Rahul Ravindran Girl Friend:

In Telugu cinema, few directors have managed to make films that genuinely present a woman’s emotions and struggles in a realistic way. After filmmakers like Vishwanth and Sekhar Kammula, another name is now being discussed for his fresh and mature handling of women-oriented subjects — Rahul Ravindran. His latest movie The Girlfriend, starring Rashmika Mandanna, has created discussions among movie lovers for its strong message and realistic presentation of a modern relationship.

Rahul Ravindran Girl Friend:

While the film seems to connect more with women, it is being called just average by male viewers. However, everyone is talking about one thing the director’s brilliance and his storytelling style.

If we look at the story of The Girlfriend, Bhoomi Devi (played by Rashmika) takes Literature in M.A. because she wants to become a writer. Since childhood, she has faced several problems due to her father’s possessiveness. During her college days, she unknowingly falls in love with Vikram. But Vikram is the kind of man who believes that women are only suitable for cooking and household work.

Their love begins with small moments, grows deeper and leads to intimacy. When Bhoomi is still confused about her feelings, their relationship goes so far that they even share the same room for quite some time(However the director never shows Bhoomi committing a mistake). But after that point, the real story begins. Bhoomi wonders, “Is this boy really the right person for my life or not?”

Later, Bhoomi decides to tell Vikram about the breakup. How she conveys it, what difficulties she faces after that, how her father suddenly returns and complicates her life even more, and what final decision Bhoomi takes after struggling between her father and her boyfriend ; all these form the core of the film.

The story might sound simple. The first half is below average, the second half is good, and the climax is great, infact climax is just an epic. Even though the narration isn’t completely gripping, Rahul Ravindran managed to add some truly brilliant scenes that lift the film.

In fact, many feel that Rahul have ability become the next Sekhar Kammula if he continues to make such films. Just like Sekhar Kammula presents his stories from a woman’s point of view, Rahul too did the same in Chi La Sow, and now again in The Girlfriend. Though we can’t say the film reaches Sekhar’s level, in a few moments, Sekhar Kammula’s mark in Rahul is clearly visible.

One strong example is a scene where the hero takes the heroine home to introduce her to his mother. The hero’s mother feels shy and doesn’t speak to Bhoomi. Immediately Bhoomi asks, “Is your mother Dumb?” The hero replies, “No, my father has kept her under such control. Otherwise, his belt would do the talking.” Later, the mother goes into the kitchen and starts muttering to herself. This one scene makes it clear how many husbands control their wives to such an extent that even speaking becomes a restriction and showing how their mental health is affected.

In another powerful scene, when Bhoomi learns how the hero’s mother was before and after marriage, she looks into the mirror and imagines herself after marrying Vikram — realizing that she would end up the same way.

Another symbolic moment shows Bhoomi standing between two walls, visually representing how she is trapped between her father and her boyfriend possessiveness — without any dialogue, the pain is perfectly expressed.

The scene where Anu Emmanuel speaks to Rashmika is beautifully written and directed. It becomes clear by then that Vikram chooses a girl only because she can cook or manage a house. The way Anu Emmanuel explains this truth to Bhoomi, Rahul’s direction there create real magic.

The second half is filled with such emotional sequences. Another scene about career choices is also meaningful — Vikram wants Bhoomi to stay wherever he works, though he himself has eight backlogs in college, while Bhoomi is a brilliant student. This scene gives a strong answer to those men who think only about their careers and not about their partners’ dreams.

And most importantly, the director handled one of the boldest scenes with great maturity. In this movie, the hero and heroine share the same room and sleep together — but not once does the director portray the heroine as guilty or wrong. That’s why, when the heroine delivers her final dialogue in the climax, even the audience begins to question themselves — “Have we too been thinking wrongly about women?” The director makes us self-reflect on our mindset without preaching.

And then comes the highlight — the climax scene. When both her boyfriend and father fail to understand her, Bhoomi suddenly throws her phone away, and the lights come on showing that her patience has reached its end. Rashmika’s dialogue at that moment gives goosebumps: “I kissed you hundreds of times, slept beside you many times. Now I myself told everyone about it. You can put up my cut-outs near my wedding hall if you want. But one day, a man will come into my life to whom I’ll say all this myself. If such a man doesn’t exist, I’ll never marry.”

From this dialogue to the moment where she walks toward Vikram to slap him — the audience can’t help but get goosebumps.

Even the ending is interesting. A boy we saw in the first half as a small side character seems to reappear at the end, and it feels like Rashmika might actually marry him — giving the story a nice twist.

Overall, The Girlfriend doesn’t preach about how men should behave; instead, it shows how women wish to live their own life freely. The film’s message is clear — a real hero is not someone who dominates a woman but someone who lets her live freely and respects her choices.

Apart from heroism and beauty, a woman values a man who respects her — that’s the message Rahul Ravindran conveys. He also reminds that when a woman stands on her own feet, everything she deserves will come to her, along with respect from everyone.

Just like Sekhar Kammula, Rahul seems to focus on the story, concept, and emotion rather than glamour or mass appeal. If he continues to direct with such sensitivity, there’s no doubt — after Sekhar Kammula, Rahul Ravindran will be the next director to carry forward the legacy of women-oriented storytelling in Telugu cinema.

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