Girls Will Be Girls

The coming of age process is different for everyone, and that's especially true for those of different generations. Those who underwent this rite of passage years ago, however, arguably may have faced more challenges and restrictions than what's present in these more liberated and open-minded times, and such individuals may be somewhat envious of the privileges that have been afforded their younger counterparts. That's very much the case with Anila (Kani Kusruti) and her teenage daughter, Mira (Preeti Panigrahi), who has (or at least should have) a comparatively easier time with this than her mother did. Nevertheless, Anila still expects Mira to conform to the rigid standards of her own youth, enrolling her in a strict Himalayan boarding school and hovering around her like an overprotective helicopter parent, particularly when she befriends a young man, Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron), who becomes a budding - if severely restricted - romantic interest. Despite these constraints, though, Mira is supremely curious to clandestinely explore her emerging sexuality and female drives while at least superficially maintaining the image of propriety expected of a young Indian girl. Matters become further complicated, however, when Anila takes more than a passing supervisory interest in her daughter's new beau, a dynamic that produces added friction between mother and daughter. As if adolescence weren't complicated enough in itself, these circumstances raise the tension level inside the family household, in the relationship between the two youngsters and in the mind of someone who's trying to figure out her life under conditions fraught with confusion, contradiction, constraint and more than a few double standards. Writer-director Shuchi Talati's debut feature takes a nuanced, mature look at what can often be a baffling time of life, one that's made even more complex by the potent influences impacting it. The film tends to fizzle somewhat as it approaches its conclusion, almost as if the director doesn't quite know how to wrap up the story. But that doesn't hinder the production overall when it comes to covering some previously unexplored fertile ground when it comes to a subject that's often handled tritely and riddled with clichés. This recipient of two Independent Spirit Awards - for Kusruti's supporting performance and as a candidate for the competition's John Cassavetes Award - definitely makes a mark among 2024's releases, even if, as the premiere offering from a new filmmaker, it could use some shoring up at times. That aside, though, "Girls Will Be Girls" is an impressive start for a promising new auteur, one well worth streaming online. Indeed, through this work, audiences may never view the coming of age process in quite the same way ever again.

Rating - 3.75/5

A beautiful tale portraying the insecurities,foibles,whims and fancies of a young girl through a realistic template.

The story moves through the life of a young obedient high school girl developing an infatuation and how the mother diplomatically brings her teenage daughter to a stage of self realisation about the fantasies and immature behaviour in a teenage girl.

Shuchi Talati has conceived a sublime thought for the movie and has executed it perfectly onto the screen. She has effortlessly taken the viewers through contents like sexuality,sex education,self pleasure,self exploration and immature relationships through intricate moments that can be well connected by everyone who have passed through that life stage. The intriguing screenplay has kept the audience completely attached to the screens with exemplary performances from the central characters.

Splendid performance by Preeti Panigrahi showing raw emotions from love, excitement and anxiety to lost,void and conflict. Subtle performance by Kani Kusruthi as a caring mother. Impressive performances were made by Kesav Binoy,Devika Shahani & Kajol Chugh.

Special mention to the Cinematographer,the editor & the casting director for their effort in giving this timeless visual craft.

The audience after closure of the movie may feel that whether Shuchi has given the title to the movie on a pessimistic note. A great movie that is worth watching to cherish your adolescence fantasies and mischievousness.

The movie has your attention from the first scene, they get everything right the casting, the location, the costumes, everything!!, But this movie takes its time to build up to what it's trying to tell you. How a young girl Mira is exploring her sexuality and love in this patriarchal world. Yet, it is one of the best school romances made in India.

Plot of th movie revolves around Mira, the head prefect of her school, she dealing to meet with her, her parents and her teacher's expectations of her school results, maintaining a decipline in her school irrespective of them being her friends but at the same time she is exploring herself. This coming of age movie is similar to most coming of age movies but has got almost everything right!!

I am stealing: every one has their key, you just need to find them, and ofcourse the school romance, the tention of the first kiss.

But to tell that, the film raises your expectations and slaughters them using its own hands. There's a nice group of actors, and a lucky handy teddy bear. But this is nothing new. And children nowadays experience such a phase much earlier in their lives. So while watching it, most of us can get a glimpse of some irrational delusions of the director.

I can understand it's compulsory to speak in English inside the institutions but the film itself here is the institution. Language matters a lot, and that's a reason why it can't reach out to many. Sometimes it feels like Bombay with mountains. Local dialect exist krta hai?

Anyways, makers should talk with students directly, make a nice use of their experiences.

Nice attempt, best wishes.

The movie is well crafted and acted. All actors were nice and were able to evoke the right emotions in the viewers.

It took us back to our school days when we first time experience bully, sexual development and how to control it. We didnt knew.

I was into the movie, found almost all the technicalities to be near perfect. How the boy and girl meet and come together. Of course it was the pre smartphone era, how to they exchanged numbers and the intricate plan to call, I am sure it brought a nostalgic memory to so many 90s kinds. It really hit the right cord. Totally loved it.

In simple, its a story about how a girl in her school days discovers about her sexuality. I must appreciate the director and the writer for this movie.