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.
