Baby (2023 film)
| Baby | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Sai Rajesh Neelam |
| Written by | Sai Rajesh Neelam |
| Produced by | Sreenivasa Kumar Naidu (SKN) |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | M. N. Balreddy |
| Edited by | Viplav Nyshadam |
| Music by | Vijay Bulganin |
Production company | Mass Movie Makers |
Release date |
|
Running time | 175 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
| Budget | ₹10 crore[2] |
| Box office | est.₹100 crore[3] |
Baby is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language coming of age romantic drama film directed by Sai Rajesh Neelam and produced by Sreenivasa Kumar Naidu under Mass Movie Makers. The film features Anand Deverakonda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya and Viraj Ashwin in the lead roles.
Baby was released on 14 July 2023 to positive reviews from critics and grossed ₹100 crore (US$13 million) worldwide becoming the tenth highest-grossing Telugu film of 2023.
Plot[edit]
Vaishnavi and Anand are neighours and high school students, who live in a slum in Hyderabad. Anand has a troubled relationship with his mother as she is mute and deaf, although she loves him dearly. Vaishnavi has a crush on Anand, but he does not acknowledge her until one day when she stands up to their teacher. Anand reciprocates her feelings, and they eventually start a relationship. Three years later, Vaishnavi goes on to join a prestigious Engineering college while Anand drops out of college due to bad grades. He takes to driving an auto for a living.
Anand mortgages his auto to buy a smartphone for Vaishnavi. However, he has a hard time repaying the loan. Vaishnavi, meanwhile, has a hard time fitting in with the wealthier, modern students of her college. She befriends classmates Viraj and Seetha, and tries her best to integrate into their social circle. Viraj is attracted to Vaishnavi, who hides the fact that she is in a relationship with Anand. Enamoured by the glitzy and glamorous life of her new friends and angered by Anand's increasingly abusive and controlling attitude, Vaishnavi starts to grow emotionally distant from Anand and closer to Viraj. Viraj gifts Vaishnavi a new iPhone, causing her and Anand to have an argument when she discards his gift, unaware he was slapped by the loan shark in front of his mother.
Seetha becomes envious of Vaishnavi as she believes that Vaishnavi is from the lower class and does not deserve Viraj's attention. At Viraj's birthday party, Vaishnavi becomes conflicted when Anand leaves several voicemails apologising to her and Viraj professes his love for her. In an inebriated state and angry at Anand, she texts Anand that she loves him before kissing Viraj, which is captured on the premises' CCTV. She realises her mistake, but Viraj continues to pursue her and asks her to marry him. When she angrily rejects him, he threatens to reveal their kissing video. Using these situations to her advantage, Seetha manipulates Vaishnavi and Viraj against each other. In an attempt to get rid of Viraj, Vaishnavi sleeps with him. The next day, she drinks to forget her infidelity and discloses the same to Seetha, which is secretly recorded by Anand's friend, Harsha. Seetha shares the kissing video with Harsha, who in turn, shares Vaishnavi's confession recording with Anand.
Anand comes to know about everything that has been going on between Vaishnavi and Viraj, and Viraj comes to know that Vaishnavi has a boyfriend. When confronted publicly by both men, a guilt-ridden Vaishnavi attempts suicide. Anand and Viraj are both arrested, but eventually released on bail. Vaishnavi is hospitalised and recovers. Anand realises his mistake and decides to apologise to his mother, but she passes away that night, causing him to slip into depression. On her father's advice, Vaishnavi finds an emotionally disturbed Anand drinking at a train station. She tries to apologise to him but Anand is unable to forgive her and begs Vaishnavi to leave him alone. Heartbroken, she obliges for his sake.
In the epilogue, Anand comes up on Vaishnavi's wedding procession while picking up a passenger. As Vaishnavi and her husband are about to leave her home, she and Anand exchange a glance before he drives away in tears. The film ends with Anand's emotional state and a photo of a younger Vaishnavi in his auto, showing that they still love each other but circumstances and destiny had something else in store for them.
Cast[edit]
- Anand Devarakonda as Anand
- Vaishnavi Chaitanya as Vaishnavi "Vaishu"
- Viraj Ashwin as Viraj
- Nagendra Babu as Vaishnavi's Father
- Harsha Chemudu as Harsha
Music[edit]
| Baby | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Vijay Bulganin | |
| Released | 13 July 2023 |
| Genre | Film soundtrack |
| Length | 36:25 |
| Language | Telugu |
| Label | Sony Music India |
The music was composed by Vijay Bulganin.[4]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "O Rendu Prema Meghaalila" | Ananta Sriram | Sreerama Chandra | 5:14 |
| 2. | "DevaRaaja" | Kalyan Chakravarthi | Arya Dhayal | 5:37 |
| 3. | "Premisthunna" | Suresh Banisetti | P V N S Rohit | 6:36 |
| 4. | "Ribapappa" | Suresh Banisetti | Sri Krishna | 5:05 |
| 5. | "O Rendu Prema Meghaalila (Reprise)" | Ananta Sriram | Sreerama Chandra | 5:08 |
| 6. | "Chanti Pillala" | Suresh Banisetti | Anudeep Dev | 5:08 |
| 7. | "Kalakalame" | Suresh Banisetti | Sahithi Chaganti | 3:27 |
| Total length: | 36:15 | |||
Release[edit]
Baby was released theatrically on 14 July 2023. The post-theatrical streaming rights were acquired by Aha[5] and was premiered on 25 August 2023.[6] Television satellite premiere rights were acquired by ETV.[7]
Reception[edit]
Critical reception[edit]
A critic from 123telugu wrote that "On the whole, Baby sheds light on modern-day relationships in a neat manner, and the climax is unconventional. The performances of Vaishnavi Chaitanya, Anand Deverakonda, and Viraj Ashwin are simply superb".[8] A critic from The Indian Express wrote that "Baby is a must watch this season".[9] A critic from The Times of India wrote that "Baby might leave you with mixed feelings, but it's also the kind of film that'll incite conversations – for better or worse. And maybe that's the point of it all!"[10] A critic from The Hindu wrote that "Helmed by Sai Rajesh, Anand Deverakonda's latest reads like a moral story with the protagonist actually spelling out the moral three-fourths into the movie".[11] A critic from Deccan Chronicle wrote that "Director wanted to engage the audience riding on confusions in youngsters in dealing with relationships, but falls flat barring some moments".[12]
Box office[edit]
Ten days after its release, the film had collected a worldwide gross of ₹60.40 crores with a distributors' share of ₹31.71 crores, amassing a total profit of ₹23.71 crores. In the home market (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states of India), it has collected a gross of ₹51.10 crores with a distributors' share of ₹27.85 crores.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ "Baby Runtime". Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Anand Deverakonda-starrer Baby Performs Well At Box-Office In Its 2nd Week". News 18. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "ప్రముఖ టీవీ చేతికి బేబి శాటిలైట్స్.. ప్రసారం ఎప్పుడంటే."
- ^ "Baby Songs Download 2023 | Baby Mp3 Songs Telugu". 13 July 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ Ltd, Arha Media & Broadcasting Pvt (30 April 2018), Watch Baby (Telugu) Full Movie Online - Download Now, archived from the original on 21 November 2023, retrieved 21 November 2023
- ^ "Anand Deverakonda-starrer Baby To Stream On Aha From September 8: Reports". News18. 24 July 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Desam, A. B. P. (18 August 2023). "రూటు మార్చిన ఈటీవీ - ఫ్యాన్సీ రేటుకి కల్ట్ బొమ్మ 'బేబీ' శాటిలైట్ హక్కులు?". telugu.abplive.com (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "Baby Telugu Movie Review". 123telugu. 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Baby movie review: Anand Deverakonda film is impressive, divisive". The Indian Express. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Baby Movie Review : A pathos-laden love story that'll leave you with mixed feelings". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "'Baby' movie review: Anand Deverakonda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya star in an exceptionally long, silly romantic feature". The Hindu. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Baby Movie Review: Vaishnavi Shines in Male-chauvinism-laden Triangular Love". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Baby Movie : పదో రోజు బేబి ఆల్ టైమ్ రికార్డ్.. ఊచకొత అంటే ఇలా ఉంటుంది." News18 Telugu (in Telugu). 24 July 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
