Mandala Murders

Hindi film and TV industry is notorious for overselling a success mantra. In recent times, some of the other series which are based on the backdrop of small towns in Hindi belt have done exceptionally well.

However, what the makers of this series fail to understand is that the reason why those other series are so appreciated is because of their authenticity, tight direction, character development and excellent screenplay.

Mandala Murders on the other hand seems to be a very third rate attempt at just putting ingredients like small town, action, mysticism and some good actors together and hoping that it would turn into a good dish somehow.

The characters aren't developed well and a cheap substitute for character development is an abruptly concocted backstory.

Vani Kapoor is as ineffective in this series as she has been in all her previous failed ventures. Gym is not the only place where she should be spending time. Once in a while, she should work on her acting skills too.

Other well known and good actors have been fully and utterly wasted in this series.

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.

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.

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.