Mandala Murders

Mandala Murders is not just another crime thriller-it's an experience. From the opening sequence to the final frame, the show grips you with its layered narrative, stunning visuals, and haunting score. The gritty realism, clever screenplay, and psychological depth make it a standout in the Indian OTT landscape.

The performances are stellar. The lead actor brings a perfect blend of vulnerability and intensity, while the antagonist is chilling without resorting to clichés. Each episode peels back the layers of trauma, corruption, and human depravity without losing narrative momentum.

What sets Mandala Murders apart is its atmospheric storytelling-echoes of True Detective and Suzhal, but with a unique Indian ethos. The cultural symbolism and mythological undertones enrich the plot without being overbearing.

Minor flaws exist-pacing dips slightly in the middle episodes-but the payoff is worth it. If you're a fan of intelligent thrillers that make you think, this series deserves your time.

Highly recommended for viewers who appreciate smart, slow-burn mysteries with emotional weight.

I should really appreciate the fact that creators thought of doing something different but it could not be depicted on the screen. The screenplay was plagued with same old sequences of borrowed lores from different places. A mystery that never really gives a satisfaction of unfolding, a suspense that hardly is a surprise, a poetic ending that a bit too easy and character arches that hardly have any depth at all. The show tries to become too much at the same time opening so many narratives that are not even necessary. Apart from a few sequences that Vani could do justice to the whole series looks like a collage of cameos with amazingly average and out-of-place casting. I really wished the show could have been what I was hoping it to be, but it's just sad to see that despite having good stories we are so bad at the execution.

I am hopeful we will get to watch a better one next time.

I like this, if you're looking for a fresh sci fi concept based thriller that takes one step ahead, Mandala Murder will clench your thirst. I have to say that I don't like Vani kapoor as a cop here, she's trying very hard to be badass ass, the stunt looks cool and all, but that's it, she has a flat expression throughout the series; maybe due to excessive botox on the forehead, I couldn't keep my eyes of it.

Surveen Chawal is pure gem, what a beauty, lovely acting, big brother from Gullak "Vaibhav Raj" has grown up, dude is fantastic here. Direction and setting is awesome, the story is tightly packed and not a single screen time is wasted.

The only problem I have here is they have used fake town name, fake investigation agency and etc, and I don't get this logic. Surprisingly, forensic team is also less involved. Maybe they can fix this in season 2.

I promise this initially looked like a Asur kind of 10/10 series but it is somewhat satisfying. Nice try.

I had high hopes because this was from YRF and on Netflix, but Mandala Murders just feels like a confused, overcooked mess. Every episode brings in a new character, more timelines, more flashbacks - and instead of building the story, it just gets more tangled. It feels like they wanted to copy a bit from Stranger Things, Suzhal, Sacred Games, and some international thrillers, but forgot to create their own unique voice.

The writing is weak. The character arcs are random - people act without any proper reason or build-up. Some scenes feel so forced that you can literally see the writer/director pushing it just to make it "cool." The sequences are badly edited, the emotional beats don't land, and the acting - although sincere - gets wasted in this chaos.

Too many inspirations + no clarity = perfect khichdi.

Also, Anurag Kashyap had once rightly said:

"What's not on screen can't be cinema to them. The biggest problem with YRF is the trial room effect." This series is a prime example of that. Feels like it was made more in a boardroom than in a writer's room.

Visually, yes, it looks good. Some locations and costumes work. But what's the point if the story doesn't engage?

Mandala Murders has an interesting story and the overall vibe is quite dark and gripping, which works well for a crime thriller. But somehow, it doesn't hit as hard as it could have. One big reason is Vaani Kapoor in the lead role - she just doesn't fit. Her expressions feel flat, and the role needed someone who could really bring intensity and depth. A stronger actress would've made a big difference. The show has some good moments, and the supporting cast is decent too, but the lead performance holds it back. It's one of those shows that had potential but doesn't fully deliver.