Kathmandu, Dec. 24 -- Films like 'The Girlfriend' remain relevant across time because they address patterns that persist within romantic relationships, patterns that are often excused, normalised, or even celebrated.

Directed by Rahul Ravindran, the film exposes how control is repeatedly misread as love and how women are trained to endure this confusion. Rather than centring male redemption or romantic resolution, the narrative remains anchored in Bhooma's (Rashmika Mandanna) gradual loss and partial recovery of agency.

Bhooma's character reflects a woman socialised to seek safety rather than autonomy. Her attachment to literature is significant. Books become a refuge because they offer a private space that her lived world denies her. B...