After stirring controversy earlier this year for its portrayal of caste and gender dynamics, Bad Girl, the Tamil-language coming-of-age drama directed by Varsha Bharath, has now been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with a U/A certificate. The film is set to release in theatres across India on September 5, where it will clash at the box office with Sivakarthikeyan and AR Murugadoss’s action entertainer Madhrasi. Backed by acclaimed filmmaker Vetri Maaran and presented by Anurag Kashyap, Bad Girl created waves earlier in January when its teaser debuted on YouTube. The promo featured scenes of a young woman engaging in smoking and drinking, sparking debate over its depiction of Brahmin identity. Despite the backlash, the film continued to gain recognition internationally, collecting major awards on the global film festival circuit. Actress Shanthi Priya, who plays a key role in the film,had 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).” Among its accolades, Bad Girl won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam and was honoured with the Young Jury Award for Best Feature Film at Spain’s Cinema Jove – Valencia International Film Festival. It is also scheduled to be screened at upcoming festivals including Karawan Fest in Italy and the New Horizons International Film Festival in Poland, further establishing its international reach. The film stars Anjali Sivaraman, Shanthi Priya, Hridhu Haroon, TeeJay Arunasalam, Sashank Bommireddipalli, and Saranya Ravichandran. Their performances have been praised as key highlights during festival screenings. Technically, Bad Girl boasts strong contributions across departments. Cinematography is handled by Preetha Jayaraman, Jagadeesh Ravi, and Prince Anderson, while editing is done by Radha Sridhar. The soundtrack, composed by Amit Trivedi, adds emotional depth to the narrative. Sound design is by Vinoth Thanigasalam, and the film’s visual effects are led by R Harihara Suthan.