Film: Mardaani 3
Director: Abhiraj Minawala
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Language: Hindi
Genre: Crime Thriller / Social Drama
Runtime: 2h 10 minutes
A review by Gideon Jotham
Positives
- Story
- Emotion
- Message
- Background score
- Intensity
- Realistic treatment
- Strong theme
Negatives
- Slow moments
- Predictable scenes
- Weak twists
- Routine screenplay
- Less surprise
- Repetitive pattern
- Limited high points
Story
Mardaani 3 opens with the abduction of two young girls from a rural village. Believed to be from a poor background, the case is initially treated as another ignored statistic until it is revealed that one of the girls is the daughter of a powerful government official.
Parallelly, the film introduces Shivani Shivaji Roy in a high-risk operation, busting an international drug-trafficking ring involving women and minors. The introduction establishes her not as a heroic figure, but as a cop constantly walking into a filthy society that prefers to ignore.
When the kidnapping case reaches her desk, Shivani begins an investigation that uncovers a disturbing underworld operating under the guise of a beggar network. At the centre of this system is a woman known as Amma, who exploits abducted children, turning suffering into profit.
As the investigation deepens, a horrifying truth emerges the children are not merely being trafficked, but used in illegal medical experiments. The case takes a tragic turn when the influential official’s daughter is found dead, while the other girl survives, revealing that this crime cuts across class, not just poverty.
Before Shivani can fully expose the network, she is unofficially suspended due to political pressure. Refusing to step back, she continues the investigation off the books with a small trusted team.
The final act exposes the true mastermind operating above Amma, someone protected by power, money, and the system itself. In a brutal climax, Shivani dismantles the network, kills Amma, and brings down the man behind it, rescuing the remaining children.
The film closes not with celebration, but with a warning, leaving behind a clear lead for Mardaani 4, suggesting the battle is far from over.
Direction
The direction in Mardaani 3 stays firmly rooted in the cinematic language established in the first two films. The filmmaker once again avoids commercial shortcuts; there are no glam shots, no background-score-driven heroism, and no attempt to convert Shivani Shivaji Roy into a larger-than-life cop.
Much like Mardaani and Mardaani 2, the storytelling relies on realism: quiet tension, uncomfortable silences, and scenes that allow brutality to sink in rather than explode on screen. The camera often lingers instead of cutting away, forcing the audience to sit with the horror instead of escaping it.
The investigative portions are staged with procedural honesty. Interrogations feel restrained, fieldwork feels exhausting, and the emotional weight comes from accumulation rather than dramatic twists. This continuity makes the film feel tonally consistent with the franchise.
However, the familiarity is also the film’s biggest limitation.
After two installments, the directorial approach begins to feel predictable. Certain beats the discovery scene, the moral confrontation, the emotional pause before retaliation unfold exactly as expected. The film rarely takes visual or narrative risks, choosing safety over experimentation.
While this keeps the seriousness intact, it also prevents Mardaani 3 from reaching the raw impact of Mardaani 2. The direction maintains intensity but doesn’t escalate it.
Still, the director deserves credit for not diluting the franchise. Even in its safer moments, the film never loses its moral spine. It remains focused on victims rather than spectacle, a choice that preserves the soul of Mardaani, even if it limits its evolution.
Screenplay
The screenplay of Mardaani 3 remains engaging throughout, largely because the narrative never loses momentum. The investigation moves steadily, scenes transition smoothly, and the emotional stakes keep the audience invested.
However, the major drawback lies in its predictability.
Most narrative turns can be anticipated well before they unfold. The placement of twists follows familiar patterns, making several reveals feel expected rather than shocking. Instead of surprising the audience, the screenplay often confirms what they have already guessed.
The dialogues further contribute to this predictability. Many lines feel easily assumable, with conversations heading toward outcomes that are apparent even before they are spoken. As a result, moments that were meant to land as impactful occasionally lose their intensity.
While the intent behind the writing is strong, the lack of narrative misdirection weakens the tension. The film tells its story clearly, sometimes too clearly, leaving little room for uncertainty or psychological unpredictability.
In a franchise known for disturbing realism, the screenplay plays it safe when it needed to take sharper risks.
Music & Sound Design
The music and background score in Mardaani 3 work effectively in building tension. The score complements the film’s dark tone, especially during investigation sequences, where it subtly heightens unease without overpowering the visuals.
Unlike commercial thrillers, the music is used with restraint, allowing silence and ambient noise to carry emotional weight. This approach suits the grounded nature of the franchise and supports the seriousness of the narrative.
However, the sound design does not always match the strength of the background score.
At several points, the layering of ambient sounds feels inconsistent. Certain scenes that demanded deeper atmospheric immersion, particularly in tense or emotionally heavy moments, lacked the sonic impact needed to fully pull the audience in.
While the score elevates the film, the overall sound design misses opportunities to intensify realism and dread.
Strong music, decent background score, but sound design could have pushed the experience further.
Performance
Rani Mukerji delivers a controlled and restrained performance as Shivani Shivaji Roy. She remains convincing in the role, maintaining the authority and seriousness that the character demands.
However, the performance does not reach the intensity seen in Mardaani 2. While she is effective in emotional and investigative scenes, fewer moments truly stand out or leave a lasting impact.
The portrayal feels familiar, competent, and steady, but lacking the raw edge that once made the character deeply unsettling. Instead of elevating the film, the performance blends into the narrative.
It works for the story, but it doesn’t redefine the character.
Final Verdict
Mardaani 3 stays true to the franchise’s soul. It is serious, socially relevant, and emotionally rooted, refusing to dilute its intent for commercial comfort. The film succeeds in keeping the audience engaged and reminds us once again why the Mardaani series stands apart from typical cop thrillers.
However, the film also plays it safe.
With a predictable screenplay, easily anticipated dialogues, and familiar narrative turns, it lacks the shock value and raw intensity that made Mardaani 2 deeply unsettling. While the direction remains consistent and the background score effective, the film rarely surprises.
Rani Mukerji delivers a steady performance, but not one that elevates the film beyond its limitations. The intent is powerful, but the execution doesn’t fully push boundaries.
Mardaani 3 is a good film, necessary, sincere, and watchable, but it doesn’t redefine the franchise. It reinforces what already exists instead of taking it to the next level.
Rating: 3 / 5
A Review by Gideon Jotham
