Mandala Murders

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.

It's intriguing at start, but it's get quite predictable because the director gives you enough time to think. May be little crisp episodes could have made it more interesting. Also emotions were half baked.,for example could not connect to the scene when Vikram's friend dies..the bond was not built enough to evoke that emotion. Rest you can enjoy for the story and cinematography. One time watch, with few good thriller at some places.

All actors deliver commendable performances, making the characters feel real and engaging. The screenplay is smooth, backed by impressive cinematography and good direction. Although the plot feels somewhat predictable and similar to past thrillers, it still holds attention. A decent one-time watch.gr.

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?

I am giving this series a rating of 6 only because of the character selection. None of the actors show seriousness while investigating the crimes. The main characters, especially Vaani Kapoor, delivered very poor performances. The character responsible for decoding the codes also comes across as unintentionally funny. The only actor whose performance was up to the mark is Surveen Chawla.