After Asur, Paatal Lok, and a dozen dark-toned “let’s-explain-symbolism-in-flashbacks” series, Mandala Murders created by Gopi Puthran is the new entry. Set in the fictional town of Charandaspur, we follow detectives Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor) and Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) as they peel back layers of ritualistic killings, ancient secret societies, and Vikram’s mother’s 20 years old missing case.
On paper, it sounds spicy: a mix of mythology, crime, and occult. But the real question is — does it land, or does it just pretend to be deep?
Direction, Tone, and Storytelling
Gopi Puthran (Mardaani 2) co-directs with Manan Rawat, and The concept is BRILLIANT.
Ayasthis, Mandala sacrifices, energy-as-currency, and ancient tech to revive a god? That’s like Dan Brown meets Asur meets Sacred Games — with a female-led cult.
At first glance, Mandala Murders promises a unique blend: a serial killer thriller wrapped inside a mythological conspiracy. The idea is bold, no doubt. But when it comes to execution—direction, scripting, and pacing—it often struggles to hold the weight of its own ambition.
You’ll keep waiting for that one twist that justifies the build-up — whether it arrives, we’ll see. In my opinion, there are many twists, but everything is predictable for someone who watches thrillers.
The tone sometimes gel with Asur’s vibe, but doesn’t fully commit. — technically correct, emotionally meh. What should feel like high-stakes investigation often ends up looking like disconnected scenes stitched together.
Performances Review: Mandala Murders
The cast does its job partially. Vaani Kapoor as Rea brings sincerity to a layered character, but the writing doesn’t offer enough depth. Eventually, her screen presence falls flat. At no point did I feel convinced she was a brilliant investigative officer.
Vaibhav Raj Gupta (Vikram)’s arc starts strong but ends up confused and falls flat.
Surveen Chawla as a cunning Lady Macbeth looks good on screen, but she couldn’t make an impact in the end.
Too many characters are introduced without space to breathe.
Shriya Pilgaonkar, dressed in a red sari and walking through flames, gets more emotion across in one still frame than some leads do in the whole episode.
The myth angle — Mandala, rituals, prophecies — is interesting if you like symbolic stories. But if you’re expecting a fast-paced crime thriller with sharp writing and clever twists, you might be disappointed. This isn’t that kind of show. It leans more on mystery and mood than tight investigation or smart reveals.
✅ What Works in Mandala Murders
- The core idea of Ayasthis, rituals, and body-part-based resurrection is genuinely original.
- There are occasional moments of brilliance—especially when the show reflects on grief, belief, and sacrifice.
- The female-driven power structure in the cult is a refreshing take, rarely seen in Indian thrillers.
❌ What Doesn’t
- World-building falls flat.
The Ayasthi lore is interesting, but it’s not built with enough clarity. We’re told a lot, but shown very little.
For example, how Jimmy decodes the Mandala symbols is never explained properly—it feels like magic, not intelligence. - No real investigative hook.
This is supposed to be a murder mystery, but there’s no standout moment of detective brilliance. The CBI investigation moves more like a background commentary than the central driver. - Pacing is thin and stretched.
Instead of unfolding gradually with suspense, the plot throws twist after twist—making it hard to stay emotionally connected. It often feels like a series of “what’s next” moments, not “why did this happen?”
Final Verdict
Mandala Murders had the potential to be a genre-defining series—blending Indian myth with modern crime. But in trying to do too much, it ends up delivering less than it could. It’s not a bad show—it just needed sharper writing, better world-building, and a stronger spine to hold its wild ideas together.
Mandala Murders is streaming now on Netflix.
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