‘Oho Enthan Baby’ film review: A romance story that has its moments -OxBig News Network

Pray, what is love?

Is it in the initial attraction that happens between two individuals? Is it in the sweet nothings that they share?

Or, is it in the true care for each other… so much so that you give the right amount of space to the other and still cheer them on to achieve their goals?

Several such questions are posed through Oho Enthan Baby, starring Rudra, Mithila Palkar, Anju Kurian and Redin Kingsley, among others. Ashwin (Rudra) is an aspiring filmmaker who narrates a couple of stories to Vishnu Vishal, who plays himself. Nothing clicks. Rudra learns that a romantic script, something missing in this actor’s filmography, might help him get the nod. And thus, he launches into a story… his own.

We jump straight into Ashwin’s love stories, which are segregated into three parts. While the first part – revolving around a childhood romance, set in school – is the most jaded, the third – a short college romance – is obnoxious. Thankfully, director Krishnakumar Ramakumar keeps all these frills to the minimum, before launching into the main story – the second part – which revolves around the romance between Ashwin and a much-older Meera (Mithila Palkar).

They meet at a wedding and sparks fly. A trip to Varkala later, they realise they are probably a pair made in heaven. Ashwin has had a troubled childhood, watching his parents fight all the time. Meera has had similar issues with her uncle.

They are made for each other. Or so, it seems, till the conflict in the romance marks its presence.

A still from ‘Oho Enthan Baby’

What made for rather casual viewing with utter lack of spice in the first half is overturned in the second as the story veers towards Ashwin and Meera. This is where Oho Enthan Baby throws up several interesting moments. We know as much about Ashwin as we do about Meera, who is also a well-developed character.

Oho Enthan Baby is all about broken relationships. Of a mother and father who do not get along. Of a boy whose ego stands in the way of his girl. Of a father who just doesn’t get his son. Of an uncle whose anger management issues affect an entire family. Of relationships that come with a list of conditions. And, of a person who has to decide what is right in a relationship when it is pitted against a big career choice.

And, willing to give someone a chance to change. Isn’t that what love – and life – itself is all about?

Rudra shows promise, but there are many times he seems nervous… something that he has to work on. A little more confidence would have made Ashwin’s presence better and bigger. As Meera, Mithila gets a solid role that she mostly does justice to. There’s an especially frustrating moment for her when she feels that everyone dumps stuff on her (“En thalala enna use-me board potruku”?). It’s one of the more powerful scenes in the film. As the hero’s best friend, Nirmal Pillai as Rasna fits the bill to the T. There is also Mysskin playing himself and Vishnu Vishal (who is also the producer) playing himself; the digs at their own earlier work were a neat touch. While the dialogues work – there’s one on anger (“Anger is not a trait. It’s a disease.”) that I found punchy – the music by Jen Martin also has much going for it.

While director Krishnakumar delved deep in his second half, he chose to pepper the first half with just vibe and colour. A little more depth there could have made Oho Enthan Baby a lot more solid.