant in the room, though, is the off-screen baggage. While courts acquitted Dileep, public opinion remains divided. Some people refuse to watch on principle. Others take a pragmatic view, the man was cleared legally, and hundreds of crew members worked on this film. The debate continues on social media and in theater lobbies.

Industry figures backing the project, particularly Mohanlal and the Sreenivasan brothers, sparked their own discussions about solidarity versus accountability. Everyone seems to have an opinion, and those opinions don’t align.

My Final Take

Bha Bha Ba delivers exactly what it promises, a mass entertainer built around Dileep’s comeback. If that’s what you’re after, and you can set aside the controversies, there’s enjoyment here. The first half especially works well, and Mohanlal’s portions add star power.

But I can’t ignore the flaws. The predictable story, second-half slump, and bloated runtime hold it back from being genuinely good. It’s competent commercial cinema that doesn’t try for anything more. For a director’s debut, Dhananjay Shankar handles the technical aspects well enough, though there’s no distinctive vision on display.

The film works as holiday entertainment if you’re not particular about story depth or innovation. It’s the kind of movie you watch once, enjoy for what it is, then forget about. Nothing about it lingers or makes you think afterward.

Whether you should watch it depends on your priorities. Fans will find their money’s worth. Those wanting quality storytelling won’t. And some people will skip it entirely based on principle. All three positions make sense, honestly.

Rating: 3/5