Girlfriend is a powerful movie that shows how control can hide behind the mask of care in relationships. It follows Bhooma, a young woman whose life slowly unravels as her boyfriend Vikram takes over her world, all while calling it love. For more on this review, see https://kathmandupost.com/movie-review/2025/12/24/when-control-is-mistaken-for-care.
The story starts innocently enough. Vikram seems charming and attentive. He announces their relationship to her college friends without asking her first. Everyone cheers, thinking it’s sweet. But Bhooma feels uneasy. This is the first sign that her choices don’t matter. He overrides her consent in small ways that add up fast. He checks her phone, watches her friends, and fills her space with his needs. It looks like care on the surface, but it’s really about owning her.https://theanecdotist.substack.com/p/movie-review-the-girlfriend-2025
Vikram’s actions get bolder. He posts about their moments online, turning her into a trophy for his image. Her privacy vanishes. She can’t meet friends without his input. Even her emotions become his to manage. The movie nails how this feels affectionate at first, making it hard for her to push back. Psychologist Sonia Anand points out in her review that this is dark psychology at work: possession dressed as love, control as care, obsession as devotion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u3k5mEPTJE
Family plays a big role too. Bhooma’s dad is possessive, just like Vikram. It shows how these patterns pass down through generations. Then there’s Vikram’s mom, a quiet warning. She’s trapped in her home, drained from years of giving in. The film uses tight camera shots to make her feel stuck, like roots holding her down. Bhooma sees her future there, without even realizing it at first.
The movie digs into real life for many women. It skips big drama like fights or slaps. Instead, it shows the slow drain of confidence and freedom. Vikram says things like “I’ll take care of you” to gaslight her doubts. She starts questioning herself. Is she overreacting? The world around her cheers him on, calling it romance.
This isn’t a feel-good love story. It’s a wake-up call. It asks viewers to spot when “protection” is really control. Bhooma fights to reclaim her voice, but the damage lingers. The film pushes us to rethink what love really means, especially in a world that confuses the two.
Sources
https://kathmandupost.com/movie-review/2025/12/24/when-control-is-mistaken-for-care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u3k5mEPTJE
https://theanecdotist.substack.com/p/movie-review-the-girlfriend-2025
