Breaking the barriers 

“Bad Girl”

– Review

‘Bad Girl’ is a coming-of-age story centered on a character named Ramya, portrayed by Anjali Sivaraman.

The narrative is divided into three distinct segments, each following Ramya’s journey through a different stage of her life: school, college, and adulthood.

The film traces her navigation of romantic relationships, self-discovery, and defiance against societal and familial expectations.

It touches upon themes of female rebellion, independence, and the struggles of a woman trying to forge her own path in a conservative society.

As a debut director, Varsha Bharath shows a distinct and empathetic voice.

Her use of saturated sun-lit shots and sharp edits effectively captures the fluctuating moods of her protagonist, especially in the film’s first section.

She also skillfully integrates commercial Tamil cinema elements like songs into the narrative, using them to highlight Ramya’s dreams and desires.

While the first third of the film, which explores a scandalous school romance, is particularly strong, the later segments are noted to be less impactful, resorting to more familiar cinematic tropes.

Anjali Sivaraman delivers a raw and fearless performance as Ramya, making her character relatable and likable even in her most flawed moments.

The movie’s supporting cast, including Shanthi Priya as Ramya’s mother and Hridhu Haroon as one of her romantic interests, also deliver strong performances.

Shanthi Priya’s portrayal of a complex mother-daughter relationship adds emotional depth to the film.

The cinematography, handled by Preetha Jayaraman, Jagadeesh Ravi, and Prince Anderson, is noteworthy.

The music, composed by Amit Trivedi in his Tamil debut, effectively weaves together the different chapters of Ramya’s life.

Rating: 3.4/5

By Naveen