Overview
A rickshaw driver must confront his violent past to protect his family from an old enemy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- theatrical
- energetic
- heroic
- action movie night
- raj inikanth marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Rajinikanth’s commanding dual-role performance and the film’s fan-oriented action spectacle, while noting its formulaic construction and limited experimentation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Manikkam lives as a peaceful auto rickshaw driver while his former life as Manik Baashha gradually resurfaces.
The screenplay and action sequences are designed to magnify Rajinikanth’s commanding persona in both his peaceful and gangster roles.
The returning rival threatens Manikkam’s family, reigniting the criminal war he had deliberately set aside.
The story uses flashback to disclose the former Bombay gangster identity behind the docile Tamil Nadu auto driver.
Films like Baasha, and why
Padayappa
star-driven gangster action, dual identity, stylized hero elevation, and family-centered stakes
Annamalai
larger-than-life South Indian action hero, criminal underworld conflict, and highly theatrical action sequences
Nayakan
charismatic gangster protagonist, revenge-driven conflict, and emotionally charged mass-action spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Suresh Krissna
- Release Date
- 1995-01-12
- Runtime
- 145 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (74)
Cast
- Rajinikanth
- Nagma
- Raghuvaran
- Janagaraj
- Devan
- Vijayakumar
- Anandaraj
- Shashikumar
- Sathyapriya
- Yuvarani
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Sun Nxt
- Rent
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Baasha about?
- A peace-loving auto driver is pushed back into his feared gangster identity when an old rival threatens the family he has sworn to protect.
- What is Baasha like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Baasha as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Baasha violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Baasha as brutal.
- What did critics think of Baasha?
- Critics broadly praised Rajinikanth’s commanding dual-role performance and the film’s fan-oriented action spectacle, while noting its formulaic construction and limited experimentation.
- Which films are like Baasha?
- Films with a similar feel include Padayappa, Annamalai, and Nayakan.
- How long is Baasha?
- Baasha runs 145 minutes.
- Where can I watch Baasha?
- In United States, Baasha streams on Sun Nxt.
