Mandala Murders

Plot

Set in the fictional Charandaspur, Uttar Pradesh, Mandala Murders follows CIB officer Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor) and suspended cop Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) as they investigate ritualistic murders orchestrated by the Aayastis, a cult seeking to resurrect a god-like entity, Yast, using human body parts arranged in a mandala pattern. The narrative alternates between the present and 1950s flashbacks, revealing the cult’s origins through Rukmini (Shriya Pilgaonkar), its founder, and Rea’s grandmother, who opposed it. As the detectives uncover personal ties to the cult, they confront political figure Ananya Bhardwaj (Surveen Chawla), who drives its modern revival. The investigation leads to a climactic showdown in underground chambers, where Rea disrupts the final ritual, though the cult’s influence lingers.

Production

Developed by YRF Entertainment, Mandala Murders is the studio’s second major web series after The Railway Men. Created by Gopi Puthran, known for Mardaani 2, it adapts The Butcher of Benares into a mythological-crime thriller.

Puthran co-directed with Manan Rawat, with writing by Gabe Gabriel, Matt Graham, Avinash Dwivedi, Chirag Garg, and Puthran. Filmed across five cities in Uttar Pradesh, the series depicts Charandaspur with a dark, atmospheric aesthetic. Shaz Mohammed’s cinematography captures the town’s dusty lanes and the eerie Varuna Forest, contrasting modern and historical timelines.

Reception

Mandala Murders received mixed reviews. Critics praised its atmospheric world-building, Shaz Mohammed’s cinematography, and performances, particularly Vaani Kapoor’s commanding OTT debut and Vaibhav Raj Gupta’s emotional depth. The depiction of Charandaspur and the Varuna Forest was lauded for its gothic atmosphere. However, the series was criticised for uneven pacing, a convoluted narrative, and excessive exposition.

Hindustan Times described it as “tiresome” due to a patchy screenplay, noting it only gained momentum by episode seven. The Times of India recommended it for lore-heavy thriller fans, despite its complexity. Hardika Gupta of NDTV gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and said that "It's a fascinating mess, occasionally brilliant, often frustrating and always drenched in blood and questions." Bollywood Hungama gave it 3 stars and said that "Overall, Mandala Murders is an engaging and ambitious thriller that boldly ventures into new storytelling territory with its haunting atmosphere, multi-layered narrative, and a chilling cult subplot that lends it a compellingly dark twist. Yet, the show isn’t flawless—its intricate plot and large ensemble cast can become a bit too much to keep track of, and some lapses in logic might challenge the audience's willingness to go along with it." Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 and observed that "the blend of sci-fi with mythology is what makes Mandala Murders different." Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com rated 1/5 stars and said that "There's an obvious attempt to startle with its gruesome imagery of severed heads skewered on chopped limbs and peeled-off faces but it's too tacky to elicit any real dread." Deepa Gahlot writing for Scroll.in said that "Mandala Murders aims to blend sci-fi with mythology but makes a hash of it." Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India observed that "It remains distant, like an academic paper aiming to impress, not art hoping to express." Aishwarya Vasudevan of OTT Play gave 2.5 stars and writes "Mandala Murders blends horror, history, and mystery with chilling ambition." Suchin Mehrotra of The Quint rated it 1/5 stars and said that "In the end, Mandala Murders is eight episodes of characters we barely know and feel for, doing things we don't understand."

Did You Know?

• Vaani Kapoor plays a dual role in the series: CIB officer Rea Thomas and particle physicist Nandini Pant.
• Mandala Murders is YRF Entertainment’s second major web series after The Railway Men.