Anupama Chopra reviews "Bad Girl," the bold directorial debut from Varsha Bharath that has stirred both acclaim and controversy in Tamil cinema. Chopra praises the film's unflinching portrayal of Ramya, played brilliantly by Anjali Sivaraman, as she navigates the tumultuous journey from adolescence to adulthood while grappling with desire, societal expectations, and self-discovery. The review highlights the film's strongest moments in its school-years section, where Yahoo Messenger romances and first loves unfold with genuine sweetness, featuring Hridhu Haroon in a memorable supporting role. Chopra particularly commends Sivaraman's raw and fearless performance that makes Ramya likable even in her most flawed moments, alongside Shanti Priya's superb portrayal of Ramya's complex mother.
The review acknowledges that while the film loses some momentum in its college sections, director Bharath's attention to detail and empathetic storytelling shine through. Chopra notes how producers Vetrimaaran and Anurag Kashyap have backed a provocative film that challenges Tamil cinema's traditional portrayal of women, with Amit Trivedi's music effectively weaving together the chapters of Ramya's life. Despite the film's uneven pacing, Chopra concludes that "Bad Girl" succeeds in presenting a refreshingly honest portrait of a regular girl's messy, relatable journey, ending with Mae West's iconic quote about bad girls going everywhere as a perfect summation of the film's rebellious spirit.
