Get Set Baby review: Unni Mukundan and Nikhila Vimal film is new wine in an old bottle

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Back in 2013, director Blessy’s Kalimannu stirred controversy when news emerged that the film had incorporated live footage of lead actor Shwetha Menon’s labour and delivery. Predictably, conservatives decried it as an affront to their “culture”. 12 years down the lane, Get Set Baby — while not featuring real childbirth like Kalimannu — depicts a significant portion of the delivery process on screen, suggesting a gradual shift in societal perceptions, offering a glimmer of progress and hope. Director Vinay deserves credit for handling these sequences with sensitivity, especially given how easily they could have backfired with a male gynaecologist at the centre. Notably, Get Set Baby does not make Arjun’s gender a focal point or exaggerate the fact that he is treating pregnant women. Instead, it presents the subject matter with a natural flow while also acknowledging the initial reservations patients might have about consulting a cishet male doctor.

The movie also sheds light on the unfair and unrealistic societal expectations placed on men and how a heteronormative society still equates masculinity with the ability to reproduce and how quickly one can do so. This pressure is even more intense for Arjun, whose career is built on helping others achieve parenthood. However, the movie’s unnecessarily overt emphasis on biological and natural conception — reinforced by Arjun himself until almost the very end — while seemingly overlooking alternatives like surrogacy and adoption, feels somewhat puzzling. This feels especially ironic and somewhat out of character given his medical expertise.

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Although the film is set in largely endearing environments, the vibrancy and charm in its premise are missing in its execution. Not only does the storytelling feel outdated, but the scenes unfold as disjointed, half-baked segments that fail to come together cohesively. While the movie avoids overwhelming viewers with complex medical jargon or intricate procedures, writers YV Rajesh and Anoop Ravindran fail to create emotionally resonant moments that truly pull at the heartstrings. This is particularly noticeable since the narrative primarily focuses on the characters’ emotions and reactions rather than dramatic conflicts or exaggerated events. The film’s weak writing and weaker execution are most apparent in a poorly conceived dream sequence, where Arjun faces his worst fear as people mock him for his perceived inability to conceive a child. The placement of the interval block is also jarring.

Though many aspects of the film are relatable — viewers may have experienced similar events or know someone who has — allowing one to step into the story with ease, Get Set Baby struggles to keep audiences engaged due to the weak development of its already mediocre moments. Vinay’s approach, treating the film largely as a family drama, also backfires as the movie fails to build tension when it matters most, particularly in high-stakes childbirth scenes where the lives of both mother and foetus hang in the balance.

One of the biggest flaws of Get Set Baby is Unni Mukundan’s amateurish and artificial performance. (Credit: Instagram/@iamunnimukundan)

One of the biggest flaws of Get Set Baby is Unni Mukundan’s amateurish and artificial performance, which weakens the film further, given that he is at the centre of nearly every scene and the narrative unfolds entirely through his character. Despite Arjun Balakrishnan having a well-defined arc — starting as an ambitious do-gooder, transforming into a self-absorbed and profit-driven healthcare entrepreneur, facing setbacks and ultimately learning his lesson — Unni fails to bring any nuance to the role. His expressions and mannerisms remain static throughout, making it hard to tell whether he even recognises the character’s gradual evolution. Besides adopting a more detached and serious demeanour as arrogance takes over, his portrayal remains monotonous. Even in emotionally charged moments, such as his heated argument with Swathy, Unni seems disconnected from the film’s and his character’s emotional cores, giving the impression that he is unsure of how to handle things. While Rajesh and Anoop’s dialogues are largely uninspired, Unni’s lifeless delivery further strips them of impact. The inconsistencies in Arjun’s characterisation must have also contributed to this lacklustre performance.

On the other hand, Nikhila Vimal gets a more substantial role in Get Set Baby, unlike some of her recent films where she was reduced to a passive presence. However, Swathy’s character lacks significant influence over the larger narrative of the movie. Although Nikhila delivers a good performance with what she is given, there is a noticeable lack of chemistry between the lead pair, which is likely due to the film’s soulless depiction of their relationship. While Chemban Vinod Jose and Surabhi Lakshmi offer solid performances, Shyam Mohan is entirely wasted in a severely underwritten role. Another major disappointment is Sam CS’s music, which fails to leave an impression. Alex J Pulickal’s cinematography and Arju Benn’s editing are decent at best.

Get Set Baby movie cast: Unni Mukundan, Nikhila Vimal, Chemban Vinod Jose
Get Set Baby movie director: Vinay Govind
Get Set Baby movie rating: 1.5 stars