The Girlfriend by Rahul Ravindran is nothing short of a captivating drama that not only opens the doors to the inner world of modern relationships but also brings to light the harsh judgement that women are still subjected to according to the society. Rashmika Mandanna and Deekshit Shetty, being the two primary characters, take the audience through the emotional storm of love, being controlled and female empowerment, all this coming first with great sensitivity.

Storyline

Bhuma, played by Rashmika Mandanna, is depicted as a college freshman who is unable to cope with the first surprises of the environment. On the other hand, Vikram, portrayed by Deekshith Shetty, who is subjected to bullying by the upperclassmen, still manages to be very clever in handling the situation and consequently, catches the eye of Durga, played by Anu Emmanuel. A fender-bender between Bhuma and Vikram becomes the catalyst for the campus to be afire with their supposed love story. In the beginning, their relationship flourishes until Vikram's controlling behavior turns their love into an obsession. When Bhuma decides to leave, Vikram twists the situation and presents her as the bad one. After that, the tale presents Bhuma’s struggle to get back her self-respect and her voice, with Durga’s friendship being the source of power.

Positive Points

Among many layers, Rahul Ravindran emerges effortlessly as a winner with his subtle and realistic depiction of a woman's right fight in a male-dominated world. In his narrative, he places at the very center the matters of emotional development, women's liberation, self-esteem, and the necessity of being free. Rashmika Mandanna brings together all the qualities of an actress and thus, adds to the overall strength of a film, having depth and even more vulnerability than the one seldom seen in her commercial roles. Deekshith Shetty pulls off the role of the imperfect and deceitful Vikram convincingly, while Anu Emmanuel and Rao Ramesh make significant and laudable roles. The heartfelt music composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab along with the eye-catching cinematography by Krishnan Vasanth take movie experience to the next level.

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Negative Points

The first part of the movie has a slow rhythm and mainly deals with the character setup and thus may require some viewers to wait. While some supporting characters, such as Rohini's, have the potential for emotional expression, they do not seem to be fully utilized.

Overall: The Girlfriend is an impressive and significant film that mirrors the current generation. The film has multiple layers; it is not just about love but also about respect, understanding, and empowerment. Even though there are slight pacing problems, the film's message together with the acting is a strong reason for young people to watch it in order to find out what the modern relationships are about.