Rama Krishna Sangem
After seeing The Girlfriend movie by Rahul Ravindran, we just cannot but wonder whether it is a counter version to famed Arjun Reddy film? Arjun Reddy was a hit not just in Telugu but its Hindi version Kabir Singh too. Vanga Sandeep Reddy’s Arjun Reddy is celebrated as a heroic story of a passionate hero – Arjun Reddy, who never bothers about the rest of the world, while claiming, owning and pursuing his lover. He is an Alpha male, all the way.
Arjun Reddy declared a junior college mate as his own girl and warns all against coming any nearer to her. He picks quarrels with anyone who gets closer to her, and whoever comes in his way, even her own father. Finally, the girl accepts, agrees and understands his love, passionate, aggressive and proprietary. Interestingly, The Girlfriend’s protagonist Rashmika Mandanna is stated to be now engaged to Arjun Reddy protagonist, Vijay Devarakonda.
That apart, Rahul Ravindran who provided story, screenplay and direction to The Girlfriend, has taken enough care to draw multliple parellals to Arjun Reddy. In Girlfriend too, male protagonist, Deekshith Shetty, a 29 year old Kannada based hero, spots and professes his love to heroine – Rashmika (Bhoomi) in a postgraduate college. A motherless and confused Rashmika innocently accepts Deekshith (Vikram)’s love and without her consent become his girlfriend.
I am not giving any spoiler here, but want to highlight the points where this movie runs in contrasts to Arjun Reddy storyline. For Sandeep Reddy, a dominant and assertive or aggressive male is a natural hero – nothing wrong with his over-possessiveness. In The Girlfriend, too, the hero tries an Arjun Reddy. Campus atmosphere, stupid friends circles and mindless youthful exuberance and occasional violence- are all common in both the movies.
Different ending
But, Rahul Ravindran gives a different ending to The Girlfriend. Whether we call it an assertive female or an aspiring youth, in today’s world, no girl is ready to forego her self, in the name of love or marriage, however, conformist she maybe. Rahul beautifully wrote the character of Rohini, mother of hero, without a single dialogue. Heroine’s father Rao Ramesh too is a typical father, no different from a self-absorbed male lover. Here, the girl has to overcome to obstacles – the boyfriend and father. Anu Emmanuel is another female lead.
Allu Aravind, Dheeraj Mogilineni and Koppineedi Vidya are producers, Prashant Vihari and Hesham Abdul Wahab gave music scores, Vasant is cinematography of The Girlfriend. A must watch for all those who love romantic dramas! Imdb user reviews gave 8.9 out of 10, but other reviewers especially women critics gave more than that!
This movie is made in five languages – Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi. Finally, one suggestion to Rahul and his team – how about a sequel to The Girlfriend? Because, the story of Bhoomi just began, and we are curious to know what next!
