ani218122

I started seeing the film with great expectations. However, "Girls Will Be Girls" is a disappointing and uninspired film that fails to deliver on its potential. The premise, which could have been fun empowering, and emotional, is overshadowed by too much repetitions, directionless script, and frankly speaking, the perception of intellectualism, which ultimately makes the whole thing a stupid, wasted effort. I found a strong similarity with Mannu Bhandari's story "Trishanku" which explored the mother-daughter conflict involving a boy. But that was written in a much lucid manner where the girl is the storyteller, the tension palpable, and the logic behind the actions understandable. Here, it is like the director is constantly trying to prove - Look, I'm different. I'm avant-garde. Etc. Ultimately, it's a forgettable film that doesn't live up to the expectations it sets.

I find readers mentioning they saw it in India in 1969. That is not possible, as the film was released in late 1970 across main cities in India. In Calcutta, it ran at New Empire for 30 plus weeks. And stayed there from the 28th as the theatre -which was partly financed by Warner Bros- could not get the change in time. I was very young then and at Patna. Remember it was released for regular shows at Veena (and not the morning show slot earmarked for English films. And this was a dubbed one!!). My parents saw the film.

I saw the film much later on VHS. Coming to think of it, the film was surely bold for its time, at least for the Indian audience. It did not date well. In the early 1990s, it did not carry the sting that made the viewers rush to the theatres. Society had changed, and drastically too. The angle emphasized in the film was no longer a taboo..

But for sheer nostalgia, it deserves a 8/10.

This seems to be the film first of the director. Taking that as the limitation, I would rate the film as worth a watch. The characters are real. The relationships have been developed in a manner most organic. The leading lady has done an excellent job, her steadfastness juxtaposed with and contrasted by her vulnerability. Other characters are more cardboard cutouts, and one wishes that they could have been developed better. Raghuvir Yadav as her father is believable though, but I would credit that to his superior acting skills.

On the flip side, the film suffers from a few issues. Cliched roleplays - youngsters and their ambitions being one. Most importantly, the murder angle does not find a resolution that is satisfactory. That is the major pitfall in a film that promised so much but flattered to deceive.