Rahul Ravindran

Screenwriter/Filmmaker/Actor. Film & sports enthusiast. [email protected] http://

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

You and I… we may be different. Politically, you might be the other end of the spectrum. I might find your values and belief system problematic… dangerous even. But I understand that you might feel the same way about mine. And I refuse to assume with certainty that I am correct. No matter how sure of it I feel right this minute. You might like the films I hate, you might troll the sports teams I love, we might be polar opposites in taste, we may have very different personalities, what is unacceptable behaviour to me might be heroic to you, and vice-versa, we may not get along well with each other, you may change with times and I may not, and vice-versa… But I promise to hear you out, without judgement. I promise to try and understand you. I promise to discuss and debate with you, heatedly even, but I refuse you disrespect you. I refuse to give you labels. I refuse to abuse you. And I will avoid talking ill of you in your absence. And it’s ok if you don’t want to reciprocate. You might have made a remark once or behaved on an occasion in a manner I find unacceptable, obnoxious even, maybe even criminal, but I refuse to define your entire existence and your being by that one act or one remark. I promise to try and understand the context around it better. I promise to understand your mindset in that given situation better. Or if I don’t have the time or inclination, I promise to not comment on it or hand you damning permanent character certificates. If I judge, I promise to judge only that act in isolation and I promise to keep that judgement to myself, or communicate it politely and with empathy if I share it with others. And I promise to keep my mind open to the truth that I may be wrong. And that my perspective may be flawed in ways I cannot comprehend presently. I refuse to lose my ability to not hate you. Even if I cannot love you. I promise to always try and build a bridge between us. And I refused to demolish it once built. Even if I am unable to walk across it right now. This way of life maybe flawed. This perspective maybe unproductive, passively dangerous even. But I hope you will understand and accept me for who I am. Maybe, someday, I will change. Or maybe you will. And if we don’t… all kinds make the world an interesting place, after all. You and I… we may be different. But we don’t have to be enemies. ♥️

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

I was sitting and watching the Brazil v Japan game. I wanted to check a football related Twitter account about something and I opened this app. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of checking my notifications too. And I came across this tweet. I wish I hadn’t.

I kept staring at it for a long time. I kept filling up with a rage. I wanted to track this guy down and do unspeakable things to him. The urge was very real. I was, involuntarily, vividly imagining scenarios in my head. My usual response to anger is to tell myself to calm down. But I didn’t want to this time. My head was very hot. A long time passed just sitting there and staring at the game on T.V without watching it. Very slowly my heart rate returned to some semblance of normalcy.

Maybe I am overreacting. Maybe it’s somehow my fault.. maybe my kids and I deserve this hate. But I am done with this app. I’ve been wanting out for a while. The only reason I couldn’t is because it’s the best source of news for sports. Especially Indian sports other than Cricket. But I am done. I didn’t like the guy I was for half hour after I read that tweet. I didn’t like my thoughts. And I am too fiercely self respecting to let something have power over me. Deleting this app from my phone right away.

[The Khel India @TheKhelIndia]

India's Anand Kottarathil wins the Best Libero of Tournament in the AVC Men's Cup 2026 🇮🇳🏐

- Much Deserving!!!! 💙

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

@KausalyaSuhari1 I hope you like the next one. Also has characters that evolve constantly through the events of the film. But in a very different setting and genre. 🤗🤗

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

Thank you! So exceptionally articulated. Most gratifying when a film resonates this deeply with someone ♥️♥️🙏🏽🙏🏽

[Kausalya Suharika R @KausalyaSuhari1]

There are films that begin with definitive characters and test them. Then there are films that begin with unfinished people and let life define them.

What I love most about #TheGirlfriend is that it belongs to the latter. Its narrative isn't interested in revealing who its characters already are; it is interested in forming them. Identity isn't a fixed trait waiting to be uncovered. It emerges through experience.

There is Bhooma and then there is Durga, two women who begin from starkly different emotional and ideological places. Both love Vikram. Durga even says they are the "right" match. In a more conventional film, that declaration would define her character and the rest of the story would merely test that conviction. Here, it doesn't.

As the film progresses, every character, including the minor characters, discovers something about themselves rather than simply fulfilling a narrative function. Durga, who initially understands herself only in relation to Vikram, slowly realises the kind of man she actually wants. Bhooma discovers her own courage and finds her own way to become fearless. Vikram begins believing it is his duty to save and love Bhooma, even though nobody asks him to. As the story unfolds, he confronts how absurd and limiting the world that shaped him really is.

That's what fascinates me about The Girlfriend. These aren't characters with stable identities whose beliefs are being tested. They are people whose identities are still being formed. The story doesn't reveal who they are; it creates who they become. The drama comes not from watching convictions survive conflict, but from watching convictions emerge because of it.

That kind of characterization is surprisingly rare in Telugu cinema.

Contrast this with #IdiKathaKaadu by K Balachander builds the film around definitive characters. Suhasini knows exactly who she is from the very beginning. Sugunakar Rao also understands who she is; what changes is that he slowly reveals his own nature. At one point, Suhasini directly calls him a sadist. Later she asks him, "What is your goal in life? You've ruined everything. Are you satisfied?" He replies, "They say women carry water pots on their heads. I caused so much destruction, yet not a single tear came from your eyes. Why is that? Is it because you can't cry, or because you have no tears?" She answers, "That's impossible. Even the god who created me couldn't do that."

Nothing about these characters is uncertain. Their moral centres are already established. Their personalities are complete. The narrative doesn't create them; it reveals them. Conflict simply exposes what already exists. Suhasini, especially, has always been my north star for morally centred characters.

I think of Anjali in #ChiLaSow in a similar way. She enters the film with a strong sense of self. She knows exactly what she wants and, more importantly, what she doesn't. Arjun doesn't replace that identity; he gradually expands it. By earning her trust, he changes the way she thinks about him, about love, and eventually about marriage. It's one of the most beautifully written character arcs in #Telugucinema because it grows organically from an already well-defined person.

The difference between these films isn't about whether the characters evolve, they all do. It's about when identity is established.

In films like Idi Katha Kaadu and Chi La Sow, the characters possess a clear sense of self from the beginning, and the narrative tests, challenges, and sometimes expands that identity.

The Girlfriend follows a different philosophy of characterization. Its people don't begin as complete personalities. They don't know themselves any better than we do. The narrative itself becomes the process through which they discover, and ultimately create, their identities.

For me, that's what makes its writing so refreshing.

...Been sitting in my drafts for a long time. Posting it today @23_rahulr

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

@IamAlone1A Of course buddy… it’s all about the story. I don’t think in terms of genres

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

It’s a great day to remind Telugu Twitter to watch Costa Gavras’ 1969 film ‘Z.’ Perhaps, one of the greatest political thrillers ever made. Certainly my absolute favorite in the genre. Outstanding film. And then you can follow it up with the director’s only English language film, ‘Missing.’ Also a political thriller. The kind of cinema that you want to watch and then go down internet rabbit holes reading about the real world events that are discussed in them. Both films sparked a lot of political awareness in me when I watched them in my early 20s. I hope you discover them too, if you haven’t already. ♥️

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

@SRINIVAS_TALKSS Please do👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 And lemme know if you like it

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

@kadhanarangam No man… why would I put out an actual idea that I want to make into a movie. That was just a random situation I cooked up. And that situation has nothing to do with either of these films.

[India_AllSports @India_AllSports]

Srikanth finishes Runners-up at US Open (Super 300).

Loses to WR 46 Su Li Yang 15-21, 21-16, 9-21 in Final.

#USOpen2026

[The Khel India @TheKhelIndia]

INDIA TAKES THE BONUS POINT AGAINST ENGLAND IN LAST MATCH OF FIH PRO LEAGUE 25-26

- After a draw in Full Time, India team defeated England in the Shootout 3-2 🔥🔥🔥

INDIA ENDS PRO LEAGUE ON POSTIVE NOTE! 🇮🇳💙

[Nani @Nanii287]

@23_rahulr This is Indian Volleyball team without politics
All thanks to FIVB to take such step against VFI

[The Khel India @TheKhelIndia]

YESSESSSSSSSS, THE BOYS DID IT!!!! 🇮🇳🥹

India Volleyball Team defeated Defending Champion Bahrain to win Bronze at AVC Men's Cup 2026

FIRST EVER MEDAL FOR INDIA, JUST WOW!! 🤩

[The Khel India @TheKhelIndia]

INDIA VOLLEYBALL BEATS DEFENDING CHAMPION BAHRAIN IN AVC MEN'S CUP 2026!

- Wins Historic first ever Bronze Medal 🇮🇳🥉

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

And India wins the bronze in the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship! Historic! What a fantastic campaign! Incredible job lads! Dragan the messiah 🙌🏽🙌🏽♥️♥️♥️

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[The Khel India @TheKhelIndia]

INDIA BEATS BAHRAIN IN THE THIRD SET! 🤩

25-21 🔥🔥🔥

🇮🇳 INDIA 2-1 BAHRAIN 🇧🇭

[The Khel India @TheKhelIndia]

INDIA WINS FIRST EVER GOLD AT WORLD ROWING CUP IN LIGHTWEIGHT DOUBLE SCULLS 🥇

- Lakshay and Ujjwal Kumar Singh made History!

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

@Dwipad I don’t think so man… might be available for purchase. Or you’ll have to resort to you know what

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

@taNTRum_guy That’s so well articulated. 👍🏽👍🏽

[Baahubali @BaahubaliMovie]

Not JAPAN. Not USA. Not INDIA.

It’s Paris, and the reception for this man speaks for itself! ❤️

Borders may change. Languages may differ.
But the love and admiration for @ssrajamouli only grows stronger with every passing day.

The auditorium erupted at Cinémathèque Française 💥💥💥

@cinemathequefr

[Rahul Ravindran @23_rahulr]

Wow man…. Just so damn excited for this one ♥️♥️♥️♥️

[Rao Bahadur @RaoBahadurMovie]

This is TELUGU CINEMA to the WORLD ❤‍🔥

The World of #RaoBahadur ✨
▶️ https://t.co/b2LKdK1g5x

EXPERIENCE TELUGU CINEMA LIKE NEVER BEF🎃RE

In Cinemas worldwide from 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

▶️ https://t.co/bhqpQHMYZb

#RaoBahadurOnJuly3rd

@ActorSatyaDev @mahaisnotanoun @DeepaThomasss @GMBents @SrichakraasEnts @AplusSMovies @Mahayana_MP @RaoBahadurMovie @AtharvanaGlobal @thinkmusicindia