Bro Daddy streaming on Disney + Hotstar is directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the family comedy drama film has Mohanlal, Meena, Lalu Alex, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Kaniha, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in pivotal roles. Accompanied by music director Deepak Dev and cinematographer Abinandhan Ramanujam, Bro Daddy packs a delightful punch.

Bro Daddy revolves around Eesho John Kattadi (Prithviraj) and Anna Kurian (Kalyani), family friends turned romantic partners, who have hidden their long-term relationship from their respective families. Things go awry when Anna gets pregnant and the two now have to break the news of pregnancy and their relationship to their parents. While Eesho has cool parents, who are more like his siblings and friends, Anna’s dad may not be as easy to please. How the two with the help of Eesho’s father John Chacko Kattadi (Mohanlal) navigate this situation forms the crux of the story.

In one word, the Prithviraj directorial is entertaining. With witty dialogues and hilarious and almost caricaturish characters, the movie will have you chuckle throughout the runtime. Writers Sreejith N and Bibin Maliekal have done a commendable job in creating a story that’s fun and yet imparts a message. And when combined with Prithviraj’s apt direction, the different elements of the film just come together and click.

However, the highlight of the movie is not its music, direction, or cinematography—it’s the story itself. This breezy entertainer deals with not one but two seemingly taboo topics in society and does so flawlessly. From the shame associated with live-in relationships, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and late pregnancies to confiding in near and dear ones about it; all of it gets a voice in the movie. But above all, the message of acceptance is made loud and clear through character interactions, music score, and the dialogues.

What makes Bro Daddy stand out is the lack of melodramatic speeches and sequences surrounding the developments. There is even a delicate sense of self-acceptance and non-conformity in this malayalam movie. Not to mention the risk Mohanlal has taken with the concept of late pregnancies.

The performances of actors Mohanlal, Prithviraj, Meena, and Lalu Alex only further accentuates the messaging of the film. However, at times, the movie may seem unrealistic, almost fairy-tale-like with a lack of depth in characters or their emotions.

Admittedly, the movie has a unique take on a previously-covered concept. However, it by no means is unpredictable in terms of character interactions. A viewer can almost anticipate how the story would go forward or when a comedic intervention would be added because in that sense the movie is a bit formulaic. Moreover, with opulence screaming through each setting in the film, the characters may even seem unrelatable.

For all its faults, Bro Daddy is a great family entertainer for the holiday. While it may seem predictable, the acting prowess in the film and witty dialogues keep things interesting enough to hold a viewer’s attention. At the end of the day, what matters is that the movie will have you chuckle on a pandemic-dominant Republic Day.