Released today on Christmas December 25, 2024, Baby John is Varun Dhawan’s much-anticipated action thriller, directed by Kalees and co-produced by Jio Studios, Cine1 Studios, Vipin Agnihotri Films, and A for Apple Productions.
A remake of Atlee’s 2016 Tamil blockbuster Theri, the film brings together a high-profile cast including Keerthy Suresh in her Hindi film debut, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff, and Zara Zyanna as a pivotal child character.
Despite the immense buzz and expectation, Baby John struggles to deliver a refreshing take on its original. While the action-packed trailer set high expectations, the movie leans too heavily on predictable tropes, offering little innovation in storytelling.
Baby John: Plot
The story begins with DCP Satya Verma IPS (Varun Dhawan), an upright and fearless police officer who eliminates the son of Babbar Sher (Jackie Shroff), a corrupt politician, after he is found guilty of a horrific crime. This act of justice triggers catastrophic consequences as Babbar Sher’s vengeance culminates in the murder of Satya’s wife, Meera (Keerthy Suresh), and family. Devastated, Satya fakes his and his daughter Khushi’s (Zara Zyanna) deaths and retreats to the peaceful backwaters of Kerala under the alias “Baby John,” where he opens a bakery and lives a reclusive life.
However, trouble resurfaces when Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi), Khushi’s school teacher, unknowingly stirs up Satya’s past. As Babbar Sher discovers Satya’s survival, he launches a relentless pursuit to finish what he started, forcing Satya to embrace his former life and protect his daughter at all costs. The film navigates through family bonds, revenge, and redemption but remains deeply predictable for anyone familiar with its Tamil counterpart.
Baby John: Performances
Varun Dhawan takes on the lead role with evident dedication, blending emotional vulnerability as a father with high-energy action sequences. While he excels in action, the emotional depth required for Satya’s trauma and inner turmoil is only sporadically convincing. He fails to match up to his predecessor Thalapathy Vijay.
Keerthy Suresh, in her Hindi debut, delivers a heartfelt performance as Meera. Her charm and screen presence leave an impact, but her character is underutilized and relegated to the background, limiting her potential to shine in a meaningful way.
Wamiqa Gabbi offers a commendable performance as Tara. Her character arc, balancing curiosity and courage, adds a touch of freshness to an otherwise linear narrative. She excels in her confrontational scenes but is left constrained by a script that underplays her significance in the story.
Jackie Shroff as Babbar Sher is menacing and flamboyant, but his one-dimensional villainy fails to make him a memorable antagonist. He relies on clichéd lines and stereotypical expressions, which dilute the intensity of his character. Rajpal Yadav delivers an impactful performance and his one sequence is clap worthy. Salman Khan’s cameo is strictly average and offers nothing new.
Zara Zyanna, as Khushi, steals the spotlight in emotional sequences. Her chemistry with Varun Dhawan is a rare highlight in the film, grounding the story with genuine father-daughter moments.
Baby John: Analysis
The script suffers from excessive fidelity to Theri, making Baby John predictable for audiences who have seen the original. The adaptation fails to offer a unique cultural or thematic twist for Hindi audiences, relying instead on a rehash of the source material. Dialogues are uninspired and filled with clichés, which further undermines the film’s ability to emotionally resonate.
Kalees seems to have banked heavily on the original’s success without crafting a distinct vision for the remake. His direction lacks the finesse to handle emotional subtleties, and while the action sequences are technically sound, they feel excessive and disconnected from the emotional core of the narrative. The film’s pacing is inconsistent, with sluggish middle portions that weigh down the story.
Thaman S’s soundtrack except Nain Matakka is unmemorable, failing to create a lasting impact. The background score fares better during intense action scenes, but it doesn’t elevate the emotional moments or add depth to the film’s dramatic beats.
The cinematography captures the scenic beauty of Kerala effectively but struggles to lend freshness to action sequences, which rely on standard slow-motion shots and over-the-top choreography. The editing feels uneven, with certain sequences overstaying their welcome, making the 160-minute runtime feel unnecessarily long.
Baby John: Verdict
Baby John is a lackluster remake that lacks the soul and sharpness of its source material. While Varun Dhawan and the supporting cast deliver decent performances, they are let down by an uninspired script, cliched writing, and overindulgent direction.
The lack of a fresh narrative approach makes the film feel like a stale rehash rather than a bold reimagining. With a bloated runtime and predictable plot, Baby John struggles to maintain audience engagement. For those unfamiliar with Theri, the film may offer surface-level entertainment, but for others, it is an underwhelming affair that fails to justify its existence.
Baby John: Rating
Critics Rating: 1.5/5
Box Office Rating: 2/5
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