Image Source : Screengrab From YouTube & X | Geetha Arts
November 7, 2025, brought an emotional gut-punch to the big screen. The Girlfriend (Telugu) is not a fairy tale; it’s a mirror held up to the painful realities of modern love, where charm can mask cruelty. The core question: Does the raw intensity and nuanced performance of Rashmika Mandanna save director Rahul Ravindran’s bold, yet often predictable, take on emotional toxicity?
The verdict is complex: The the girlfriend movie review 2025 consensus is that the film is a necessary conversation starter, anchored by a career-best performance. While the the girlfriend telugu film rating is solid, the film’s reliance on familiar tropes ultimately divides critics. Here is your comprehensive guide, complete with verified ratings, performance breakdowns, and where to stream the best ott releases 2025 contender.
Quick Verdict: Solid Emotional Core, But Script Stumbles (3/5)
Genre & Runtime – U/A Certification
The Girlfriend is a compelling Romantic Drama that swiftly ventures into Thriller territory. With a crisp runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes and a U/A certification, the film is designed to deliver maximum emotional impact without unnecessary length.
Overall Rating – 3/5; Mixed for Plot Seekers
The average critic rating settles around 3/5 stars. This score reflects a major internal struggle: immense praise for the film’s emotional depth and performances, but sharp critique for a familiar script and sluggish first half.
Who Should Watch – Viewers Craving Self-Worth Stories
- Watch If: You are a fan of rashmika mandanna the girlfriend review highlights and are interested in films about self-worth, emotional abuse, and personal boundaries. It’s a powerful tool for discussion.
- Skip If: You are seeking genre-bending twists or fast-paced thrillers. The film is a slow burn dedicated to emotional truth.
Plot Summary: Love’s Slow Poison (Spoiler-Free)
Core Narrative – Bhooma Navigates a Controlling Relationship
The the girlfriend plot summary spoiler-free focuses on Bhooma (Rashmika Mandanna), a literature student whose life is upended by a charismatic man named Vikram (Dheekshith Shetty). Their passionate relationship quickly devolves into a struggle for control. Vikram, who was raised by a single father, exhibits intensely toxic, patriarchal, and controlling behavior, isolating Bhooma from her friends and career aspirations.
Themes Explored – Toxic Dynamics, Patriarchy, Self-Discovery
The film bravely explores the girlfriend toxic relationship drama, tackling themes rarely handled with such frankness in mainstream cinema: emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and the slow erosion of a woman’s sense of self. The story finds its redemptive arc as Bhooma begins the painful, necessary process of self-discovery and reclaiming her independence.
Pacing Note – Slow-Burn First Half Builds to Gripping Climax
The film deliberately adopts a slow-burn pace in its first half to fully immerse the audience in the suffocation Bhooma experiences. This emotional pressure cooker gradually builds to a gripping, cathartic climax in the final hour, which critics found highly impactful.
Cast & Performances: Rashmika Carries the Film
The power of The Girlfriend rests squarely on its star’s shoulders.
Rashmika Mandanna as Bhooma – Career-Best
This is Rashmika Mandanna’s film. The the girlfriend movie review 2025 consensus is that this is her most accomplished role yet. She delivers a performance of incredible, nuanced restraint, shifting effortlessly between passionate love and silent panic attacks. She perfectly conveys the terrifying feeling of being trapped. Her ability to carry the emotional weight of the film is undeniable, earning her critical scores of 4.5/5 for her individual performance alone.
Dheekshith Shetty as Vikram – Convincing Chauvinist
Dheekshith Shetty is thoroughly convincing as Vikram, the outwardly charming yet deeply chauvinistic boyfriend. However, critics note that the script limits the character’s depth, portraying him as somewhat one-dimensional, a direct contrast to the layered realism of Bhooma.
Supporting Roles – Anu Emmanuel and Rao Ramesh
The supporting cast provides crucial emotional context. Anu Emmanuel excels in a strong subplot, and Rao Ramesh adds significant weight to the story through his portrayal of the single father who raised Vikram. Rohini shines briefly in a pivotal scene that grounds the emotional turmoil.
Direction & Technicals: Ravindran’s Intent Shines Through Flaws
Rahul Ravindran’s Direction – Bold on Misogyny as Illness
Director rahul ravindran the girlfriend deserves credit for tackling such a challenging subject. His bold directorial intent to portray misogyny as a psychological illness, rather than a romantic trope, is admirable. Critics have compared his approach to Arjun Reddy, but deliberately avoiding the glorification of toxic behavior, pushing the film toward a needed social commentary.
Music & Score – Emotional Layers
The film’s emotional landscape is beautifully enhanced by the music. Hesham Abdul Wahab’s tracks add soulful, haunting layers that capture the pain and longing, while Prashanth R Vihari’s background score skillfully elevates the climax, making the confrontation feel cathartic.
Cinematography & Editing
Krishnan Vasant’s intimate visuals capture the claustrophobia of Bhooma’s relationship. The editing by Chota K Prasad is key to the emotional arc, managing the pace of the slow-burn first half and effectively tightening the tension in the second.
Pros & Cons: What Works and What Doesn’t
| Category | Detail | Impact |
| Pros | Rashmika’s Heartfelt Performance | Unanimous 4.5/5 score for her role; carries the film. |
| Pros | Relevant Message on Self-Respect | Sparks important social dialogue among youth. |
| Pros | Impactful Climax | Cathartic and emotionally charged, resolving the tension built over two hours. |
| Cons | Predictable Plot / Unrealistic Males | The how and why are often too familiar; the male lead lacks realistic depth. |
| Cons | Uneven Pacing | The dedication to the slow-burn in the first half tests the patience of some viewers. |
Reviews Roundup: Praise for Rashmika, Critique for Script
The critical reception for the girlfriend movie review 2025 confirms the power of its lead and the challenge of its script.
- GreatAndhra (2.5/5): “Rashmika Killed It; the lag in the first half slows the pace, but it’s a rollercoaster after the interval.”
- India Today (3.5/5): “Emotionally Charged. A powerful reminder of self-worth in love and one of the most sincere best ott releases 2025 so far.”
- The Hindu (3/5): “A bold exploration of suffocating relationships. Rashmika’s measured turn elevates the entire film.”
- Cinema Express (4/5): “Gripping & Relevant. This is a knockout performance from Rashmika Mandanna.”
Consensus – IMDb 8.2/10; Average Grosser
The audience verdict, as reflected in the early the girlfriend 2025 imdb rating rashmika performance (an astonishing 8.2/10), shows that viewers connected intensely with the film’s emotional core. The film finished its run with an average gross of ₹28 Crore, performing well but falling short of blockbuster expectations.
Where to Watch & Final Thoughts: Worth the Emotional Ride
Streaming – OTT Rights TBD
The film’s theatrical run has concluded, and its OTT rights are currently being finalized. The digital premiere is expected soon, likely landing on one of the major platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in the coming months.
Pair With – Ideal for Discussions on Modern Love
Pair The Girlfriend with a discussion on the themes explored in films like Arjun Reddy (to contrast how toxicity is portrayed) or Rashmika Mandanna’s highly praised intensity in Animal for a powerful viewing session.
Conclusion: The Girlfriend – Rashmika’s Triumph Over Toxic Tropes
The Girlfriend is ultimately Rashmika Mandanna’s triumph. The the girlfriend movie review 2025 confirms that while the film has its flaws, its powerful core message about self-respect and the raw, unyielding nature of a toxic relationship makes it essential viewing. It’s an important step for the the girlfriend toxic relationship drama genre.
This is a film that will resonate, provoke discussion, and remind you that sometimes, the most courageous act in love is choosing yourself.
Did Rashmika’s performance hit home for you? Agree or skip the script? Share your take below!
FAQs
Q: What is The Girlfriend movie review rating?
A: The average critic rating is approximately 3/5 stars, but the audience rating, reflecting the girlfriend 2025 imdb rating rashmika performance, stands very high at 8.2/10.
Q: How was Rashmika Mandanna’s performance in The Girlfriend?
A: Rashmika delivered a career-best performance, praised by critics for her nuanced restraint in portraying a woman dealing with emotional turmoil and panic attacks. She is widely credited with carrying the film.
Q: What is The Girlfriend plot summary spoiler-free?
A: The film follows Bhooma (Rashmika Mandanna), a literature student whose relationship with Vikram (Dheekshith Shetty) descends into a the girlfriend toxic relationship drama, forcing her on a difficult journey of self-discovery and independence.
Q4: Who composed the music for The Girlfriend?
A: The film’s music is composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab, with background score by Prashanth R Vihari.
Q5: What was The Girlfriend box office collection?
A: The Girlfriend concluded its theatrical run with an approximate worldwide gross collection of ₹28 Crore.
