Mandakini

Mandakini is a soulful, slow-burning drama that flows like the river it is named after. Directed by Shreya Deshpande, this film explores the ties that bind us to our roots, the memories we try to leave behind, and the healing that comes from returning home.

Set in a quiet village nestled by the banks of the river Mandakini, the story follows Gauri (played by Radhika Apte), a schoolteacher who comes back to her native village after years in the city to care for her aging father. What seems like a temporary visit soon becomes an emotional journey as Gauri reconnects with her past, her people, and the river that has silently witnessed every secret of her childhood.

Radhika Apte shines in the role of Gauri. She brings a raw honesty and quiet strength to the character, making her relatable from the very first scene. Amit Sadh plays Shravan, Gauri's childhood friend who is now the village head. Amit's restrained performance balances Gauri's turmoil with a sense of grounded reality. Their chemistry feels genuine - more in the unsaid glances and silences than in words.

The film's biggest strength is its atmosphere. Cinematographer Avinash Arun captures the river in all its moods - misty mornings, glittering afternoons, and calm dusks. The visuals are poetic, making the river itself feel like a living character. Each frame feels carefully composed but never forced.

The music by Shantanu Moitra is minimal but beautiful. The title track, Mandakini, plays like a gentle lullaby, weaving through the film like the river's current. The sound design - chirping birds, flowing water, temple bells - immerses you into the village's slow, timeless rhythm.

Mandakini is not a plot-heavy film. It flows more like a stream of memories than a tight narrative. In the first half, we see Gauri struggling to adjust to the village life she once left behind. She reconnects with Shravan and old neighbors, revisits places from her childhood, and slowly confronts her strained relationship with her father. The village, too, is changing - the river is drying, the youth are leaving, and old traditions are fading. All of this is shown through simple, everyday mome.

Mandakini is a comedy movie released this year (2024) in Malayalam.. It is a beautiful film directed by Vinod Leela for the first time by bringing together some new faces, social media stars and ordinary people who play the roles of supporting artists in Malayalam film industry. A full length comedy movie. A film that revolves around some interesting events related to the hero's wedding and first night. A movie with a total duration of only 2 hours and 7 minutes is over very quickly.

This is a film where female characters are given equal treatment along with male artists. All the ladies played their roles beautifully. Among the male artists, the standout performances are those of Althaf, Vineet Thattil, Jafar Idukki and Kutty Akhil. Unni, the brother-in-law character played by Vineeth, is a full-length laugher.

The cinematographer, script writer and editor and all deserve an applause. The background score in some scenes is quite good. I really liked it..It's a good movie to watch as a family. Some of the comedy scenes and dialogues in the movie are comedy scenes that will never be forgotten.

This is a small light hearted movie with hilarious moments.

The plot of the movie is on a marriage and an unfortunate incident that happened on the day and the event that follows forms the story.

Director tried to convince the audience through many humorous moments but the story lacked enough strength to keep the viewers engaged as the story was very much stretched unnecessarily. The movie could have been cut short to 90 minutes or could have been made for OTT release. A major lag was felt in the second half.

Good performances by all the actors especially Althaf,Anarkali,Vineeth Thattil,Jeo Baby,Kutty Akhil,Ajai Vasudev and the lady who played Althaf's mother.

Director's inexperience is visible in the way he treated the second half.

This movie is very entertaining and a fun watch for anyone. You won't leave the theater unhappy. I'm so happy to see the beauty of Malayalam cinema, whether it's a big-budget film or a movie like this. This is a must-watch for a really good laugh. The casting is excellent, and the script and dialogues are so relatable. It's a beautiful piece of art that combines humor and authenticity effortlessly. The performances are top-notch, making every scene resonate with genuine emotion. This movie is truly a gem. Don't miss this captivating experience that showcases the brilliance of Malayalam movies.

A small-budget movie that surprisingly had a good run at the box office. It had no big cast to boast about, and usually, such movies are good, so it was my first choice as soon as it landed on OTT.

It is a movie about the first night of a newly wedded couple, where the bride gets drunk accidentally, making her reveal her past. This gets chaotic when the whole family becomes involved, and they set out to get to the bottom of it.

Althaf Salim, as the lead, tries hard to justify his role, but he still comes across as a sidekick as he has in other movies. Anarkali Marikar couldn't pull off the role, especially the drunk scenes; you can see that she is trying to act drunk. Then comes a series of actors as relatives and friends who are the real stars, with all of them performing well, especially the actress who played the mother, nailing her part.

The story does seem interesting, but there's not much going on in the movie as, after a point, it becomes repetitive. Logic surely goes out of the window, as whatever translated on screen can only happen in movies, which takes away from the relatability.

A few gags and dialogues work in its favor. It is a below-average movie that should be your choice when you want to watch something light and brainless while keeping your expectations low.

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