Varsha Bharath’s Bad Girl Bags NETPAC Award at International Film Festival Rotterdam Amid ‘Brahmin’ Controversy

Last Updated:February 08, 2025, 15:34 IST

Mohan G Kshatriyan has earlier slammed the makers of Bad Girl for negative portrayal of Brahmins.

Upcoming Tamil movie Bad Girl, directed by Varsha Bharath, has courted controversy ever since the release of its trailer on January 26, 2025. Some social media users, including notable Kollywood filmmakers, have raised concerns over the depiction of the Brahmin community in the film. The comments have targeted the producers of the film Vetri Maaran and Anurag Kashyap.

The film, following its global premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, has received a prestigious recognition that could significantly boost its prospects.

Bad Girl has bagged the prestigious NETPAC Award (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) at the IFFR 2025, marking a significant win for Tamil cinema. The last Tamil film to receive this honour was Arun Karthick’s Nasir in 2019. Notable past Indian winners include Mani Kaul’s Naukar ki Kameez (1999) and Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Vidheyan (1995).

This victory is a proud moment for debut director Varsha and the entire Bad Girl team, cementing their place on the global cinematic stage.

Here’s the teaser of Bad Girl:

With Anjali Sivaraman leading the cast, Bad Girl boasts an impressive ensemble featuring Shanthi Priya, Hridhu Haroon, Teejay Arunasalam, and Saranya Ravichandran in key roles. The film marks music maestro Amit Trivedi’s much-anticipated Tamil debut. Behind the scenes, the editing is helmed by Radha Sridhar, with stunning visuals crafted by cinematographers Preetha Jayaraman, Jagadeesh Ravi, and Prince Anderson.

Bad Girl revolves around the life of a school-going Brahmin teenager who is struggling with societal expectations as well as her own desires. In the teaser, we see her trying her best to find a boyfriend while she faces criticism for her choices. It all turns into hell when she starts dating a boy and is shamed for it. Filmmaker Mohan G Kshatriyan claimed that the film is portraying Brahmins in a bad light.

Reacting to the teaser, Mohan G Kshatriyan wrote on his official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, “Portraying a brahmin girl personal life is always a bold and refreshing film for this clan. What more can be expected from Vetrimaran, Anurag Kasyap & Co.. Bashing Brahmin father and mother is old and not trendy.. Try with your own caste girls and showcase it to your own family first.”

Check it out:

Later, Shanthi Priya responded to the backlash on January 29. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she explained that the film wasn’t intended to hurt anyone. Instead, it aims to start a conversation and promote empathy by highlighting the challenges different communities face.

She wrote, “Art is a medium of expression, and cinema often reflects the complexities of society, relationships, and identities. Films like these aim to break stereotypes and shed light on unexplored narratives, often challenging societal norms across all communities, not just one. Portraying the life of a Brahmin girl (or anyone from a particular community) is not about “bashing” but about storytelling—presenting raw, authentic characters that represent reality (sic).”

The actress defended the filmmakers, saying, “Vetrimaaran and Anurag Kashyap are known for their bold and unflinching take on social themes, tackling inequalities and uncomfortable truths. Their intention is not to offend, but to spark conversation and encourage audiences to reflect on the intricacies of life and tradition. Art doesn’t have to align with everyone’s comfort zone—it is meant to provoke thought and promote empathy for experiences beyond our own (sic).”

Take a look:

The film stars Anjali Sivaraman, Shanthi Priya, Saranya Ravichandran, Hridhu Haroon, TeeJay Arunasalam and Sashank Bommireddipalli.