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Movie Name: Baby Girl
Directed by: Arun Varma
Starring: Nivin Pauly, Lijomol Jose, Sangeeth Prathap, Abhimanyu Shammy Thilakan, Aditi Ravi, Azees Nedumangad, Aswanth Lal
Genre: Family, Drama, Thriller
Release Date: January 23, 2026
Language: Malayalam
Production company: Magic Frames
Running Time: 134 Minutes
Rating:
Budget: ₹- Crore
A Child vanishes from a hospital. A hospital attendant becomes the prime suspect and goes on the run while others search for the missing girl.
Baby Girl: Overview
Baby Girl is an upcoming Indian Malayalam-language thriller film directed by Arun Varma and written by the screenwriter duo Bobby–Sanjay. The film is produced by Listin Stephen under the banner Magic Frames. The film stars Nivin Pauly, Lijomol Jose, Sangeeth Prathap, Abhimanyu Shammy Thilakan, Aditi Ravi, Azees Nedumangad, and Aswanth Lal in lead roles.
In January 2025, Baby Girl was officially announced with Kunchacko Boban in the lead role, marking his reunion with writers Bobby–Sanjay after Kayamkulam Kochunni. The film is the second directorial of Arun Varma after Garudan.
In April 2025, the makers announced that Nivin Pauly had replaced Kunchacko Boban as the lead actor due to scheduling conflicts. The decision was taken shortly before the commencement of filming and was officially confirmed by multiple publications.
Principal photography for Baby Girl began in April 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram. Nivin Pauly joined the sets during the second schedule of filming, which took place later that month. The shooting was completed after multiple schedules across Kerala, with reports confirming the wrap-up in late 2025.
The first look and motion poster of Baby Girl were unveiled during the Onam festival. The promotional material introduced Nivin Pauly’s character, Sanal Mathew, and suggested a dark, suspense-driven narrative.
The film is scheduled to release in theaters on 23 January 2026.
Movie Trailer:
Movie Review:
A gripping setup let down by predictability
Arun Varma’s Baby Girl has a simple premise that is made enjoyable for the most part by its screenplay. Along with writers Bobby and Sanjay, Varma takes one of the most basic storylines and turns it into a semi-gripping thriller. However, there is something missing—an element that fully anchors the audience to the film.
Sanal (Nivin Pauly) is an attender at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. One day, when he arrives late to work, a child is abducted from the maternity ward. The goose chase that follows forms the crux of the film.
The film portrays events that unfold over 24 hours, but that urgency fails to translate to the screen in a meaningful way. It does drag towards the end, especially since the climax is more or less predictable. There are several unnecessary scenes sprinkled throughout. That said, the characters manage to keep the viewer invested. Rishi, played by Sangeeth Prathap, and Ritu, played by Lijomol, are given a backstory that makes them feel human. By rooting the narrative in its characters, the team does a neat job of sustaining engagement. The decision to use flashbacks to reveal developments from the ‘current timeline’ prevents the film from becoming an absolute cliche.
To reiterate, the film is predictable. However, the turmoil and conflict are human and plausible, with motivations that are understandable to an extent. While the film could have taken a more practical route for the climax, it instead opts for a more optimistic approach, which ultimately uplifts the emotional track.
Nivin Pauly blends seamlessly into the common man persona, though beyond that, he does not have much to do. Sangeeth Prathap is fantastic in this rare serious role, convincingly portraying the impulsive younger brother. Lijomol serves as a grounding presence in the film. Abhimanyu Thilakan also plays a significant role. Faiz Siddik is the cinematographer of the film while Shyjith Kumaran is the editor.
