The Girlfriend Review : Rashmika Shines in Rahul Ravindran’s Hard-Hitting Drama The Girlfriend

Punchline:

Hard-Hitting and Unapologetic – Rashmika Shines in an Emotionally Intense Drama

Storyline:

Bhooma Devi (Rashmika Mandanna), a literature student aspiring to become an author, joins Ramalingaiah Arts & Science College in Hyderabad. There she meets Vicky (Dheekshith Shetty), a computer science student who manipulates and gaslights her into falling in love. As their relationship progresses, Bhooma begins to realize the emotional abuse and obsession hidden behind his charm. The story explores how Bhooma deals with her toxic relationship, what drives Vicky’s behaviour, and how Durga (Anu Emmanuel) connects to their lives.

Positives:

Rashmika Mandanna’s career-best performance

Five brilliantly directed emotional sequences, especially the mirror and shower scenes

Powerful dialogues that leave an impact

Rohini’s stunning single-sequence act

Soulful music and background score by Hesham Abdul Wahab

Negatives:

Leisurely pace that tests patience in the first half

Poorly written Rao Ramesh character arc

Unidimensional writing, overly tilted toward one perspective

Technicalities:

Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music elevates the emotions and blends beautifully with the film’s tone. Krishnan Vasant’s cinematography deserves high praise, especially in the mirror and shower scenes. Editing by Chota K Prasad could have been sharper to tighten the narrative flow. The producers Allu Aravind, Dheeraj Mogilineni, and Vidya Koppineedi deserve credit for backing a bold and socially relevant subject. Director Rahul Ravindran handles the theme of gaslighting with honesty and intensity, though he occasionally goes overboard in portraying men negatively.

Rating: 2.75 / 5

Final Verdict:

“The Girlfriend” is a serious, thought-provoking drama that highlights the emotional trauma of gaslighting with honesty and depth. It’s not for everyone its slow pace and strong feminist stance might divide audiences but Rashmika’s powerhouse performance and Rahul Ravindran’s intent make it a hard-hitting and relevant watch.

Follow Telugu Funda on trending Social Media Platforms for more Cinema, OTT, Political, And Sports updates.