Web Series Name: Mandala Murders
Rating: 2.5/5
Cast: Vaani Kapoor, Vijay Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla, Shreya Pilgaonker, Jameel Khan, Raghuvir Yadav, and others
Created by: Gopi Puthran
Streaming on: Netflix
Yash Raj Films brings Mandala Murders, a crime thriller web series streaming on Netflix as a part of its OTT content. The series marks the digital debut of Vani Kapoor (whose Raid 2 is also out on Netflix). Let us find out how the seris has been shaped up in our review.
Story:
When a string of strange murders shakes up the calm in Charandaspur, CIB Officer Rea Thomas and a police officer, Vikram Singh, team up to figure out the conspiracy behind these ritualistic killings tied to a hidden cult.
Performances:
Vaani Kapoor pulls off the cop look with a subtle rage, yet the emotional depth of her role often seems lacking. She delivers an impactful performance in the flashback sequences, though.
Vijay Raj Gupta adds a cool calmness to Vikram. His acting keeps the series grounded when it starts to go off track. Surveen Chawla brings a lot of tension to her role, but her storyline feels incomplete until it finally picks up towards the end.
Raghubir Yadav, Jameel Khan, Manu Rishi Chadda, and others do well, but Shreya Pilgaonkar nails it with her awesome performance in a short yet crucial part.
Analysis:
Gopi Puthran creates Mandala Murders. The series kicks off in a really interesting way with some thrilling scenes/aspects. But there is also an inbuilt fluctuation in the proceedings.
At first, the characters grab the attention, but then they drift away and leave the viewer wanting more from them. One gets a taste of the motivations of the characters, but they do not dig deep enough. Just when a character’s path starts to get a grip, the show switches to another.
For example, both the inner conflicts of Vaibhav and Vani’s characters could have been more solid. The question of who the killer is maintains the intrigue, with the significance of signs/links with a fascinating and scary backdrop of the “Yast” cult, but the suspense revealing parts could have been handled better.
In each episode, Mandala Murders blends a rich narrative filled with themes like trauma, caste dynamics, patriarchy, the decline of systems, spiritual quests, and scientific dreams.
The goal is clear, but the result feels pretty basic. However, the ending episodes turn out good and give a nice hint into the second season.
Positives:
- Fascinating Plot
- A Few Interesting Moments
- Last Two Episodes
Negatives:
- Boring Middle Parts
- Lack Of Required Thrills
- Basic/Ordinary Feel in the Proceedings
Mandala Murders Review and Verdict:
Netflix’s Mandala Murders takes a daring approach by fusing crime thriller aspects with eerie supernatural elements. It’s got an interesting storyline and a nice ending, but it falters a bit in keeping things engaging along the way. It can be watched without many expectations.