Mandakini

Mandakini is a comedy movie released this year (2024) in Malayalam.. It is a beautiful film directed by Vinod Leela for the first time by bringing together some new faces, social media stars and ordinary people who play the roles of supporting artists in Malayalam film industry. A full length comedy movie. A film that revolves around some interesting events related to the hero's wedding and first night. A movie with a total duration of only 2 hours and 7 minutes is over very quickly.

This is a film where female characters are given equal treatment along with male artists. All the ladies played their roles beautifully. Among the male artists, the standout performances are those of Althaf, Vineet Thattil, Jafar Idukki and Kutty Akhil. Unni, the brother-in-law character played by Vineeth, is a full-length laugher.

The cinematographer, script writer and editor and all deserve an applause. The background score in some scenes is quite good. I really liked it..It's a good movie to watch as a family. Some of the comedy scenes and dialogues in the movie are comedy scenes that will never be forgotten.

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.

This film got some good promotion and all the credits goes to Dabzee's song, it's a superb song. Don't expect the same with the film. It's just an average film and there are a number of moments where you might need to use the fast forward option in your PC or mobile phone.

The production design was nice, and there were some laughable moments, but overall, the movie is just average.

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.

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.