Samantha delivers knock-out performance

After essaying the role of a sobbing wife in 'Majili', talented actress Samantha returns in a lively role in 'Oh Baby' and sweeps the audience of their feet with a swashbuckling performance.

The theme reiterates the old saying that 'age is just a number' and that you are not old enough to do what you want in life.

But this semi-fantasy is narrated in an entertaining way, by mixing 'emotions' in right measure.

After usual melodrama about a bickering an old-woman Baby (Lakshmi), who is adamant and irritates everyone in her family. One day, Baby is forced to leave her home due to ill-health of her daughter-in-law.

Earlier, she shares her woes with her aged friend (Rajendraprasad) and they talk about knee pain and constipation. Although, this episode looks dramatic, but this portion makes the audience to come out and look at elders in their respective homes in a new light.

Director Nandini Reddy scores in conveying this point with ease. The film would help people to recall their grannies and the time they spent with them which makes this film a good 'piece of work.'

Coming to the story, 'Oh Baby' is the official remake of a Korean drama, 'Miss Granny,' and this follows the life of Baby (Lakshmi), who transforms miraculously into a 24-year-old woman after she steps into a photo studio.

Now called Swathi (Samantha), she fulfils her dreams and comes to terms with what's important for her to lead a happy life.

However, the entry of Samantha brings in energy and flamboyance to the predictable script till then and changes the colour and mood of the movie. Alongwith imbibing Lakshmi's body language and gait, Samantha is at her best.

From the moment when Swathi realises that she doesn't have a backache and knee pain, which had been part of her life for God knows how many years, till she figures out if her youth is really worth it, it's Samantha's film all the way. Finally, Baby fulfills her childhood dream of becoming a singer.

Of late, Samantha is on a roll with varied roles This time around, she showcases her flair for comedy and tickles the funny bones with perfect comic-timing.

She's hilarious to the point that you forget you are watching a fictional character on screen. Her meeting with her boyfriend Naga Shaurya are well-written and she enlivens those scenes with her comic-punchlines.

Nandini has chances to bounce back into the reckoning after a duds like 'Jabardhast'. She has chosen a novel plot and extracted good performances from Lakshmi, Rajendraprasad and Samantha, but could have plugged some loopholes in the screenplay.

However, kudos to Nandini Reddy for the sensitivity that she brought into the film.

It makes the viewers see the world around us through the eyes of the protagonist. The way you look at people you love and how they perceive it, is all the film all about.