Netflix’s latest Hindi original, Mandala Murders, attempts to thread the needle between myth, mystery, and murder—but despite its rich premise and atmospheric world-building, the show falters under the weight of its own ambition.
Created by Mardaani 2 director Gopi Puthran, the series is set in the fictional UP town of Charandaspur, where decades-old ritualistic killings suddenly resurface. At the center of the story is Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor), an elite CIB officer haunted by her past, and Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta), a disgraced cop with hidden ties to the cult at the story’s heart.
What Works
- Atmosphere & Cinematography: The dusty lanes, looming forests, and unsettling silences of Charandaspur are brilliantly captured. Visually, the show knows what it’s doing.
- Conceptual Depth: The idea of the Ayastha Mandala cult and its god Yast, who grants wishes in exchange for death, taps into a uniquely Indian blend of spiritual horror and philosophical thriller.
- Vaibhav Raj Gupta: His performance is a standout. As a man wrestling with inner guilt and outer horrors, he adds emotional gravity where needed.
- Myth + Social Themes: The show ambitiously touches on caste, trauma, and religious exploitation, trying to elevate the crime genre to more reflective terrain.
What Doesn’t Work
- Vaani Kapoor’s OTT Debut: She delivers a restrained performance, but lacks consistency—particularly in emotionally demanding scenes. Her character feels written with more depth than she’s able to fully convey.
- Narrative Clutter: In trying to weave mythology, police procedural, trauma, conspiracy theories, and politics into one tapestry, the story starts fraying at the edges. Not all threads are resolved, and some devolve into confusion or cliché.
- Pacing & Payoff: The first few episodes are engaging, but by mid-season, the narrative becomes muddled. It loses urgency and coherence, and when the final twist arrives, it feels too predictable to truly shock.
- Genre Confusion: The blend of supernatural ritual and modern science/conspiracy lacks cohesion. The show gestures at dark mythological horror and socio-political allegory, but lands somewhere in the middle—ambiguous and unsatisfying.
Final Verdict
Mandala Murders is an atmospheric and ambitious thriller that dares to be different, but stumbles in its execution. For fans of slow-burn mysteries with occult undertones and dense backstories, it’s a decent one-time watch. But those expecting airtight storytelling and emotional resonance might find themselves zoning out before the final curtain.
Rating: 3/5
⏳ Worth a try if you like mood-driven thrillers, but manage expectations.
