Mandala Murders (2025) – A Mythological Crime Thriller

Mandala Murders is an Indian mythological crime‑thriller series that premiered on Netflix on 25 July 2025 . Created by Gopi Puthran (known for Mardaani 2) and co‑directed by Manan Rawat, it’s produced by YRF Entertainment with executive producers Aditya Chopra, Uday Chopra, Yogendra Mogre, and Akshaye Widhani.

📌 Basic Info at a Glance

Item	Details
Genre	Crime thriller / Mystery / Supernatural horror
Language	Hindi
Seasons / Episodes	Season 1 with 8 episodes (39–49 min each)
Setting	Fictional town of Charandaspur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Release Date	25 July 2025 at around 12:30 PM IST

🎭 Cast & Characters

Vaani Kapoor as Rea Thomas, a determined CBI officer (making her OTT debut)
Vaibhav Raj Gupta as Vikram Singh, a suspended cop with a dark past, known earlier for his role in Gullak
Surveen Chawla as Ananya Bharadwaj, a politician with shocking connections to the cult
Shriya Pilgaonkar as Rukmini, founder of the cult in 1950s flashbacks
Raghubir Yadav, Jameel Khan, Monica Chaudhary, Shriya, Rahul Bagga, Siddhanth Kapoor, and others round out the ensemble

🧠 Plot Overview

🔍 Premise

In Charandaspur, a series of ritualistic murders shakes the town: victims are dismembered, parts disappear, and cryptic mandala symbols are carved at the scenes. CBI officer Rea Thomas and suspended cop Vikram Singh join forces to investigate .

🕰 Dual Timeline Mystery

The story unfolds across two timeframes:

1950s: We see the origins of the secret cult (Ayastis) led by Rukmini, who attempts to resurrect a deity named Yast.
Present Day: The cult resurfaces under Ananya, Vikram’s girlfriend’s sister, plotting a final resurrection ritual .

🚨 Final Ritual & Twist

Ananya believes Vikram is the "miracle child" needed for Yast’s revival. Rea interrupts the ritual and kills Ananya. Yet the cult lingers - the final shot hints the device (Aayast Yantra) has reactivated, setting up season 2.

🌟 Why It Stands Out

✅ Strengths

Original & rich concept: Body‑part mandalas, ancient cult intersecting with myth and occult .
Strong central performances: Vaani Kapoor delivers a commanding CBI officer; Vaibhav Raj Gupta throws himself into a darker, intense persona .
Atmospheric world‑building: Gritty interiors, eerie Varuna Forest visuals, period flashbacks woven into modern thriller .

❌ Weaknesses

Pacing issues & narrative overload: Critics call it a "fascinating mess"—highly ambitious but occasionally incoherent.
Crowded ensemble & complex mythos: Too many characters and subplots muddy the core mystery.
Excessive exposition: The lore is lush but often feels like info-dumps rather than organically woven into the story.

🔎 Interesting Facts & Trivia

Based on the novel The Butcher of Benaras by Mahendra Jakhar, adapted into a mythological crime-thriller by the team including Gabe Gabriel and Matt Graham.
The cult Ayastis worship a conspiracy-based deity Yast; the show draws inspiration from occult fiction and real-world chilling cases like the Kerala sacrifice scandal.
Known for its nerve-shredding imagery: severed limbs, dread‑fueled ritual scenes-a horror‑tinged police procedural.
The ending strongly teases a second season, revealing Rea’s promise to expose deeper mysteries and hinting at the Aayast Yantra becoming active again.

📝 Conclusion – Should You Watch It?

If you're a fan of mythic horror, occult subplots, and lore-heavy crime thrillers, Mandala Murders offers a dark, stylish blend. Vaani Kapoor’s debut marks a bold OTT entry, and the visuals, cult mythos, and suspense are notable. But if you expect a tightly-plotted detective drama with crisp pacing and slick reveals, you may find the complex mythology occasionally overwhelming.

Overall, it's ambitious, often visually haunting, and occasionally brilliant-yet sometimes strays under the weight of its own ideas.

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Mandala Murders (2025) – Netflix’s Dark Mythological Crime Thriller Unleashed