Mandala Murders, the Netflix Hindi original series created by Gopi Puthran, is a visually dark crime thriller that blends modern police procedural with ancient Indian mysticism. While the show is rich in atmosphere and aims high with its ambitious plot, its execution is often muddled, leading to a mixed critical consensus.
The Plot: The Cult of Yast
Set in the fictional town of Charandaspur, the series is driven by the investigation of gruesome, ritualistic murders where dismembered body parts are arranged in a Mandala pattern. CIB officer Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor) teams up with suspended cop Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) to uncover the Aayastis, a centuries-old cult dedicated to resurrecting a man-made god named Yast through horrific human sacrifices. The narrative juggles present-day chaos with 1950s flashbacks detailing the cult’s origins.
What Works: Atmosphere and Vaibhav Raj Gupta
Atmosphere and Visuals: The show's greatest strength is its stunning, dark, and gothic mood. The cinematography effectively captures the unsettling stillness of the town.
Vaibhav Raj Gupta: He provides the series with much-needed emotional depth and sincerity as the haunted Vikram Singh, proving to be the most compelling character.
Ambition: The core concept—blending cult lore, ancient geometry, and a gruesome ritual for a man-made god—is bold and unique.
What Doesn't Work: Cluttered and Convoluted Writing
Narrative Overreach: The plot is overstuffed with concepts and timelines, making the mystery overly complicated and often difficult to follow for the first few episodes. Critics felt the show becomes a "what-is-happening" rather than a "whodunit."
Uneven Lead Performance: Vaani Kapoor's performance, while having the presence of a protagonist, was frequently noted as lacking the necessary emotional grit and feeling "flat" or "expressionless."
Unearned Payoff: The ending and final revelations, though setting up a Season 2, failed to deliver a truly satisfying or cathartic conclusion, as the complex threads did not weave together coherently.
Final Verdict
Mandala Murders is a series that aims for the stars but struggles to land its complex execution. It is visually arresting and conceptually intriguing, but its lack of narrative discipline and emotional clarity prevent it from becoming a truly great Indian thriller.
Average Critic Rating: ⭐⭐½ to ⭐⭐⭐ (2.5/5 to 3/5 Stars)
No comments:
Post a Comment