Baba(2002)
Baba is a 2002 Indian Tamil-language supernatural action film written and produced by Rajinikanth under his banner Lotus International. The film stars Rajinikanth in the title role alongside Manisha Koirala, with music composed by A. R. Rahman. The story follows a carefree atheist who discovers he is the reincarnation of a Himalayan saint and is given seven wishes by the immortal Mahavatar Babaji. The film blends action sequences with spiritual themes of karma, faith, and selflessness. Upon its original release, Baba received mixed reviews and was a box-office failure, leading Rajinikanth to compensate distributors. However, a digitally remastered and re-edited version was re-released in December 2022 and received a favorable response.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Eros Now, Prime Video, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 15 August 2002
- Director
- Suresh Krishna
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 55m
- Rating
- 6.5/10
Storyline
A young atheist named Baba mocks religion and lives a carefree life. He discovers he is the reincarnation of a Himalayan saint. He is given seven wishes by a divine being, but using them selfishly will trap him in a cycle of rebirth. Baba must learn to use his powers selflessly to fight corrupt politicians and a dark magician.
“From atheist to saint.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Baba
Cast reunions in this film: Rajinikanth & A. R. Rahman (7 films together), Goundamani & A. R. Rahman (6 films together), Goundamani & M. N. Nambiar (6 films together), Rajinikanth & Goundamani (5 films together), Manisha Koirala & A. R. Rahman (5 films together), and Rajinikanth & M. N. Nambiar (4 films together).
Trivia
- This was the first animated film directed by Zlata Potancokova Belli, a Czech filmmaker working in India.
- The film was a co-production between Indian and Czech animation studios.
- It was released in Tamil and Hindi, with different voice casts for each version.
- The movie was not a major box office success but found an audience on home video.
- The animation style combined traditional hand-drawn techniques with early digital coloring.
- It is a loose adaptation of the Ali Baba story, shifting the setting to a pirate adventure.
- The film's score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, a famous Indian music director.