Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu

I have to say this movie has got good performances from Biju Menon and the supporting cast. The realism you see in front of the camera in every scene is something which you can very well relate to the ongoings of a small town/village in Kerala.

With all that being said, there is no story in the movie. The movie was going nowhere and that's why it disappointed big time. Apart from a few comical incidents, there was nothing much entertaining in the movie.

Even if the movie ended an hour or so back with the same ending, it wouldn't have really mattered. A 7.3 rating on imdb for this movie - not really, it's more of a 3.

I expected a simple comedy movie with nice little story but i felt this movie was moving very slowly and at times very silly. For me this was a boring documentary kind of a film.On a positive note Bijumenon performed well and there were some good comedy scenes too. Overall an underwhelming experience it was.

Rakshadhikari Baiju never feels like a film, that may be the best and the worst part of the film. It feels like the lives of a small village of Kerala is portrayed without adding anything to it. That is other than focusing on a character in his mid 40's who carries the film as he lives as a mentor for the youngsters of the village without losing the naughtiness of a kid in his mind. But probably for anyone who has not seen that kind of life, this may look like a bunch of events with an aimless direction. But for those who have lived this life, it is a poignant story of a village succumbing to the urbanisation that is creeping up everywhere. One of the best things about this film is that whichever scene it is you have a feeling that there is a different story right around there if the camera just turns from one side to the other; each frame is so detailed, not for foreshadowing a plot point or filling with Easter eggs, but for making the audience believe in that village. The only real problem for me was the editing; if the editing was a bit tighter; if the overlong runtime was cut down through just simple editing this could have been a great film, still a very good film.

If there is a competition for 'feel-good' movies then Rakshadhikaari Baiju is the strongest contender! Playing his usual common-man self with a blank expression and cracking one-liners at ease, Biju Menon plays up to his titular role to perfection as a 40-something family man who spends more time at his village playground than his workplace with his preteen to late 20's gang of friends. In the absence of a major event/turning point or a solid plot, clean and situational humor and the lead character's anecdotal incidents with the support cast carries the movie home somewhat. This Ranjan Pramod flick would be best enjoyed by 80's / 90's kids who can relate to the playground camaraderie and relatively simpler times compared to the millennials. Best part amongst the proceedings would be the subtleness brought into typical nostalgic affairs like romance sidetrack or family drama and the shrewdly avoided preachy tone in conveying what they want to tell. Technically perfect (spot recording being a feature well apt for the plot) and with its humdrum screenplay, Baiju is the perfect unwinding for supposed- to- be grownups who relish their childhood.

Plus: Performances, realistic presentation and climax which gives the intention of the makers

Minus: The driver (director) refuses to change the gear of the vehicle I.e. no story. If it was a commercial film then having no story was ok, but a realistic film with no story? Ok that also u can bear because of action hero Biju. But a story less realistic film with sync sound? How would it be when you have to widen your ears to hear the dialogue? A very boring film.

Verdict: RBO is a two and a half hour journey running only on first gear without any conflict point.