Baby Girl review: A promising thriller that was all build-up and no pulse!

With all the ingredients for a gripping thriller, Nivin Pauly’s Baby Girl fails to deliver what could have been another feather in his cap.

Baby Girl review: An incredible story that was served before it was properly cooked. That's how I'd describe Baby Girl, a thriller with enough potential to have been one of the best in recent times, but its filmmaking feels immature and, at times, careless. Combined with a character arc for Nivin Pauly that feels almost unnecessary, the story ultimately falls flat.

Directed by Arun Varma and written by Sanjay and Bobby Prakash, Baby Girl follows Sanal Mathew, a hospital attendant whose life changes when a baby girl goes missing on the night he arrives late for duty. Overnight, he finds himself searching for leads and for those responsible for the abduction. With very little evidence but a great deal of hope, we witness a series of individuals rooting for the child’s safe return.

Also Read - Vadh 2 review: A truly ‘arresting’ tale of justice that delivers unflinching social commentary and heart-winning catharsis!

After his recent appearance in Sarvam Maya, which was also considered a comeback vehicle for Nivin, Baby Girl feels like a step backwards in reviving his screen magic. It’s not because he fails to deliver a nuanced performance, but because his character feels interchangeable. It felt like anyone else could have played the role and it would have had the same impact. Nivin does bring a subtle sense of mystery to Sanal, who could have easily been perceived as one of the suspects. He lies effortlessly and carries a sense of guilt, but the weak plot leaves his character underdeveloped. The story focuses on others, so Sanal’s small moments never get the attention they deserve, making his potential feel wasted. Sanal embodies the 'crying wolf' dilemma, making it difficult for the police to trust him, until they simply choose to, because it's convenient.

Baby Girl tries hard to keep the audience hooked, but unfortunately falls short. It attempts to explore what it means to be a baby girl in an Indian household through characters like Meenakshi, a teenage mother forced into marriage because of a child no one seems to care about, and Rithu (Lijomol Jose), a domestic abuse survivor constantly living in fear of what losing her child might mean for her safety. These themes are powerful, but the execution lacks the emotional depth needed to make them truly resonate. Sangeeth Prathap's Amal Davis plays another pivotal character who does his best to add to the mystery and often succeeds, but the weak execution of the plot prevents him from truly shining. Abhimanyu Shammi Thilakan, as the inspector, also gives a committed performance, trying to elevate a storyline that is already struggling.

Baby Girl is a thriller that tries hard to keep you engaged from start to finish, but unfortunately, it fails to do so because of a predictable plot that prevents it from truly delivering!

Baby Girl is now streaming on SonyLIV!