Mandala Murders Review
Director: Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat
Date Created: 2025-07-25 22:51
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Mandala Murders Review: Netflix’s new Indian crime thriller, is an ambitious try at blending old-fashioned whodunit with cult-influenced and supernatural horror. The series is directed by Manan Rawat and Gopi Puthran and consists of 8 episodes of approximately 40 minutes each. The series stars Vaani Kapoor, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla,Shriya Pilgaonkar and others. It is set in the eerie town of Charandaspur, where a string of ritual murders is connected to secrets in the past and buried family tragedies.
As a fan of shows with complex plotting and sinister plot twists, I was both amazed and baffled by the Mandala Murders Series. It’s the type of show that tries to be so different and, in some ways, it is, but you can’t help but scratch your head a time or two either.
Mandala Murders Review
The Mandala Murders on Netflix begins with a murder so strange and unnerving, I rewound to make sure I hadn’t imagined it. The imagery, symbolism, and bizarre actions of the characters draw you in quite early into the mystery. What starts as a straightforward investigation by Delhi cop Vikram Singh and CIB investigator Rea Thomas leads you into far darker and deeper currents quite rapidly. The series leads you through political corruption, haunted forests, and some very dark cult rituals, all linked by an old prophecy and a secret society called the Ayasthis.
I enjoyed the fact that the series did not hold back. It is not a typical murder mystery. There is just so much happening, body parts being taken for a demon sacrifice, legends of old gods on the planet, and personal stories of love, loss, and betrayal. It is too much at first, but it makes the narrative all the more interesting, particularly if you are a fan of supernatural thrillers.
Vaani Kapoor, playing Rea, appears tough and assertive in her role, but I never got the impression that her character would be able to connect with the other characters. Her scenes are not right, like she is always by herself, even with a crew. Vaibhav Raj Gupta, playing Vikram, is fine. You sense his pain and confusion, particularly when he comes to know about his own family. Surveen Chawla, playing Ananya, is one of the best characters. She is cold, intelligent, and infuses so much tension into the story.
But the chemistry between Netflix’s Mandala Murders’ lead couple is slightly forced. I wished they had more bonding or emotional scenes. With a show that relies so much on trust and teamwork, this part of the show felt unfinished.
Something that I have to commend is the ambiance. Charandaspur town appears eerie without being over-the-top. The cinematography conveys the tension perfectly. Be it the dense forests or the old structures, the visual narrative is effective. The background score is eerie but not excessive. Costume design and set design also appear well-researched, particularly in the sequences involving the rituals.
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The characters are careening around the place like in a video game, and it just destroys the suspense. It’s daft and detracts from the seriousness of the show. I also thought the show was too long. There are so many characters and so many twists and turns that sometimes you just can’t keep track. I found myself pausing and trying to figure out who had done what and why.
Also, a few of the surprises, although a shock, didn’t ring quite true. It’s as if the authors had to shock us in all directions, which is wonderful in a thriller, but not always ensuring the pieces fall into place.
Now, I’m not going to spoil it for you, but the Mandala Murders ending is extremely dramatic. There’s fire, there’s blood, and a huge twist in who has been causing chaos all along. I loved how fearless it was, of course. I wasn’t completely satisfied with how they did it, though. Some of the twists were rushed, and some of them were just dropped. Obviously, Netflix is leaving it open for season two, but as a viewer, I would have liked a little more resolution.
Netflix Mandala Murders Review: Summing Up
Mandala Murders is complicated, disorganized, and sometimes infuriating. But it’s also ambitious, and entertaining in a strange kind of way. I wouldn’t say it’s a great show, but I wouldn’t say it’s bad either. It’s in the middle somewhere, an imperfect but engaging effort to be doing something different with Indian thrillers. If you’re fed up with the same type of crime programming and you’re looking for something crazy and off the scales, then this series may blow you away.
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