Girls Will Be Girls Movie Review: Real and poignant

Mira (Preeti Panigrahi) is a 12th standard student at the same boarding school her mom Anila (Kani Kusruti) went to. They have a house nearby, though she prefers living in the hostel. She’s of that age when girls can’t stand their moms. The absence of her father (Jitin Gulati), further adds to her teenage angst. Her father is always travelling for business reasons and both mother and daughter react to the long periods of separation in their own ways. The film paints a believable picture of boarding schools. Some students are teacher’s pets, some are pranksters, boys love to ‘propose’ to girls while the teachers take pride in enforcing rules. For example, Mrs Bansal (Devika Shahani) is a model teacher until you see how much she likes to control her charges, especially when it comes to short skirts and ‘friendly’ boys. And yes, being a prefect is the ultimate honour. 

Like all teenagers, Mira is curious about the changes in her body. She forms a crush on new boy Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron) and his mature ways charm the mother too. He drops regularly at their place – Mira is the top student at her school and under the guise of studying, lust blossoms. Anila is aware of the attraction but doesn’t stop Sri from coming, owing to the fact that she too has developed some unclear feelings for him. The boy, who indeed is more wise and mature for his age, knows he has got a good thing going. He plays along, the only one among them fully aware of his own motives…

Mira tells Sri that she can’t stand her mom, and this is the first clue to the invisible discord . between them. Anila can’t stop being a helicopter mom, even as she deals with the emptiness of her own life. The mother-daughter relationship is at the crux of the film and looks as battered and lived-in as you see in real life. But behind the cold vibes, the love they have for each other lies intact. The triumph of the film Mira’s gradual realisation of this fact.

Sexual awakening is another important aspect of the film. Like the ace student she is, Mira takes to it with a scholar’s zeal. She awakens to the delight of touch and later loses her virginity. The scenes are written and acted in such a way that you recognise innocence being lost. All the blunder, guilt, heartache and not to mention joy come alive in Preeti Panigrahi’s expressions and body language. There’s no titillating factor to the aesthetically shot scenes,

Newcomer Preeti Panigrahi is a find. She doesn’t just act and lives her character. The end scene provides cantharis not only to her character but also to the viewers. And one must mention she’s acting opposite one of the best actors we have today, Kani Kusruti. They look like the perfect mother-daughter pair. Kani looks casually sexual in the film as Anila and that’s something that’s gnawing at her daughter. This dichotomy of being a caring mother and also a woman who has her own needs is brought alive through Kani’s superlative acting. Keshav Binoy Kiron too is a natural fit to this triangle. He manages to add a layer of ambiguity to his ‘good boy’ routine.

Watch the film for its simple yet layered tale of finding oneself, of growing up. The knockout performances by the three leads will keep you wanting for more. Kudos to debutant director Shuchi Talati for making such a heartwarming and sensitive film. It’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.Girls Will Be Girls is a sensitive coming of age film. Continue reading …Read More