Baba (2002 film)

Baba
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySuresh Krissna
Written byGopu-Babu
Rajinikanth
(dialogues)
Screenplay byRajinikanth
Story byRajinikanth
Produced byRajinikanth
StarringRajinikanth
Manisha Koirala
CinematographyChota K. Naidu
Edited byV. T. Vijayan
Music byA. R. Rahman
Production
company
Distributed byLotus International (Original)
Lyca Productions (Re-release)
PVR Pictures
Release dates
  • 15 August 2002 (2002-08-15) (Original)[1]
  • 10 December 2022 (2022-12-10) (Remastered)
Running time
178 minutes (Original)
148 minutes (Remastered)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Baba is a 2002 Indian Tamil-language supernatural action film written and produced by Rajinikanth under his banner Lotus International, directed by Suresh Krissna, with cinematography by Chota K. Naidu. Along with Rajinikanth in the title role and Manisha Koirala in the female lead, the film features an ensemble supporting cast. Amrish Puri makes his appearance in a Tamil film for the second and final time after Thalapathi (1991). The original songs and background score were composed by A.R. Rahman.

The film's story is about a carefree young non-believer of supreme power, Baba, who is a reincarnation of a great saint from the Himalayas. After several twists and problems caused by corrupt local politicians, Baba is taken to Mahavatar Babaji, whom Baba was a follower of in his last life. Baba gets tested by the deity to overcome several illusions of the materialistic world and is given seven chances of wishes. How he uses the wishes while developing spirituality and falling into loggerheads with the villains at the same time forms the rest of the story.

First released in 2002, the film met with mixed critical reviews and was a box-office failure, resulting in Rajinikanth reimbursing distributors for their losses. But over the years, the film gained cult following, as a result of which the film was digitally remastered, re-edited with a shorter duration and an alternate ending, and re-released by Lyca Productions on 10 December 2022, twenty years after its original release, coinciding with Rajinikanth's birthday weekend.[2]

  1. ^ "Bhagwan Rajni | Outlook India Magazine". 5 February 2022.
  2. ^ [1] ABP