Baby John is an official Hindi remake of Atlee’s 2016 Tamil hit Theri—and, in Nandini Ramnath’s sharply negative Scroll.in review published December 25, 2024, its closeness to the original is the central problem. She argues that the film repeats scenes and stretches of dialogue rather than finding a compelling identity of its own.
What is Baby John about?
John, played by Varun Dhawan, is a bakery owner in Alappuzha raising his daughter Khushi (Zara Zyanna). He lives under an assumed identity after a conflict with gangster Nana (Jackie Shroff). When that threat resurfaces, John is drawn back into violence. The story also touches on children forced to beg and girls trafficked for prostitution.
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Kalees directed the film. The cast also includes Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sheeba Chadha and Rajpal Yadav, who plays John’s sidekick Ram Sewak. Apple TV’s U.S. listing identifies Kalees as director and names several of the same cast members.
How does it compare with Theri?
Ramnath describes Baby John as an official Hindi remake that closely follows Atlee’s Tamil film, including reused scenes and dialogue. Her criticism is not simply that the story is familiar: she finds the remake so beholden to its source that it struggles to justify itself as a new version.
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That fidelity is the key question for viewers who know Theri. Ramnath’s review gives little reason to expect a substantially reimagined take; its assessment is that the Hindi film largely retraces the earlier film’s path.
What is the review’s verdict?
Ramnath faults the film for leaning on a familiar action-thriller formula and argues that Dhawan does not make a convincing all-out action hero. Her assessment is pointedly personal, not a claim about critical or audience consensus. Her verdict: “Baby John isn’t even trying.”
How long is Baby John?
The sources list slightly different runtimes: Scroll.in calls it a 164-minute film, while Apple TV displays 2 hours 45 minutes. Those figures are attributed to the respective listings rather than presented as a single verified runtime.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you stream it?
Availability depends on country and can change. JustWatch’s U.S. page reported a check on September 14, 2026, and listed the film on Amazon Prime Video and Prime Video with Ads. Its India page reported a check on September 28, 2026, listing Prime Video streaming and an Amazon Video rental. Check the current listing for your region before relying on either option: JustWatch U.S. and JustWatch India.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- DVD
- Multiple Formats, AC-3, Color
- Spanish (Published), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
- 1
- 132
Rank #3
- Ten years after the release of the seminal "Boyz N the Hood," acclaimed director John Singleton returns to the same inner-city L.A. neighborhood for the story of a misguided 20-year-old African-American man, a "baby boy" facing the commitments of real life.
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