Film Review: GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS (Hindi-English)

Cinephilia Productions and Crawling Angel Films’ Girls Will Be Girls (U/A; coming-of-age drama) is set in a small Indian town and explores the journey of a teenage girl navigating friendship, love, and societal expectations.

The story, written by Shuchi Talati and Ashi Dua, is sensitive, rooted, and refreshing in how it portrays female adolescence. The screenplay avoids melodrama and instead relies on observational details that feel authentic. However, pacing is slow in parts, and the climax lacks the punch it builds towards.

Dialogues are natural, witty at times, and capture the awkwardness and curiosity of teenage years effectively.

Performances are strong. The young lead is terrific, delivering a nuanced performance that balances innocence and rebellion. The actress playing her mother is equally impactful, portraying generational conflict with restraint. The supporting cast adds colour.

Direction by Shuchi Talati is confident. Her handling of the mother-daughter relationship is layered, and her gaze is refreshingly female-driven, steering clear of clichés often seen in coming-of-age stories in India.

Music is subtle, complementing the mood. Background score enhances emotions without overwhelming. Cinematography (by Jall Cowasji) captures small-town textures beautifully. Editing is fairly tight, though some portions drag.

On the whole, Girls Will Be Girls is an honest, poignant, and well-acted film. It will shine more at festivals and streaming platforms than at the mainstream box-office, though it may find urban multiplex takers.