Mandakini

Two hours of complete irritation. From the beginning to the end, each character on the screen made me irritated at least once. I just want to mention that Jaffar Idukki made me feel like leaving the theatre without completing the movie. So much irrelevant content was put together to make the movie. The second half of the movie was so, so boring since there was no hook for the viewers to concentrate on. The story itself doesn't have anything interesting. There are a couple of so-called mass sequences for Altaf's mother's character, where they put up a mass background score, and those scenes literally made me laugh.

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.

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.

#pranureviews #Mandakini #MandakiniReview.

I recently watched this movie and I can honestly say it was a wonderful experience. From start to finish, it kept me entertained and completely engaged. The story was very interesting, with just the right mix of drama, emotion, and excitement. Every scene felt well thought out, and the pacing was perfect. There was never a dull moment, and I found myself eager to see what would happen next.

There are a few laughable moments in this film and that's it. Expect nothing and you will get a Biriyani. Anarkali was a miscast in this film and I personally didn't like her acting in this film. Althaaf and th e There are a few laughable moments in this film and that's it. Expect nothing and you will get a Biriyani. Anarkali was a miscast in this film and I personally didn't like her acting in this film. Althaaf and the other supporting actors were fine though. Supporting actors were fine though.