Girls Will Be Girls is a coming-of-age drama that delves into the complexities of adolescence and societal expectations, seen through the female gaze. The film follows 18-year-old Mira (Preeti Panigrahi) who navigates her rebellious awakening and emotional turmoil, intertwined with her mother’s own unfulfilled adolescent experiences.
An Indo-French joint production, this young adult drama is the maiden venture of Pushing Buttons Studio, founded by actors Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal. It marks the feature film directorial debut of writer Shuchi Talati and also introduces newcomers Preeti Panigrahi, and Kesav Binoy Kiron in lead roles, with acclaimed actress Kani Kusruti in a pivotal role.
Girls Will Be Girls has garnered widespread praise for its compelling narrative and outstanding performances, earning numerous awards and accolades at prestigious international film festivals such as Sundance, Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles and Sofia International Film Festival. The film is set to premiere exclusively in India on Prime Video on December 18. We caught up with producer-duo and real-life couple—Chadha and Fazal—to learn about their debut production. Edited excerpts.
What inspired you to tackle coming-of-age through the female gaze for your debut production?
Fazal: The film centres on a sensitive dynamic between a mother and her daughter. I have thought about how a male director would have approached it, but Shuchi's gaze opened up new world which was incredibly refreshing. I’ve noticed films with a female perspective on female relationships are not that common in our country, though I’ve seen some internationally. The female perspective brings interesting elements to play, from different ways in which the camera angles are thought about to even the aspect ratios that Shuchi chose in collaboration with the cinematographer. Everything had a distinct approach.
The film has received numerous accolades at international film festivals. How does this global recognition impact your vision for Pushing Button Studios and what types of stories do you hope to bring to the screen in the future?
Chadha: This is our first project and firsts are always special. I'm very happy that we’ve set such a high bar for ourselves, it will keep us motivated to maintain a certain quality and nuance in our future projects. While I would love to say awards don't matter, these global recognitions definitely are a feather in our cap. I'm particularly thrilled that our debut film has resonated with so many people, especially considering it has won audience awards at most of these festivals. Despite being a 100% Indian story, it was great to see the movie find a universal appeal. It's wonderful to be able to make Indian stories accessible to the world. We'll get a true sense of the impact when it premieres on Prime Video on December 18.
Fazal: It'll be really cool to look back on these interviews in the future, hopefully when we are a few films into our journey. That world looks nice right now and it would be surreal to look back onto Girls Will Be Girls as our first project then.
As established actors yourself, what was it like to work with new talent like Preeti and Keshav in their lead roles? How did your experience as actors influence your approach as producers?
Chadha: Our experience as actors definitely made us cast the best people for the project. We prioritised the best fit for the story over well-known faces or stars, despite some pressure to do otherwise. I’m really glad we stuck to our guns. I'm very delighted to be producing with Ali because there was never any disagreement about the cast between us or with Shuchi. Intuitively, we were always on the same page.
Fazal: Absolutely. Once the cast was locked in, we were all set. I really respect that we fully believed in and championed Shuchi's vision. These actors truly deserve more recognition and I hope this movie translates into future opportunities for them. As an actor myself, I’ve always craved to be seen for my potential rather than just my current appearance or status. The audition process, especially the introductory pieces where the actors spoke about themselves, was crucial. It allowed them to be uninhibited and showcase their true selves. While we weren't the decision-makers, being part of this creative process was incredible. I would have loved to be auditioned in the same way.
Chadha: I agree. I would have loved to have a film like this for my debut. I’m glad we’re able to do this for others. It gives you a broader perspective. The film is set in the late '90s, and it was challenging to find someone, particularly a girl, who didn’t already know her camera angles; because everyone now has a phone with a camera on it, and everyone's used to filters and talking in a certain way. Interestingly, I found things we've been conditioned to see as flaws—ungroomed eyebrows or imperfect teeth—to be special, cute and beautiful. I'm really pleased we were all on the same page about wanting to turn that page.
As a married couple producing your first film together while also being new parents, how did you balance your personal and professional relationship while working? What unique challenges or advantages did this dynamic bring to the project?
Fazal: We became parents recently, way after all the shooting was done. Our participation in film festivals started when we were pregnant but one good thing was that we could be together and justify that in our schedules being producers on this project. We're still trying to balance things, it’s a new learning every day.
Chadha: We've been given nursing breaks very kindly by the team here in the middle of our hectic schedule so that's nice. I think the advantage (of producing with your spouse) is to be able to tag team with someone throughout the journey and that's been great.
What do you think is the role of streaming platforms such as Prime video in shaping the future of independent cinema in India? What kind of opportunities do you think this provides for unique or non-massy storytelling reaching diverse audiences?
Chadha: It's exactly that—diverse audiences and accessibility. With independent cinema, it's difficult to find theatres or the right kind of backing for marketing and promotion. With streaming services, we are relieved of some of those challenges and we can focus on the creative aspects of the film. Every film has its own audience and it needs to be released with that strategy. For this film, we felt it was perfect to have an exclusive OTT premiere on Prime Video. It’s a decision we will always be satisfied with.
Both of you have worked with Prime Video on screen as part of some of the Indian Originals such as Mirzapur and Inside Edge. How did your relationship with Prime Video evolve with you becoming producers?
Chadha: It was fun. We've always had a great time working with the platform as actors but it's been very different as producers now because we're on the other side. But as independent producers, it's great to have this kind of support. Small touches go a long way. For instance, thoughtfully curated elements from the film are making up our backdrop as we sit for this interview, whether it's the vignette with the greenery or the landline or that old stereo or the teddy bear. These thoughtful things just go to show the kind of support we have from them.
'Girls Will Be Girls' is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in India on December 18. All you need to get a front seat to this coming-of-age movie is a Prime membership. Prime members in India enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership, for just ₹1,499/ year.
