Comparative Analysis of Chetan Bhagat’s Half Girlfriend and Its Film Adaptation

Abstract

Chetan Bhagat’s Half Girlfriend (2014) and its 2017 cinematic adaptation directed by Mohit Suri represent an intriguing intersection of literature and cinema in contemporary India. The novel, told in Bhagat’s signature accessible language, examines themes of love, aspiration, class divide, and linguistic anxiety in post-globalized India. The film adaptation reinterprets these same ideas through visual narrative, music, and character condensation. This paper conducts a comparative analysis of both versions, examining how the core narrative, character portrayal, and thematic emphasis shift across mediums. The study highlights the transformation of Madhav Jha and Riya Somani’s characters, explores the representation of gender and social hierarchy, and critiques the adaptation’s treatment of Bhagat’s linguistic realism. By juxtaposing the literary and cinematic texts, the paper investigates whether the film enriches or simplifies the novel’s exploration of social and emotional boundaries. Ultimately, it argues that while the novel offers a broader socio-linguistic commentary on class and identity, the film prioritizes emotional appeal and visual romanticism, thereby redefining Bhagat’s narrative for mass audiences.