Movie Name : The Girlfriend
Release Date : Nov 07, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Rashmika Mandanna, Dheekshith Shetty, Anu Emmanuel, Rao Ramesh, Rohini & Others
Director : Rahul Ravindran
Producers : Vidya Koppineedi & Dheeraj Mogilineni
Music Director : Hesham Abdul Wahab
Cinematographer : Krishnan Vasant
Editor : Chota K Prasad
Related Links : Trailer
Rashmika Mandanna’s new film The Girlfriend arrived in theatres today. Directed by Rahul Ravindran and co-starring Deekshith Shetty, the movie has drawn attention ahead of its release. Here’s our review of how it turned out.
Story:
Bhooma Devi (Rashmika Mandanna), an innocent and soft-natured girl, comes to Hyderabad to pursue her MA in English. Vikram (Deekshith Shetty), a student from another department in the same college, soon crosses paths with her, and the two fall in love. However, Vikram’s behaviour gradually becomes unbearable for Bhooma, making her feel like she’s with someone completely incompatible. His actions cost her everything – her father (Rao Ramesh), her friends, and her mental peace. What Bhooma ultimately chooses to do forms the crux of the story.
Plus Points:
Rashmika Mandanna gets another meaty role, and she delivers with complete conviction. She embodies Bhooma’s innocence and gentle nature effortlessly. Her dialogue delivery, expressions, and especially her eye work, make the character deeply believable. It is a performance strong enough to put her in the awards conversation.
Deekshith Shetty, familiar to Telugu audiences from Dasara, takes on a darker role and matches Rashmika’s intensity. He portrays a possessive, unsettling partner with striking authenticity, making the audience genuinely uncomfortable, which is exactly what the character demands.
A few interactions between the lead pair stand out, particularly the exchanges after their visit to Vikram’s home. Rao Ramesh appears briefly, but he makes an impact in a pivotal moment, proving once again why he is regarded as one of the most dependable actors in Telugu cinema.
The film also contains some thoughtfully crafted metaphorical moments. The cramped bathroom representing Bhooma’s suffocating love life is a clever visual touch. Another highlight is the wordless yet emotionally loaded interaction between the heroine and the hero’s mother (Rohini Molleti), which is among the finest scenes in the film.
Minus Points:
This is not a universally relatable story and will appeal only to a specific segment of viewers. Rahul Ravindran’s writing may resonate strongly with those who appreciate artistic or metaphor-driven storytelling, but others may find the narrative drifting into territory that feels more like fantasy than grounded reality.
The extremely contrasting personalities, an overly toxic man and a deeply innocent woman, feel somewhat exaggerated for a modern, urban backdrop. This lack of believability creates a disconnect, making the conflict appear stylized rather than authentic. In depicting Bhooma’s emotional turmoil, the film stretches several sequences, causing portions of the narrative to feel prolonged and repetitive.
The film’s consistency is uneven. The first half is decent with a clean interval point, but the latter half slows down noticeably, and the ending becomes predictable since the trajectory of the story is clear early on. The climax could have been executed with more punch.
Hesham Abdul Wahab’s compositions are pleasant to listen to, but they don’t add much emotional weight to the film. The songs remain situational and aren’t particularly memorable. Anu Emmanuel’s role also feels underdeveloped and leaves no lasting impression.
Technical Aspects:
Rahul Ravindran’s direction is sincere, but the screenplay could have used tighter writing. Prashanth R Vihari’s background score elevates several moments more effectively than the songs. Krishnan Vasant’s cinematography is functional, while Chota K Prasad’s editing could have been sharper. Production values are adequate.
Verdict:
On the whole, The Girlfriend works in parts, largely because of Rashmika Mandanna’s standout performance, supported well by Deekshith Shetty’s intense portrayal. However, the core story offers nothing particularly new, and the slow pace combined with repetitive sequences affects the overall impact. This film depends heavily on individual perspective. Some may find depth in its treatment, while others may feel disconnected. If you plan to watch it, keep your expectations modest.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team