Rahul Ravindran’s “The Girlfriend” pays its due respect to Patriarchy (Which is None)

Telugu film “The Girlfriend” is a romantic drama, but not in the way it usually goes, it’s a story that explores the woman’s selfhood.

“The Girlfriend” (2025) presents a seemingly normal romantic relationship blossoming between two college students, Vikram starring Deekshith Shetty, and Bhooma Devi starring Rashmika Mandanna.

Image Source: The Girlfriend (movie) posters

Yet, beneath the surface of a picture-perfect college romance, the popular, hot guy hero ultimately gets exposed as a culmination of patriarchal douchebag-ness. Bhooma is shown to struggle with what she is told and what she faces, the abusive undertones of so-called possessiveness, before she ultimately breaks through with an epiphany and regains her sense of self.

(Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/the-girlfriend-post-analysis-rashmika-mandannas-emancipation-is-much-needed-antithesis-to-alpha-male-culture-101762588575061.html)

Is this cliché? Not really. Even though abusers and their numerous manipulative and violent ways have been previously screened through various films, many are yet to call out casual, everyday misogyny which is the building block of patriarchy. On the other hand, it is rare to find a film, especially in this genre, that centres a woman’s personhood, needs, wants, desires, and experiences without sidelining them for the sake of a utopian love story.

Of course, the way any film handles its narrative is still up to subjective judgement, and the reviews are mixed, ranging from “boring” to “realistic.” Yet, Bhooma’s journey is one that is more common than you would think, and whether the audience thinks the film to be good or not, this is one thing that can perhaps be agreed on.

Rahul Ravindran might not have pioneered the cause for women’s emancipation, but he does a pretty solid job of building a story that can reflect how society is so tightly bound by patriarchy and showcasing how women navigate these societal spaces and explore and reflect on their relationships, especially with the men in their lives.

Telugu film “The Girlfriend” (2025) presenting Rashmika Mandanna and Deekshith Shetty in lead roles, had its theatrical release on November 7, 2025 and is now set to release on OTT platforms starting December 5, 2025. The film has been subbed in various Indian languages including Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, making it accessible for a wider audience for reception.

(Source: https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/news/2025/the-girlfriend-ott-release-date-platform-when-where-to-watch-rashmika-mandanna-film-online-491621.html)