Kairam Vaashi reviews The Girlfriend, directed by Rahul Ravindran, noting that while it appears to be a typical college love story with predictable beats, the film feels refreshing in its ability to make audiences deeply empathize with Bhooma, played by Rashmika Mandanna. He observes how Bhooma, an MA Literature student who lost her mother at birth, lives under crushing social conditioning that has slowly drained the life from her. Kairam highlights the two patriarchal men in her life - her boyfriend Vikram (Dheekshith Shetty) who wants a girlfriend like his mother, and her father - both dismissing her words and feelings until Vikram’s arm around her neck begins to feel suffocating.
Kairam appreciates how The Girlfriend is an intentional film that takes a clear stance on gender dynamics, though he notes the storytelling never completely drew him in, taking familiar routes and convenient choices. He praises Rashmika’s challenging performance, showing her growth as an actor, alongside Dheekshith’s confident portrayal and Rohini’s shocking role that makes viewers question themselves. Kairam particularly admires the understated moments - from Bhooma peeling skin on her finger to the tension echoed throughout, supported by Prashanth R Vihari’s effective background score. He concludes that The Girlfriend is an important, thought-provoking film, even if not entirely emotion-evoking.
