There are films that surprise me, films that challenge me, and films that simply choose to sit within a safe, familiar mould. Oho Enthan Baby, directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar, falls squarely into the third category – though not without its own quirks. As I watched the narrative unfold, I felt as if the movie wanted to be self-aware and refreshing, yet kept pulling itself back into the most predictable corners of romantic storytelling. Still, there is enough in its structure to make me reflect on why some ideas sparkle while others fade despite having the right ingredients.
A Story About a Story, Yet Not Quite Storytelling
The film revolves around a young assistant director who is hunting for that one breakthrough opportunity. He meets a hero to pitch his ideas, hoping one of his concepts will open the door to his future. The first two stories he narrates get dismissed instantly, with the hero quipping that they feel like spoofs rather than something substantial. I found this exchange amusing – it felt like the film was taking a candid dig at formulaic storytelling even while indulging in a formula itself.
When the frustrated assistant director is asked to narrate a ‘proper love story’, he draws from his own life. This is where the film tries to set up emotional depth. However, instead of moving into unexpected terrain, the movie keeps circling back to familiar beats. At one point in his narration, the protagonist reveals that his relationship already ended in heartbreak. Vishnu Vishal – playing himself in a meta cameo – responds with enthusiasm, calling it a “fantastic interval block.” The comedic confusion that follows, where the protagonist clarifies that it is actually the climax of his real love story, is genuinely humorous.
Yet, what struck me more is how Vishnu Vishal’s character insists on experiencing a ‘second half’ by convincing the hero to go back and meet the girl again, as if real life must conform to cinema structure. I appreciated the idea; it had the potential to be layered and insightful about how films oversimplify love. Unfortunately, the execution never moves beyond the surface.
A Template Romance Wearing a Meta Mask
Once the protagonist decides to meet the heroine again, the film proceeds in a painfully predictable manner. I could sense every upcoming scene long before it arrived, and that lack of narrative curiosity drained the emotional stakes. I kept waiting for the film to twist its structure, especially since it began with this unusual storytelling frame of one hero narrating to another. But the uniqueness ends with the premise; everything else reminds me of dozens of romances that trace the same emotional graph.
And that is where Oho Enthan Baby starts to falter. Familiarity in itself is not a flaw – romance thrives on repeated emotional truths – but predictability becomes a burden when the writing fails to invest me in the couple. I never felt the essential longing that makes a love story work. The film needed that pulse, that spark that makes me root for the protagonists. Instead, I watched the events unfold without feeling truly involved.
Humour That Flickers More Than It Shines
For a film that wants to rely on light-heartedness, catchy music, and relatable romance, the comedy needed to land consistently. But only one moment truly worked for me – the appearance of Mysskin playing a humorous version of himself. His scene has an energy missing from the rest of the film. Beyond that, the humour rarely rises above mild amusement, and the lack of engaging songs weakens the film further.
A romantic entertainer usually survives even a thin plot if the songs lift the mood and the jokes keep the audience entertained. Here, neither happens effectively. The opportunities slip by one after another.
Vishnu Vishal’s Supportive Presence – A Curious Highlight
One genuinely intriguing element is Vishnu Vishal’s involvement. The lead actor is introduced as Vishnu Vishal’s brother, and instead of merely promoting him from outside the film, Vishnu Vishal steps in as a character who openly pushes the protagonist to ‘win’. This meta support is both funny and charming – it acknowledges the industry reality of family-backed debuts with refreshing honesty.
It is the one aspect that feels truly new, although it cannot compensate for the shortcomings in writing and character arcs.
A Film That Could Have Been ‘Okay’ With a Little More Craft
As the end credits rolled, I found myself thinking about the film it could have been. With more refined writing, stronger emotional layering, and humour that consistently hit the mark, Oho Enthan Baby might have risen above its clichés. The foundation is not weak – the concept of a protagonist rewriting his own heartbreak under cinematic pressure has undeniable charm. But the movie never builds on it with conviction.
In the end, the film settles for mediocrity when it had the room to reach at least an ‘okay watch’ status with modest improvements.
Final Verdict
Oho Enthan Baby has flashes of wit and a meta premise that initially seems promising, but the predictable narrative, flat emotional beats, and inconsistent humour hold it back. It remains a familiar love story that rarely steps out of its comfort zone.
Rating: 2/5
