The Girlfriend (2025): A Stirring Mix of Romance, Drama, and Southern Heart
Release date: 7 November 2025
Overview
Telugu cinema often swings between big action films and sprawling family dramas. The Girlfriend takes a different path, choosing emotion over spectacle. Rahul Ravindran directs and writes this tender romance, marking a confident return to features after a break, and it lands right in the festive window. The film arrives in cinemas on 7 November 2025, one day after my screening, and it feels like a timely treat for anyone who loves stories that linger. Produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni under Geetha Arts, with presentation by Allu Aravind, it releases across India in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, so its story can reach a wider audience.
Trailer buzz and first impressions
The first teaser, out in mid-2024, stirred early curiosity, but the full trailer pushed it into the mainstream. Running 2 minutes and 40 seconds, the trailer opens on Hyderabad’s Hussain Sagar at dusk, with warm sunlight skimming the water as Rashmika Mandanna’s Priya trades a sly glance with her lover. We then move through little pockets of life, from rain-soaked confessions to breathless chases on campus, to family meals with tense smiles, all carried by Hesham Abdul Wahab’s aching score.
The edit plants the seeds of conflict. A stern father, an unhappy ex, and the heavy hand of social rules. A voiceover says, “Love isn’t just a feeling; it’s a fight,” while Rashmika’s stare holds steady and fierce. The crescendo lands on a painful breakup scene, paired with a haunting motif, hinting at a film about endurance as much as love. No surprise the teaser crossed 10 million views in a day. It taps into the sting of first heartbreak with uncanny precision.
Cast and performances
The Girlfriend assembles a cast that feels both exciting and well-matched. Rashmika Mandanna, fresh from pan-India successes like Pushpa 2 and Chhaava, leads as Priya. She sheds the glossy action image for a more grounded role, playing a young woman caught in the push and pull of modern love. Her face does much of the work, from giddy smiles to bruised silence. Opposite her, Dheekshith Shetty, known for Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, debuts in Telugu as Arjun, an earnest engineering student orbiting Priya. He brings an easy, boy-next-door warmth. A hesitant touch, a shy grin at a family visit, small choices that feel lived-in.
The supporting cast lifts every scene. Anu Emmanuel sparks as Priya’s quick-witted best friend, cutting through tension with sharp asides that land. Rao Ramesh grounds the drama as Priya’s conservative father, a stern shell hiding quiet dread. Rohini, in a rare big-screen turn, brings tenderness as Arjun’s mother, layering in culture, care, and lived experience. Rahul Ravindran takes a brief cameo as a quirky professor, a wink to his day job behind the camera. There is also chatter about a star cameo from a Telugu icon. It adds flair without stealing focus from the central pair.
Music that moves the story
Hesham Abdul Wahab, known for Hridayam and Premam, delivers a rich, heartfelt album. The music blends acoustic guitars, lilting flutes, and modern textures, evoking classic ’90s Telugu romance with a present-day polish. There are five original tracks, each placed with purpose. The title song, Nee Gunde Lo, features Rashmika on vocals, paired with Vijay Prakash. It is a slow-burn earworm about unspoken crushes, with Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry’s lyrics calling love “a secret whispered to the stars.”
Panchami Puvvu, a folk-flavoured piece by Chinmayi, scores the rain sequence with handclaps and earthy tones that suggest hidden village love stories. The emotional core is Breakup Blues, a piano-led ballad sung by Hesham himself. It underscores the trailer’s key scene and had people dabbing their eyes before the film even began. The album dropped on Spotify three weeks ago and shot up the charts, with Nee Gunde Lo clearing 50 million streams. These are not filler songs. They act as signposts, stitching emotion into the narrative without jarring lip-sync detours.
Story and themes
Set across the breezy grounds of a Hyderabad engineering college, the story begins with a group project that brings Priya and Arjun together. Flirtation gives way to trust, and soon a deep tie forms. Their bond is tested by class differences, parental weight, and the shadow of Arjun’s old flame. Rahul Ravindran’s writing walks a steady line between light and heavy. Think Geethanjali meeting Yevade Subramanyam, with frank takes on consent, self-worth, and the thin line between care and control. The film pokes at the idea of a “girlfriend” and what that label means. Is she a possession, a partner, or the spark that pushes someone to grow?
The 2-hour 30-minute runtime moves at a clip, helped by Naveen Nooli’s clean edit and Richard Prasad’s warm, attentive cinematography. Every day, places become lyrical, from hostel mess halls and auto rides to cramped study rooms. The camera catches small gestures and soft pauses, making the ordinary feel intimate.
Where it stumbles
Not everything lands. The middle section slows with a string of repeated misunderstandings. A subplot around the best friend feels thin and deserves more time. These hiccups aside, the film commits to honesty over gloss. Ravindran is at his best in quiet beats, like a patient montage of Priya waiting by the phone. No dialogue, only breath and time, and it says everything.
Direction and craft
Ravindran keeps the focus on character and mood. Scenes unfurl with patience, letting actors hold the frame without clutter. The writing resists showy twists and big speeches, trusting small moments to carry weight. The sense of place is strong, from Hyderabad’s evenings by the water to the bustle of college corridors. Hesham’s score ties it all together, guiding feeling without overwhelming it.
Final verdict
In a year stuffed with sequels and spectacles, The Girlfriend feels like a balm. Rashmika and Dheekshith share a spark that feels effortless. The songs linger. The trailer sets the tone, and the film follows through. Verdict: 4 out of 5. A must-watch for anyone who has loved, lost, and found the courage to try again. Catch it tomorrow, your heart will be glad you did.