Image Source: Jay-Ho!
Netflix’s latest Hindi original, "Mandala Murders," plunges audiences into an atmospheric world where ancient cults, ritualistic crimes, and psychological intrigue intersect. With Vaani Kapoor, Surveen Chawla, and Vaibhav Raj Gupta leading the cast, the series sets up shop at the crossroads of crime drama, occult thriller, and social commentary—sometimes to riveting effect, but not always with narrative clarity.
A Grisly Plot Rooted in Folklore
Set in the fictional town of Charandaspur, "Mandala Murders" opens with a chilling crime: a decapitated body floating in a pond, its symbolism tied to a shadowy cult called Ayastha Mandala. This group, steeped in 1950s ritual and mythology, worships the menacing deity Yast—demanding death in exchange for fulfilled wishes. Their goal? To stitch together “Ayast,” a superhuman figure built from sacrificial victims, evoking Frankensteinian horror with a distinctly Indian twist.
As the killings—each targeting a different body part—mount, CIB officer Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor) is dispatched to solve the case, accompanied by troubled ex-cop Vikram (Vaibhav Raj Gupta). The plot spans decades, weaving together personal trauma, political intrigue, gender dynamics, and systemic injustice along the way.
Compelling World-Building and Strong Theme
What works remarkably well is the show’s world-building. The moody visuals evoke the haunted stillness of small-town Uttar Pradesh, with dense forests, cryptic yantras, and ominous rituals lending both atmosphere and authenticity. The creators skillfully blend elements—mythology, caste, gender politics, and scientific ambition—into a universe all their own.
Strengths: Performances, Setting, and Ambition
Performances: Surveen Chawla and Vaibhav Raj Gupta stand out with nuanced, emotionally immersive performances. Gupta lends depth to Vikram’s tortured backstory; Chawla shines as Ananya, the shrewd political power player whose motives remain tantalizingly murky.
Setting & Cinematography: Charandaspur’s bylanes, shrouded jungles, and muted palette draw viewers in, and the blending of Hindi and Bhojpuri gives the dialogue a grounded feel.
Ambition: The show doesn’t lack vision. From ritualistic killings to mythic cults, from social critique to psychological trauma, "Mandala Murders" dares to pack it all in.
Weaknesses: Convoluted Plot and Underwhelming Payoff
However, this ambition is also the series’ undoing. As the story unfolds, narrative threads multiply faster than they resolve. The slow-burn pace, timeline-switching, and genre-hopping often create confusion, causing tension to dissipate just when it should peak.
Vaani Kapoor’s Debut: Vaani Kapoor makes her OTT debut as Rea Thomas, a role demanding stoicism and subtlety. While her restraint suits certain scenes, critics note her emotional range feels uneven, especially in high-stakes moments. Her supporting turn as physicist Nandini is a bright spot, though brief.
Unresolved Arcs: Key characters appear with intrigue only to fade; narrative payoffs feel undercooked, and the mystical supernatural elements, heavily teased, retreat when it’s time for resolution—leaving some viewers underwhelmed.
Finale Fumbles: The buildup is riveting, but the denouement doesn’t match its promise. The show builds an absorbing mystery, but the conclusion lacks the punch and cohesiveness expected from such an expansive setup.
Verdict
"Mandala Murders" is an ambitious, atmospheric experiment—it dares to blend crime, horror, and social critique in a manner rare for Indian streaming. Its strengths lie in performances, mood, and layering of genre and folklore. But by trying to do too much, it struggles to deliver a satisfying whole. For viewers, it’s a series best approached for its mood, visuals, and sporadic bursts of brilliance, rather than narrative perfection.
Relevant Sources: Firstpost, NDTV, IMDb, News18, Moneycontrol, India Today, Reddit
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