What is The Girlfriend (2025)?
- The Girlfriend is a 2025 Telugu-language romantic drama film, written and directed by Rahul Ravindran.
- Produced by Geetha Arts and associated studios, the film stars Rashmika Mandanna in the lead role (as Bhooma), with Dheekshith Shetty and Anu Emmanuel among other key cast members.
- The Girlfriend was theatrically released on 7 November 2025.
- The film runs for approximately 2 hours 18 minutes and has been described as a drama-romance exploring relationships, control, personal growth, and emotional abuse.
Story & Themes: A Mirror to Modern Relationships
- The narrative revolves around Bhooma, a young woman whose college relationship with Vikram begins innocently but soon reveals darker shades of control, emotional abuse, and suffocation. The film tracks her emotional journey from innocence to self-realisation and eventual assertion of self-worth.
- The film doesn’t shy away from depicting the toxic dynamics that many people endure — possessiveness disguised as love, emotional manipulation, and the difficulty victims face in recognizing and escaping such relationships. Critics have noted that The Girlfriend brings to screen a realistic portrait of these issues rather than glorifying them.
- According to one review, the opening part is relatively calm, but the story progressively builds into an intense, emotionally charged drama—culminating in a climax that symbolises empowerment and liberation.
Performances, Direction & Technical Aspects
- Rashmika Mandanna’s portrayal of Bhooma has been widely praised as one of her best in recent years. Critics and reviewers highlight her ability to navigate vulnerability, fear, anger, and eventual strength with nuance and emotional depth.
- Dheekshith Shetty, playing the male lead, convincingly shifts from a loving boyfriend to a controlling partner, making the toxic relationship arc credible and disturbing — a standout in his performance.
- Cinematography by Krishnan Vasant and background score by Hesham Abdul Wahab (score by Prashanth R. Vihari) add to the film’s emotional tone — capturing the claustrophobic feeling of emotional suffocation and the liberating release in the climax.
- While the film’s message and performances are largely appreciated, critics note certain drawbacks: uneven pacing, occasional melodramatic episodes, and some choices in writing or characterisation that may feel predictable or heavy-handed.
Reception & Box Office: Mixed With Strengths
- Critically, The Girlfriend has received a mixture of praise and caution. Many laud its bold themes, realistic portrayal of emotional abuse, and the lead performances — especially Rashmika’s.
- Some reviewers, however, cite the slow pace and narrative flaws as drawbacks that blunt its overall impact.
- On the commercial front, the film reportedly grossed ₹29.04 crore during its theatrical run — a respectable figure for a drama of this kind in the current Telugu cinema landscape.
- While the initial box office was moderate, word-of-mouth and strong viewer reactions have sustained its performance beyond the opening weekend.
OTT Release: Wider Access Nationwide
- For audiences who missed the theatrical release, The Girlfriend is now available on the streaming platform Netflix from 5 December 2025.
- The film will stream in multiple languages — Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam — expanding its reach across India beyond the Telugu-speaking audience.
This multilingual availability enhances the film’s potential impact among urban and rural audiences alike, allowing it to spark discussions on relationships, emotional abuse, and self-empowerment across cultural and linguistic lines.
Why The Girlfriend Matters — Significance Beyond Cinema
- Social relevance: In a time when conversations around emotional abuse, mental health, and consent are gaining prominence in India, The Girlfriend contributes meaningfully by depicting toxic relationships with sensitivity — not glamorising them. Its portrayal of control, manipulation, and the journey to self-realisation resonates with many real-life stories.
- Representation of female voice: The film centres the female protagonist’s perspective, giving space to her internal struggle, emotional turmoil, and eventual assertion of agency — a narrative less frequently explored in commercial cinema.
- Cross-region reach: Through OTT release with multi-language dubbing/subtitles, The Girlfriend can reach viewers across India — helping spread awareness about relationship dynamics beyond regional boundaries.
- Encouraging mature storytelling: The movie reflects a growing acceptance in Indian cinema for stories that address psychological and emotional issues realistically. It may encourage more filmmakers to explore unconventional themes beyond conventional romance or masala.
What to Keep in Mind: Strengths and Limitations
Final Take: The Girlfriend — Imperfect, Important, and Worth Watching
The Girlfriend may not be flawless cinema — but it is bold, relevant and emotionally resonant. With strong performances, especially by Rashmika Mandanna, careful handling of delicate themes, and a narrative that refuses to sugarcoat toxic relationships, the film stands out in 2025’s crowded release calendar.
Last Updated on: Friday, December 5, 2025 1:44 pm by Sakethyadav | Published by: Sakethyadav on Friday, December 5, 2025 1:44 pm | News Categories: Entertainment