The Girlfriend, produced by Geetha Arts and Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment, was released in theatres today. In this section, we are going to review the latest box-office release.
Plot:
Bhooma Devi is a student of MA Literature. Timid and aspirational, she is befriended by Vikram, a lady-killer with the image of a heartthrob. Their relationship stays stable until Bhooma realizes that she is suffocating. What traits of Vikram make her feel he is not right for her? Do they give their love a second chance? Is Bhooma being impatient? Is Vikram in the wrong? The script answers these questions as the story progresses.
Performances:
Rashmika Mandanna conveys the anxiety of her character primarily through her eyes and body language. Subtle shifts in posture and nervous fidgeting make for her profound acting. She is especially moving in the film's disturbing scenes.
Dheekshith Shetty convincingly portrays his hidden feelings without making much fuss. His energy feels slightly frantic, just what the doctor ordered. Overall, his acting adds dramatic weight to the proceedings. Rao Ramesh's character lets him show both agony and a mean streak. The reactions of others to the couple's relationship feel genuine. Anu Emmanuel is good; importantly, hers is not a uni-dimensional character.
Technical aspects:
Hesham Abdul Wahab's songs (Nadhive, Em Jarugutondi, Needhe Katha) are poetic and situational. Their focus is on emotional realism. The Background Score by Prashanth R Vihari is apt. The cinematography by Krishnan Vasant and Chota K Prasad's editing are functional.
The production values are sufficient for a film that was designed to be grounded rather than grand. The college campus setting is realistic.
Post-Mortem:
The Girlfriend, written and directed by Rahul Ravindran, has been described as an important film because it tries to be honest about the inferior status most Indian women have been reduced to in marriages and romantic relationships. In doing so, it gets many things right. The first half feels like a new-wave Bollywood movie, while the second half, with its avoidable binaries, feels like an oldish Telugu movie tailored to present a sensational protagonist.
First, the good things. The conversations between Vikram and Bhooma are realistic. Some of the words make her uncomfortable and the film doesn't spoon-feed the viewer here. A scene where Bhooma finally tries to address the tension makes the viewer happy. Her introverted nature makes her struggle to articulate the deep, complex doubts she feels; Life presents a moment when she knows something is totally off. Vikram, being more free-spirited, dismisses her concerns with a superficial, cheerful answer. His attempts to deflect with charm are manipulative, something the viewer gets to know only slowly, much like Bhooma.
The entire first half gives enough reasons to root for the politics of The Girlfriend. Even the interval scene is replete with meaning and melancholy. The film condenses several intellectual positions articulated by feminists. It does this without incorporating an alien vocabulary.
However, the second half is found wanting. Vikram's subtle characterization gives way to coarse dimensions. Lazy ideas kick in, with a slut-shaming episode being the laziest of them all. Probably, the second half of the story would have been nuanced had The Girlfriend been made for OTT, which was Rahul's initial plan. When the format changed, Rahul might have wanted to think in time-tested terms.
Closing Remarks:
The Girlfriend starts strong, offering a refreshing and honest look at the subtle anxieties and unspoken power dynamics in a modern relationship. The realistic conversations and Rashmika Mandanna's profound performance anchor a compelling first half that feels like a new-wave film. Watch it for its messaging and writing!
