Rashmika Mandanna’s 'The Girlfriend' Isn’t A Typical Love Story, But A Lesson Many Women Realise Too Late

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I recently watched the much-talked-about film 'The Girlfriend', starring Rashmika Mandanna, on Netflix this weekend. It was something I had wanted to watch for a long time, especially after hearing so many positive reviews. And I must say, it was worth the watch. At least, it is for women. Many men may not find themselves as receptive to it.

Photo Credit: Filmibeat

Not About Perfection, But About Cracks

I firmly believe that no woman or man is perfect. Every individual has flaws. But this film doesn't attempt to portray perfection. Instead, it lays bare the cracks of a relationship, a toxic one to be precise. While the title 'The Girlfriend' may suggest a narrow lens, the story goes beyond the struggles of a woman in a romantic relationship. It also examines her life as a daughter, someone brought up to live according to others' expectations, where her likes and choices are rarely given importance.

The Opening Scene That Says Everything

This is evident right from the opening scene. The titular character Bhooma struggles to carry her suitcases up to her room. Another girl asks if she wants help. Bhooma doesn't respond not because she doesn't want it, but because she doesn't know how to express her needs. Confusion, insecurity, and a lack of confidence are written all over her character, making her painfully relatable to many women.

Books As Escape And Survival

When she is later asked why she chose M.A. Literature as her subject, Bhooma explains that books have been her escape from reality. She hopes to become a writer someday, someone who can create the same refuge for a child that books once did for her. At that moment, the answer was already clear. Reality, for Bhooma, has never been particularly kind.

Why 'The Girlfriend' Felt Like A Horror Film

Watching 'The Girlfriend' felt like watching a horror film to me. Not because it was meant to be one, but because it serves as an eye-opener to what a toxic relationship looks like and what happens when one slowly succumbs to it. On a lighter note, those who strongly disagreed with the movie 'Arjun Reddy' or its remake 'Kabir Singh' might find themselves wishing that Preeti had responded the way Bhooma eventually does.

Here are a few moments from the film that stayed with me. Do note that these are mild spoilers, mainly thematic observations rather than plot details.

Being Brainwashed Into A Relationship

This is exactly what happens to Bhooma. It's easy to question how such manipulation occurs, but it isn't just about a man claiming love and taking liberties without consent. It's also about the environment. When everyone around treats having a boyfriend or girlfriend like a trophy, something to be proud of you begin to believe that this is the right path, even when it costs you yourself.

When One Woman Straightens Another Woman's Crown

The relationship between Bhooma and Durga, her boyfriend's friend, is beautifully portrayed. Durga initially dislikes Bhooma, but when she notices Bhooma's honesty, her willingness to admit mistakes and seek help she warms up to her. She asks Bhooma one simple question: Are you happy in your relationship? Bhooma replies that she is because he is completely dependent on her and she does everything for him. Durga helps her realise that this answer is less about happiness and more about self-convincing.

The Boyfriend's Mother, A Mirror To Bhooma's Future

One of the most unsettling yet powerful scenes in the film unfolds without dialogue. Bhooma meets her boyfriend's mother and imagines herself wearing her saree, mirroring her demure attitude. It's a chilling glimpse into her possible future. By this point, Bhooma already understands that Vikram chose her because she reminds him of his mother.

The Breaking Point

The final scene delivers pure goosebumps and may remind viewers of Rashmika Mandanna's performance in 'Dear Comrade'. Her acting here is nothing short of remarkable. The detailing of the shawl Bhooma constantly drapes around herself throughout the film is symbolic. Only in the final scene does she shed it, signifying her liberation from societal expectations and judgment, and her decision to finally be herself.

So, if you're still unsure about watching 'The Girlfriend', worried it might be a feminist propaganda film, I would urge you to give it a chance. Watch it to understand what red flags in a relationship truly look like, to see why women deserve the space to express themselves, to have their likes and dislikes acknowledged. And if a man can understand this and stand by a woman as she does so, there is nothing more beautiful than that in a relationship.