Baththa

Baththa
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Balaji Tharaneetharan
Written by	Balaji Tharaneetharan
Produced by	Murad Khetani Atlee Priya Atlee Alok Jain Ajit Andhare
Starring	Vijay Sethupathi Lijomol Jose
Cinematography	Selvakumar S. K.
Edited by	R. Kalaivanan
Music by	Sai Abhyankkar
Production companies	Cine1 Studios A for Apple Studios Star Studio18
Distributed by	AGS Entertainment
Release date	1 October 2026 (2026-10-01)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Baththa is a 2026 Indian Tamil-language action comedy drama film written and directed by Balaji Tharaneetharan and produced by Cine1 Studios, A for Apple Studios and Star Studio18. The film stars Vijay Sethupathi, Master Sai Prithviraj and Lijomol Jose, with Baby Sahasra Shree, Santhy Balachandran, Hari Krishnan and Arjun Chidambaram in supporting roles.

The film was officially announced in August 2026 under the tentative title VJS56, denoting the 56th film for Sethupathi as a lead actor; the official title was announced in same month. The film has music and background score by Sai Abhyankkar, cinematography handled by Selvakumar S. K. and editing by R. Kalaivanan.

Baththa was released in theatres on 1 October 2026 and received critical acclaim.

Plot

In 1986, Baththa is a feared gangster in Madras. When a schoolboy named Sabari accidentally locks him in his school's bathroom for a week, he spends that time self-reflecting.

Cast

• Vijay Sethupathi as Bathvachalam "Baththa"
• Master Sai Prithviraj as Sabari
• Lijomol Jose as Kannima
• Baby Sahasra Shree as ThenmozhI
• Santhy Balachandran as Selvi
• Hari Krishnan as Thirunavukarasu
• Arjun Chidambaram as Jyoti

Production

In August 2026, it was announced that actor Vijay Sethupathi would reunite with director Balaji Tharaneetharan for their third collaboration, following Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom (2012) and Seethakaathi (2018). The film, which was previously referred to by its working title VJS56, was produced by Atlee under his A for Apple Studios banner in association with Cine1 Studios and Star Studio18. Balaji Tharaneetharan wrote and directed the film, while Sai Abhyankkar was signed as the composer, marking his first collaboration with Vijay Sethupathi. Selvakumar S. K. was announced as the cinematographer and R. Kalaivanan as the editor. The film's title, Baththa, and its first-look poster were unveiled on 12 August 2026. Principal photography was complete by then. Selvakumar S. K. handled the cinematography, while R. Kalaivanan served as the editor. Because the film is set in the 1980s in North Madras, the area was recreated for the film with the help of art director T. Muthuraj.

Music

The film has music composed by Sai Abhyankkar.

Track listing

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Magale"	Sai Abhyankkar, Harini	4:18
2.	"Ooroda Oththa Don"	Sai Abhyankkar, Vangal Pulla Vicky, Thamizh Aadhavan	3:46
3.	"Jiguchikkan"	Sai Abhyankkar, Thamizh Aadhavan	1:48
4.	"Mozhiye"	Sid Sriram	3:52
5.	"Vaazhanum Baththa"	Sai Abhyankkar	3:31
6.	"Cheen Dapak Dum Dum"	Sai Abhyankkar, Thamizh Adhavan	2:30
7.	"Baththa Avatharam"	Sai Abhyankkar, Thamizh Adhavan	0:29
8.	"The feel of Baththa"	Sai Abhyankkar, Indu, Lavanya, Narmada	1:13
9.	"Baththa Lacrimosa"	The Indian Choral Ensemble	2:27
10.	"Chellame Magale (Mohan Kannan Version)"	Mohan Kannan	4:15
Total length:			27:49

Release

Baththa was released in theatres worldwide on 1 October 2026. AGS Entertainment distributed the film in Tamil Nadu, and E4 Entertainment in Kerala. The overseas distribution rights were acquired by Panorama Studios and Zee Studios.

Reception

Bhuvanesh Chandar of The Hindu wrote, "The first half of the film sails smoothly, thanks to the period setting and Vijay Sethupathi returning to a zone he long mastered through films like Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara and Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum [...] Even when the momentum dips in the second half, something in Balaji's screenplay commands your attention or makes you chuckle". Manivasagan Namasivayam of DT Next wrote, "Baththa works because it doesn't make the transformation of its eponymous character overly complicated: it places a violent man in a simple survival situation and gives him time to confront his demons, managing to derive humour, emotion and warmth from this premise". M. Suganth of The Times of India wrote, "The tonal swings between drama and comedy can feel somewhat dissonant, but Baththa remains consistently fresh and moving throughout", comparing the title character's redemption favourably to that of Assault Sethu from Jigarthanda (2014).

Yashaswini Sri of The Indian Express wrote, "After a stretch of films where Sethupathi seemed to be coasting, choosing projects for commercial reasons rather than creative ones, Baththa feels like a return to the actor who made Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, Super Deluxe and Vikram Vedha. You laugh when he laughs, and you cry when he cries". Prashanth Vallavan of Cinema Express wrote, "Everything that makes Vijay Sethupathi unique as a performer is on glorious display in Baththa, like an art display with its own room and spotlight". Janani K of India Today called it a "moving comedy drama that's wholesome and beautiful. With minor shortcomings, the film brings laughter and emotion effortlessly".

External links

• Baththa at IMDb 
• Baththa at Rotten Tomatoes