Baththa — Review
A warm, funny gangster story that every critic we could check enjoyed. Vijay Sethupathi and a child actor carry it.
Worth watching, and an easy one to enjoy with family. Four critics gave Baththa a number: 4, 3.5, 4 and 4 out of 5. That is a very close spread.
The story is set in 1986 Madras. A feared local don is locked inside a school toilet by an eight-year-old boy, and the two slowly become friends. Critics called it funny, tender and emotional. The only complaint was small flaws, not big ones.
In cinemas since 1 October 2026. Netflix is reported to show it from 29 October 2026. The Week gave that date. It says Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam versions will follow. Check the Netflix app to be sure.
See every place to stream Baththa Box office collection: ₹26.78 crore net so far, after Day 14The scorecard
Story & Screenplay
4A simple idea, told with humour and heart.
A schoolboy hears wild stories about the neighbourhood gangster. Through a mix-up, the gangster ends up locked in the school toilet. Taken away from his men, his weapons and his name, he has time to think about what he has lost.
Cinema Express said it mixes family drama, a children's adventure, a short mystery and a survival story, and that it works. The Indian Express called it funny, tender and moving.
India Today pointed to minor shortcomings, but said they do not stop the laughs and the emotion from landing.
Direction
4Balaji Tharaneetharan keeps it light and sincere.
Balaji Tharaneetharan wrote and directed it. Reviewers liked that he treats the boy as carefully as the grown man. He does not use a sad past to explain the gangster.
DT Next said the film gets its warmth from keeping the don's change of heart simple.
The film runs 158 minutes, which is long for a comedy. None of the four critics we checked made that their main complaint.
Acting
4.5Vijay Sethupathi in one of his warmest roles in years.
Vijay Sethupathi plays the don. DT Next said he moves from scary to vulnerable. The Indian Express called it his most humane performance in years.
DT Next praised Lijomol Jose for her emotional scenes. Sai Prithviraj and Sahasra Shree play the children. Cinema Express said the boy gets as much depth as the adults.
Music
4Sai Abhyankkar's score is a strength.
DT Next called the music a major strength. He said it backs up the key scenes and the mix of humour and emotion.
The film has ten songs, including "Magale", "Ooroda Oththa Don" and "Vaazhanum Baththa".
What the critics said
Manivasagan Namasivayam: a light, emotional drama that works because the don's change is kept simple.
Yashaswini Sri: Vijay Sethupathi's most humane performance in years, in a film that earns every emotion.
Prashanth Vallavan: a wholesome coming-of-age story for both the boy and the gangster.
Janani K: wholesome and beautiful, with minor shortcomings.
👍 Watch it if
- •Anyone who likes a funny, gentle drama with a big heart
- •Vijay Sethupathi fans
- •A family outing, since the story centres on children
👎 Skip it if
- •You want a hard-hitting gangster film with lots of action
- •Two hours and 38 minutes is longer than you want to sit
Common questions
Is Baththa good or bad?
A warm, funny gangster story that every critic we could check enjoyed. Vijay Sethupathi and a child actor carry it. Across 4 published reviews it scored 3.5/5 to 4/5, which makes it good rather than a clear hit or a disaster.
Is Baththa worth watching?
Worth watching, and an easy one to enjoy with family. Four critics gave Baththa a number: 4, 3.5, 4 and 4 out of 5. That is a very close spread.
What is the rating for Baththa?
Our consensus rating is 3.9 out of 5, drawn from 4 published reviews ranging from 3.5/5 to 4/5.
What is Baththa rated out of 10?
About 7.8 out of 10. Indian critics publish out of 5, so this is our 3.9/5 consensus doubled rather than a separate score.
How is the story & screenplay in Baththa?
A simple idea, told with humour and heart. A schoolboy hears wild stories about the neighbourhood gangster. Through a mix-up, the gangster ends up locked in the school toilet. Taken away from his men, his weapons and his name, he has time to think about what he has lost.
How is the direction in Baththa?
Balaji Tharaneetharan keeps it light and sincere. Balaji Tharaneetharan wrote and directed it. Reviewers liked that he treats the boy as carefully as the grown man. He does not use a sad past to explain the gangster.
How is the acting in Baththa?
Vijay Sethupathi in one of his warmest roles in years. Vijay Sethupathi plays the don. DT Next said he moves from scary to vulnerable. The Indian Express called it his most humane performance in years.
How is the music in Baththa?
Sai Abhyankkar's score is a strength. DT Next called the music a major strength. He said it backs up the key scenes and the mix of humour and emotion.
Cast & crew
- Balaji Tharaneetharan
- Sai Abhyankkar
- Vijay Sethupathi, Lijomol Jose, Sai Prithviraj, Sahasra Shree, Santhy Balachandran, Hari Krishnan, Arjun Chidambaram, Ajay Ghosh