Girls Will Be Girls Film Review: A Bold and Edgy Coming-of-Age Tale Set Against the Backdrop of the Himalayas

🎥🎥🎥🎥✨ (4/5 stars, because Rani isn’t easily impressed, darling!)

Hold on to your samosas, folks! We’re about to take a wild ride up the Himalayas, where teenage hormones are running rampant in a girls’ boarding school and no one, I repeat, no one, is safe from their clutches! 😏

Meet Mira (Preeti Panigrahi), a spitfire of a teenager who’s about as subtle as a Bollywood dance number when it comes to exploring love and desire. And then there’s Anila (Kani Kasruti), Mira’s mother, who’s got more unresolved issues than a B-grade soap opera. The clash between their contrasting tales of love, desire, and rebellion is like a masala chai that’s been over-brewed, bitter yet intriguing!

Girls Will Be Girls, directed by Shuchi Talati, is like a Bollywood dance number in a funeral – bold, jarring, and completely unexpected. Set in a 90s Indian boarding school, it’s a coming-of-age drama that pulls no punches and leaves you with more questions than answers.

The awkward tango of love between Mira and her classmate Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron) is a beautiful mess. It’s sweet and innocent, like a Bollywood dream sequence, until the patriarchal Big Brother of the school decides to step in. Mira, who’s the queen bee of the school, starts facing some serious backlash, especially from the lurking, lecherous boys who suddenly fancy themselves as paparazzi. 📸

But just when you think you’ve got the plot figured out, enter Mira’s mother, Anila. This woman is like a storm in a teacup, brewing up a whirlwind of jealousy, discipline, and a desperate attempt to relive her youth. The psychological battle that ensues is like a Bollywood melodrama on steroids, pushing the boundaries of the ‘cool mom’ stereotype to its breaking point.

The movie doesn’t shy away from the awkward realities of adolescence – from Mira practicing smooching on her wrist to her cringe-worthy attempts at seduction in front of the mirror. Talati handles these scenes with the finesse of a seasoned director, making them relatable and honest, much like the arguments in an Indian joint family.

Our girl Preeti Panigrahi nails it as Mira, bringing to life the turmoil of a teenager caught between societal pressures, desire, and injustice. Keshav Kiron, as Sri, brings a refreshing contrast to Mira’s rollercoaster of emotions, highlighting the gendered differences in their experiences.

And let’s not forget Kani Kasruti, who portrays Anila with a potent mix of repression and contradiction. Anila is the embodiment of a culture that represses women’s desires, turning her relationship with Mira into a psychological thriller. Although at times, this bold exploration gets a bit too intense, overshadowing Mira and Sri’s otherwise beautiful story.

Much like the love-hate relationship between a sari and a safety pin, Talati’s directorial debut has its faults. The script sometimes relies too heavily on dialogue, with some conversations bordering on cheesy teenage sentimentality.

Yet, at the core of Girls Will Be Girls is a scathing critique of patriarchy and its crippling effects on women. Talati takes us on a journey through the twisted maze of societal pressures, showing us the dark side of female sexuality and its transformation into an act of rebellion.

Despite its flaws, Girls Will Be Girls is a visually stunning drama that offers a bold exploration of adolescence, family, and desire. It’s like a Bollywood potboiler with a feminist twist, and Talati’s flair for storytelling marks her as a director to watch out for!

Rani’s Wrap-Up: In the end, this film is like a spicy plate of biryani – a riot of flavors with some pieces more palatable than others. But hey, isn’t that what makes it interesting? 😉 So grab your popcorn, because this movie guarantees a rollercoaster ride of emotions, much like a family gathering during the festive season! 🍿🎉