The Girlfriend Review: You know that strange irony where people defend films like Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, or Raanjhanaa by saying, “All stories deserve to exist”… but the moment a movie dares to question those same power dynamics, it suddenly becomes “woke propaganda”? That’s exactly why The Girlfriend fascinated me. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s one of the few Telugu movies this year that actually has something to say, and says it without preaching.
My Rating: 4.0/5
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | The Girlfriend |
| Language | Telugu |
| Genre | Drama, Psychological Romance |
| Director | Rahul Ravindran |
| Writer | Rahul Ravindran |
| Main Cast | Rashmika Mandanna, Dheekshith Shetty, Anu Emmanuel |
| Runtime | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Release Date | November 2025 |
| Country | India |
Rashmika Mandanna Finally Gets a Role That Deserves Her
Let’s start with Rashmika Mandanna, or as the internet never fails to remind us, “the national crush.” She’s often dismissed as a PR product: cast for her popularity, not her performance. But here’s the thing: in The Girlfriend, she proves she’s much more than a pretty face. Playing Bumma, a literature student whose relationship becomes a slow descent into emotional suffocation, Rashmika gives one of her most restrained and vulnerable performances yet.
There’s a moment midway through the film where you can see the light fading from her eyes, no dialogue, no tears, just quiet surrender. That’s the kind of acting you don’t expect in a mainstream Telugu release.
And her pairing with Rahul Ravindran (yes, the director himself, playing her literature professor) adds a different texture; he’s less a mentor, more a mirror to the thoughts she’s too afraid to voice. Though I’ll admit, a few of his “philosophical” lines feel straight out of Pinterest.
The Story That Feels Too Real
Bumma’s relationship with Vikram (played with chilling authenticity by Dheekshith Shetty) is the core of The Girlfriend. What starts as a typical college romance soon turns claustrophobic, his possessiveness creeping in under the guise of affection. He’s constantly touching her, claiming her, hovering just close enough to make the audience uncomfortable.
And that’s the point.
This isn’t the kind of “toxic love” that gets glorified in slow-motion montages with violin music. Rahul Ravindran’s direction strips away the gloss. The film shows how emotional control, coercion, and subtle gaslighting don’t always come with raised voices, sometimes they come with soft smiles and “I’m just worried about you.”
When Literature Should’ve Mattered More
Here’s where I had my biggest gripe. For a movie about a literature student, The Girlfriend barely explores how books shape her worldview. There are scattered references to Virginia Woolf and feminist writing, but they’re surface-level, more name-drops than narrative devices.
If literature is supposed to be her escape, her voice, her rebellion, then we should’ve felt it. Imagine if her rediscovery of independence had been tied to a poem, a line, or a book that saved her once before. It’s a missed opportunity, a good idea left half-cooked.
The Symbolism That Hits Hard
The most striking thing about The Girlfriend is its use of everyday symbols. The dupatta, for instance, becomes more than just a piece of clothing; it’s a metaphor for the burden of honor, the invisible restraint society wraps around women.
And the way the camera closes in on Rashmika as the story progresses, tighter frames, shorter breaths, you actually feel her world shrinking. There are scenes so grounded in reality that they border on horror. Anyone who’s lived through a manipulative relationship will recognize that terrifying sense of walking on eggshells, of smiling just to avoid an explosion.
What the Film Gets Right (and What It Doesn’t)
Here’s my quick take, not in a table, but as it played in my head while watching:
- What worked: The realism. The discomfort. The courage to say, “No, this isn’t love.” The writing never hands you a moral lecture — it lets you feel the consequences instead. Rashmika’s performance and the supporting characters, especially the one friend who finally calls out Vikram’s behavior, ground the story beautifully.
- What didn’t: The literature angle deserved real emotional weight. Some dialogues felt too self-aware. And while the ending lands with quiet power, a few pacing dips make the second act drag slightly.
Still, when you walk out, it stays with you, not as entertainment, but as something that poked at a truth you’d rather not admit.
Also Read: Haq Review: Yami Gautam Shines, But Bollywood Fails the Real Shah Bano Story
| Good | Bad |
|---|---|
| Rashmika Mandanna’s best performance yet | Literature theme underused |
| Realistic portrayal of toxic love | Some dialogues feel “quote-worthy” instead of real |
| Symbolism and visual storytelling | Slight pacing drag in midsection |
| Courage to challenge glamorized male toxicity | Box office marketing doesn’t match the film’s tone |
Final Thoughts
The Girlfriend isn’t an easy film to watch, and that’s exactly why it’s important. It flips the lens on a culture that romanticizes control and calls it love. It doesn’t lecture you, it just shows you, and sometimes, that’s far more powerful.
So, if you’ve ever rolled your eyes at people calling Kabir Singh “problematic,” or if you’ve ever been in a relationship that made you doubt your own sanity, this film might hit a little too close to home. And maybe that’s the whole point.
Verdict: The Girlfriend isn’t perfect, but it’s bold, relevant, and painfully human. It’s one of those rare Telugu films that dares to question what we’ve normalized for too long.
⭐ Rating: 4/5
🎞️ Where to Watch: In theaters (and absolutely worth the ticket for Rashmika’s performance alone)
