Bha Bha Ba is a 2025 Indian Malayalam-language political action comedy film directed by Dhananjay Shankar (in his directorial debut), written by Fahim Safar and Noorin Shereef, and produced by Gokulam Gopalan and Krishnamoorthy under Sree Gokulam Movies and Gokulam Productions. It stars an ensemble cast of Dilieep, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Baiju Santhosh, Sandy, Balu Varghese, Saranya Ponvannan, Ashokan, Fahim Safar, Devan, Sidharth Bharathan and Redin Kingsley. Mohanlal makes an extended cameo in this film. The film also features S. J. Suryah, Salim Kumar, Riyaz Khan and Gokulam Gopalan himself appears in cameo roles.
The film was officially announced in October 2023 with a title poster. Principal photography took place between July 2024 and August 2025, primarily in Palakkad, Coimbatore, and Pollachi. The songs were composed by Shaan Rahman, background score by Gopi Sundar, and editing was handled by Ranjan Abraham.
Bha Bha Ba was released worldwide on 18 December 2025. The film was received mixed reviews. The film became a box-office bomb.
Contents
Plot
The film makes audiences to welcome to the world of madness.The film begins a few hours before a public speech by the Chief Minister of Kerala, C. K. Joseph. A mysterious man known only as “The Commoner” arrives at the venue in an ordinary vehicle and enters the room where party workers are resting and refreshing themselves. Blending in easily, he spends his own money at a nearby hotel to pay for food ordered by the party workers. He casually interacts with them and later buys a tender coconut drink for the Chief Minister.
During his first public speech after being declared Chief Minister, Joseph suddenly experiences severe abdominal discomfort caused by the drink given by the Commoner. Instead of admitting that he urgently needs to use the restroom, party members claim that the Chief Minister is suffering from chest pain and insist that he be rushed to the hospital. At that moment, the Commoner and a few party workers arrive in an Ambassador car and take Joseph inside. While on the way, the Commoner suddenly kicks the party workers out of the car and drives off, successfully kidnapping the Chief Minister.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is formed under Commissioner Dev G., assisted by ACP Ashkar Ahammed and Noble, son of Joseph and an officer of the National Efficiency Agency (NEA) from Chennai. Soon after, Mahi, a blind accomplice of the Commoner, surrenders himself to the authorities after presenting them with his own image as proof of involvement. Meanwhile, the Commoner, along with Vaavamani, takes Joseph to a secret hideout.
At the hideout, the kidnappers initiate an unusual campaign. They ask the public to write letters describing their grievances and place them in a designated vehicle so the Chief Minister can personally see the problems faced by ordinary citizens. They argue that politicians only listen to people during elections. The public responds enthusiastically, filling the vehicle with thousands of letters.
Historian Sivankutty later informs Noble that the kidnappers are deliberately trying to gain public sympathy and support. He then turns himself in as another accomplice of the Commoner. During interrogation, Mahi, Sivankutty, and another accomplice named Sijo reveal a shocking truth: ACP Ashkar is secretly part of the Commoner's gang.
Cast
Cameo appearances
S. J. Suryah as Oscar, one among Oscar Brothers, Bala's rival gang
Gokulam Gopalan as Bala's Aashaan
Additionally, Basil Joseph narrates the events of the film.
Production
Development
In August 2023, it was reported that the couple Fahim Safar and Noorin Shereef would be debuting as screenwriters for a film directed by debutant Dhananjay Shankar and produced by Sree Gokulam Movies. It took two years to complete the screenplay. Early reports suggested that Pranav Mohanlal would play the lead role. However, on 27 October 2023, coinciding with actor Dileep's 56th birthday, the makers officially announced the film with a title poster featuring Dileep in the lead role. The title is an acronym for Bhayam, Bhakthi, Bahumanam (Fear, devotion, respect). Later, in an interview with Red FM in June 2025, Shereef stated that the project was originally conceived with Pranav in the lead, but the screenplay was reworked after Dileep joined the film.
Casting
In addition to Dileep, brothers Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan were cast in major roles. Dhananjay Shankar had previously worked as an assistant and associate director to both Vineeth and Dhyan on their directorial films. On 5 July 2024, dance choreographer and actor Sandy was announced as part of the cast. In the following days, Saranya Ponvannan, Sidharth Bharathan, Balu Varghese, Redin Kingsley, Baiju Santhosh, Ashokan, and Maniyanpilla Raju were confirmed in pivotal roles.
In December 2024, The New Indian Express reported that Mohanlal would appear in a cameo role as part of a two-film deal with Sree Gokulam Movies, the other project being a film directed by Jithu Madhavan. His involvement was subsequently confirmed by Dileep at an event in February 2025.
Filming
Principal photography commenced with an inaugural puja ceremony on 14 July 2024 in Palakkad. Multiple plotlines claiming to represent the film's story circulated on social media; however, the production team dismissed them as false rumours. The film was primarily shot in Coimbatore, Pollachi, Kochi, and Perumbavoor, with the first schedule wrapping up on 25 August 2024. The film's music is composed by Shaan Rahman, background score done by Gopi Sundar, with Armo handling cinematography, and Ranjan Abraham serving as the editor. The second schedule of filming commenced in late December 2024 and continued for over 45 working days, concluding on 7 February 2025. The entire shoot was wrapped by 20 August 2025.
Soundtrack
The film's songs were composed by Shaan Rahman and background score by Gopi Sundar. The first single, "Azhinjattam", was released on 15 December 2025. The second single "Sreeyayi", sung by K. S. Chithra, was released on 27 December 2025. The full soundtrack album, including the film's teaser theme (composed by Shaan Rahman) and trailer theme (composed by Gopi Sundar), was released on 16 December 2025. The full background score album was released on 7 January 2026.
Release
Theatrical
Bha Bha Ba was released worldwide in theatres on 18 December 2025. Phars Film handled overseas distribution of the film.
Home media
The post theatrical digital streaming rights of the film is acquired by ZEE5. The film began streaming on the platform from 16 January 2026 in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages.
Reception
Critical response
Bha Bha Ba received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
The Indian Express rated the film 1.5 out of 5, calling it overindulgent despite its cameos and set-pieces. Mathrubhumi reported that early audience reactions were divided, with several responses highlighting Mohanlal's cameo as a major attraction while also noting uneven writing and logic.
Box office
Bha Bha Ba opened strongly at the box office following its theatrical release on 18 December 2025. Early trade estimates reported that the film earned approximately ₹14.84 crore in worldwide grossing and ₹7.5 crore in India net on its opening day due to high opening-day occupancy across Kerala and strong advance bookings, marking one of the highest opening figures for a Malayalam release in 2025. The film registered one of the top opening day totals of the year in Kerala, behind major Malayalam releases such as Empuraan and Coolie.
Subsequent daily collections showed a significant drop after the opening day, with early estimates suggesting second-day earnings of around ₹3.3–3.4crore as word-of-mouth remained mixed. The film's opening weekend four-day India net cumulative crossed ₹14.86 crore, reflecting a steady but slowing performance across key centres.
Controversy
Shortly after its release, Bha Bha Ba became the subject of online criticism over a scene that several viewers described as insensitive and inappropriate. Social media users alleged that the sequence appeared to mock the trauma related to the 2017 actress abduction and sexual assault case, in which the film's lead actor Dileep was accused and later acquitted after a lengthy trial, leading to widespread backlash.
The 2017 abduction and sexual assault case involved the high-profile kidnapping and sexual assault of a fellow Malayalam film actor while she was travelling from Thrissur to Kochi. A group of men abducted her in a vehicle, assaulted her, and recorded the attack; six of the accused were convicted in December 2025, while a Kerala sessions court acquitted Dileep of conspiracy charges, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove his involvement.