Anjali Sivaraman's Tamil coming-of-age drama, Bad Girl, backed by acclaimed filmmakers Vetrimaaran and Anurag Kashyap, is set for its OTT debut on JioHotstar on November 4, 2025. The film will be available in five languages: Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Directed by debutant Varsha Bharath and produced by Vetrimaaran’s Grass Root Film Company in association with Anurag Kashyap, Bad Girl follows Ramya, a spirited young woman, as she navigates love, self-discovery, and societal expectations. The film explores Ramya's journey as she grapples with strict parents, societal norms, and unrequited romances from her school days through adulthood. Labeled a "bad girl" by society and her family, Ramya struggles to find the love she desires while dealing with inner turmoil. The narrative is a raw and heartfelt exploration of freedom, individuality, and resilience, painting an intimate portrait of a young woman's self-discovery.
Bad Girl premiered at the prestigious International Film Festival Rotterdam on February 7, 2025, where it won the NETPAC Award. It also secured the Audience Award in the Focus program at the Vancouver International Film Festival 2025. The film had a theatrical release in India on September 5, 2025, with the Hindi version arriving on September 26, 2025.
The film features Anjali Sivaraman in the lead role, supported by Shanthi Priya, Saranya Ravichandran, Hridhu Haroon, TeeJay Arunasalam, and Sashank Bommireddipalli. Anjali Sivaraman, who previously appeared in the Netflix series Class, plays Ramya, a character who is not a hero but a flawed person trying to survive. The ensemble cast adds depth to the emotional landscape of the story.
JioHotstar announced the OTT release on October 28, 2025, just a week before the premiere. The platform's social media handle stated, "Some stories are too 'bad' to ignore. #BadGirl streaming from November 4 only on JioHotstar". However, the film's release faces competition from the Malayalam superhero blockbuster Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra and Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps, potentially overshadowing the film's reach due to a limited promotional window.
Bad Girl sparked controversy after its teaser release in January 2025, igniting debate over its portrayal of the Brahmin community. Despite the controversy and a mixed theatrical run, the film's thought-provoking subject matter has kept it in the public eye. Varsha Bharath defended her work, stating, "I am not telling anybody how to lead their lives... Women don't have to be purists. They only need to be human".
The music for Bad Girl is composed by Amit Trivedi, with cinematography by Preetha Jayaraman, Jagadeesh Ravi, and Prince Anderson, and editing by Radha Sridhar. The film is produced under Vetrimaaran's Grass Root Film Company, marking the final project under the banner.
Bad Girl is a poignant coming-of-age tale that offers a realistic portrayal of youth, exploring themes of freedom, self-expression, and the challenges of societal expectations.
