Skater Girl

Set in the rural Rajasthan village of Khempur, Skater Girl is a coming-of-age sports drama directed by Manjari Makijany and released by Netflix in June 2021. The story follows Prerna, a quiet teenager played by Rachel Sanchita Gupta, whose daily life is tightly shaped by family duty, social expectations, and the restrictions placed on girls in her community. When Jessica, a woman visiting from London to learn more about her late father’s roots, arrives in the village with her friend Erick, the children become fascinated by a skateboard. What begins as curiosity soon turns into something life-changing for Prerna, who discovers in skateboarding a rare sense of motion, confidence, and personal freedom. As her talent grows, the board becomes more than a hobby: it opens up a new vision of what her future might be. The film frames that journey against larger pressures involving caste, gender, education, and tradition, while keeping the tone accessible and inspirational. Critics noted the movie’s emphasis on empowerment and its vivid images of Prerna gliding through village roads and marketplaces, with several reviews highlighting Gupta’s expressive lead performance and the film’s affectionate portrait of youthful determination. (rottentomatoes.com)

Skater Girl was received warmly overall, especially by critics who responded to its uplifting spirit, its social themes, and Rachel Sanchita Gupta’s central performance, though some reviewers felt the storytelling was familiar or a little simplified. Rotten Tomatoes lists the film at 88%, signaling broadly positive critical reception. IMDb users rate it 6.7/10, suggesting a solid but more moderate audience response. (rottentomatoes.com)

Among published reviews, TIME described the film as tender and exhilarating and singled out Gupta as the emotional core of the movie, arguing that her presence gives the story its heartbeat. RogerEbert.com also praised the exhilaration of the skateboarding scenes and the joy of watching Prerna discover freedom on a board, while recognizing the movie as both a personal coming-of-age tale and a broader story about opportunity and change. NDTV called it a heartwarming sports drama and credited Gupta’s performance with helping the film find its stride. (time.com)

At the same time, not every response was unreservedly enthusiastic. Cinema Express viewed it as uplifting but somewhat superficial, and the Times of India similarly suggested that although the film’s spirit is admirable, it does not always sustain enough dramatic energy. That balance captures the general consensus well: Skater Girl is widely seen as an earnest, feel-good, socially conscious drama with strong intentions, appealing visuals, and an engaging lead, even if some critics thought its underdog-sports structure and emotional beats were predictable. For viewers looking for an inspirational, family-friendly story with a meaningful setting and an empowering message, its reception suggests it is an easy film to root for. (cinemaexpress.com)