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."

"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."