Rashmika Shines, but the Toxic Love Story Drags On

Director: Rahul Ramakrishna

Rating: 2/5 stars

Rashmika Mandanna, known for her impressive performances in *Animal*, *Pushpa* and *Chhava*, takes on the simpler, girl-next-door role in *The Girlfriend* and pulls it off with grace and sensitivity. Its innocence and subtle emotional expressions are the film’s greatest strength. But its reliance on debutant director Rahul Ramakrishna seems misplaced as the film veers into a tiresome and repetitive portrayal of a toxic relationship.

*The Girlfriend* is, at its core, a campus love story between two students. Rashmika plays a literature postgraduate student who falls in love with her college friend, played by Deekshit Shetty. While the love between them begins light and warm, the man’s possessiveness, insecurity, and lack of emotional maturity soon come to the surface. Their relationship is rushed; So much so that Rashmika looks confused when a friend congratulates her on the relationship.

As time progresses, she finds herself caught between a domineering lover and a harsh, selfish father, and becomes emotionally suffocated. Instead of confronting either of them, his reluctance and indecision extends into infinity, testing the audience’s patience.

Deekshit Shetty’s character takes a turn for the worse and reminds one of Vijay Deverakonda’s *Arjun Reddy*, but lacks the raw intensity and depth needed to make him convincing. Rashmika’s role as a woman caught in emotional turmoil is effective, but the narrative limits her potential by constantly pushing her into self-pity. While Rao Ramesh appears briefly, director Rahul Ramakrishna himself plays the role of an English professor.

The film tries to convey a thoughtful message; toxicity is not always loud or severe; Sometimes it stems from emotional dominance, lack of understanding, and the need to control. Unfortunately, good intentions are lost in slow pacing, overly tense conflicts, and repetitive emotional cycles. Deekshit’s character oversteps the boundaries of decency to the point where he becomes overdramatic instead of impressive.

Whether the director is warning young women to be careful in relationships or mismanaging the narrative, *The Girlfriend* becomes a missed opportunity. Rashmika’s sincere performance stands out, but the movie around her is still tiring and the toxicity stretches beyond bearable limits. All the college students laughing at Rashmika’s humiliation are unrealistic..