Girls Will Be Girls

The three lead players carry the film. Kesav Binoy Kiron adds the right dollop of barely-there smarm to his charm, and when Panigrahi, winsome and knowing, Kusruti, worn and blow-your-socks-off-sexy, are facing off, you can't take your eyes off either. The latter takes our breath away, just like she does in Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light'; it feels right that she is in two of the best films of the year.

Female teenage sexuality has rarely been captured with this sensitivity and nuance in an Indian film

Featuring an electric central performance by newcomer Preeti Panigrahi, director Shuchi Talati's debut film is among the best of the year. The sudden burst of moral ambiguity elevates Girls Will Be Girls into something more special than a plain-old coming-of-age movie. Talati displays incredible restraint in her storytelling, aiming for broad empathy, highlighting the loneliness that inspires human connection in the most unexpected of circumstances.

A Blistering, Two-Generational Coming-of-Age Journey Shuchi Talati’s impressive debut feature fully recognizes the power of a lingering gaze.

This quiet and bold reflection of a teenager's life is exceptional in tone, music, story, sound, and especially performances. I applaud Shuchi Talati for this rare film.

With her first feature, Talati expertly captures the quiet wonder and aching intensity of adolescence, first love, and caring about someone whose dueling duties and desires sometimes stop them from behaving as they know they should. Talati writes from a place of empathy rather than judgement, her care for Mira evident in every word and shot.