‘Ziddi Girls’ review: A glossy, pacy drama about friendship and free speech

In a quiet, introspective moment from Ziddi Girls that’s rare to come by, Umang Bhadana’s student Vandana wonders, “Is everyone’s first year as eventful as ours?” By this point in the fast-moving Prime Video show, we sympathise with her position.

Over eight busy episodes, students of Matilda House, a fictional women’s college in Delhi, navigate the violation of consent, radicalisation on the campus, systemic biases and suppression of free speech. Boy problems are thankfully stowed away, for these women don’t need any more issues to deal with. But when is busy too busy?

The Hindi series follows five Matilda House freshers. Trisha (Atiya Tara Nayak) is a rich hockey player counting down the days before she can join her boyfriend in Boston. Vandana, a theatre geek, is providing for her family.

Instagram pries open Tabby (Zaina Ali), a small-town influencer with self-esteem issues. When chemistry student Devika (Anupriya Caroli) is not improving her English skills, she’s scrambling for funds. And the wheelchair-bound Wallika (Deeya Damini) loves to drown her sorrows in rock music.

When a sex-ed screening is leaked to salacious television channels, the government college catches Rightwing heat. The liberal principal is sacked and replaced with the disciplinarian Lata (Simran), reminding us of Hope Haddon’s track in Sex Education.

Seasoned actor Revathy…

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