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News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Gopi Puthran On Mandala Murders' Netflix Triumph: 'If We Stay True To Our Roots...'
Last Updated: Mandala Murders tops Netflix India for three weeks and ranks 7th globally. Creator Gopi Puthran says its success lies in rooted, mythical storytelling that connects deeply. Mandala Murders is proving to be one of Netflix India's most enduring hits of 2025. Three weeks after its release on July 25, the crime thriller continues to dominate as the platform's most-watched Indian series, while also securing the 7th position among Netflix's most-viewed TV shows globally last week. The show's creator, Gopi Puthran, attributes its success to a deep connection with India's cultural roots and mythical identity. Set in a small, fictional town, Mandala Murders weaves a narrative steeped in local myths and mystery — a combination that Puthran believes resonates strongly with audiences both in India and abroad. 'India is a country that is deeply connected and awed by its roots. Myths are embedded deep within our DNA because of the stories that were handed down over generations by our elders, which is why we instantly connect to content with such tonality," Puthran explained. 'What is really heartening to see is how Mandala Murders has connected with people's psyche due to this. Partnering with Netflix, with its incredible reach, has enabled the series to be sampled by viewers who want content laced with myths and mysteries of India." According to Puthran, the show's global appeal lies in its authentic depiction of India's mythical undercurrents — a cultural texture that fascinates international viewers. He also points to smaller towns and cities across India embracing the show's storytelling, proof that authenticity has wide appeal. 'If we are true to our identity, there will be takers for shows like Mandala Murders or Mirzapur, which also showed that people want to connect to authentic and disruptive storytelling that is rooted. We're thrilled with the huge success of Mandala Murders and I'm sure many more makers will now be encouraged to explore stories and deliver them in this genre," he said. Produced by YRF Entertainment and co-directed by Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat, the series stars Vaani Kapoor in the lead, alongside a stellar ensemble including Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Siddhanth Kapoor, Rahul Bagga, Raghubir Yadav, and Monica Choudhary. With its blend of gripping mystery, rich mythology, and compelling performances, Mandala Murders is not just a streaming success — it's a testament to the enduring power of rooted, culturally resonant storytelling. view comments First Published: August 15, 2025, 16:54 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Mandala Murders and Mirzapur showed that people want to connect to disruptive storytelling that is rooted: Gopi Puthran
Noting that the series is painted against a small, fictional town, Gopi says that if filmmakers remain true to India's roots and identity, it will resonate with audience Mandala Murders continues to be the most watched Indian series on Netflix three weeks following its release. The series, which was released on July 25, has maintained the top spot of the most-watched TV show on Netflix in India and has cemented its position on the 7th spot last week globally. Creator Gopi Puthran sheds light on the series' success and credited it to India's mythical identity. Noting that the series is painted against a small, fictional town, Gopi says that if filmmakers remain true to India's roots and identity, it will resonate with audience. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'India is a country that is deeply connected and awed by its roots. Myths are embedded deep within our DNA because of the stories that were handed down over generations by our elders which is why we instantly connect to content with such tonality. What is really heartening to see is how Mandala Murders has connected with people's psyche due to this. Partnering with Netflix that has incredible reach across the country has enabled Mandala Murders to be sampled by those who would like to consume content laced with myths and mysteries of India,' Gopi says. 'Globally too, audiences who are curious about India's mythical identity are binge-watching the show. It is really incredible to see towns and smaller cities of India also take to Mandala Murders due to this factor. If we are true to our identity, there will be takers for shows like Mandala Murders or Mirzapur which also showed that people want to connect to authentic and disruptive storytelling that is rooted. So, we are thrilled with the huge success of Mandala Murders and I'm sure many more makers will now be now encouraged to explore stories and deliver them in this genre,' he adds. Mandala Murders is produced by YRF Entertainment and directed by Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat. Vaani Kapoor headlines the series, sharing the screen with acclaimed actors Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Siddhanth Kapoor, Rahul Bagga, Raghubir Yadav, and Monica Choudhary, who play pivotal roles.
News18
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Mandala Murders Creator Gopi Puthran On Series' Global Success: 'Wanted To Create A Binge-Worthy...'
Curated By : Yatamanyu Narain Last Updated: August 02, 2025, 17:52 IST Director Gopi Puthran opens up about the overwhelming success of Mandala Murders, now the No. 1 Netflix series in India and among the global Top 10 non-English shows. YRF Entertainment's psychological crime drama Mandala Murders is riding high on critical acclaim and audience love. The series has stormed to the top of the Netflix India charts, becoming the No. 1 trending show in the country. Not just that, it has also broken into the global Top 10 in the non-English series category on the platform — a major feat for a homegrown thriller. The man behind this success, director and creator Gopi Puthran, is understandably thrilled. Speaking about the overwhelming response, Puthran shared, 'Originality of imagination has been the cornerstone for content that breaks out. From Mardaani to Mandala Murders, I have tried to do something new, and I've been empowered to push the envelope with every single project at YRF. I'm delighted with the response that Mandala Murders is getting from the audience." Calling the show 'risky" and 'ambitious," Puthran revealed that he set out to build a show that would challenge the viewer's mind and perceptions. 'I wanted to create a binge-able, mind-bending, genre-defying series with Mandala Murders. It was risky and very ambitious, and I'm very happy to see the initial response to the series," he said. A self-confessed fan of psychological thrillers, Gopi says the idea for Mandala Murders came from his love for dark, moody dramas that blur the line between reality and imagination. 'I'm a big fan of crime dramas that leave you on the edge of what is real, what is imagination and what is occult — if it exists in today's world," he explained. He cited shows like True Detective, The Sinner, Twin Peaks, and Sharp Objects as inspirations. 'They explore how the mind can push people to the edge of belief and disbelief. If Mandala Murders is doing that to audiences in India with a story and a concept rooted in our culture, it is truly delightful." With strong performances, a haunting narrative, and visual storytelling that challenges convention, Mandala Murders is quickly cementing itself as a must-watch in India's evolving streaming landscape. Yatamanyu Narain Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he's always on the hun... Read More Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, he's always on the hun... Read More Stay updated with the latest web series on Netflix, Prime Video, Hotstar & more ott platforms, new releases, reviews, top binge-worthy shows! Download the News18 App for all things OTT! view comments News movies » web-series » Mandala Murders Creator Gopi Puthran On Series' Global Success: 'Wanted To Create A Binge-Worthy...' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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First Post
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Gopi Puthran on Netflix and Vaani Kapoor's Mandala Murders: 'I have tried to do something new and...'
Gopi is a big binger of psychological thrillers and mysteries that pushes audience to think about what is real, what is just sheer figment of imagination and can the occult exist in today's modern world read more YRF Entertainment's hugely acclaimed Mandala Murders has broken out as the Number 1 series on Netflix and it has also smashed into the global top 10 non-English series charts on the platform. Director and creator Gopi Puthran is thrilled with the appreciation that this highly original series is getting from all quarters. Gopi says, 'Originality of imagination has been the cornerstone for content that breaks out. If you look at Mardaani to Mandala Murders, I have tried to do something new and I have been empowered to push the envelope with every single project at YRF. I'm delighted with the response that Mandala Murders is getting from the audience.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He adds, 'From being the No 1 trending show on Netflix India, to our hitting the global charts on the platform, Mandala Murders is off to a great start and it makes all of us very, very happy. I wanted to create a binge-able, mind-bending, genre-defying series with Mandala Murders. It was risky and very ambitious and I'm very happy to see the initial response to the series.' Gopi is a big binger of psychological thrillers and mysteries that pushes audience to think about what is real, what is just sheer figment of imagination and can the occult exist in today's modern world. For him, Mandala Murders was an attempt to play with the minds of the audience. He says, 'I'm a big fan of dark, moody, crime dramas that leave you on the edge of what is real, what is imagination and what is occult if it exists in today's world.' Gopi adds, 'True Detective, The Sinners, Twin Peaks, Sharp Objects, are an exploration of how the mind can push people to the edge of belief and disbelief and if Mandala Murders is doing that to audiences in India with a story and a concept that's rooted in India and our culture, it is truly delightful.'
NDTV
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Mandala Murders Review: A Slow-Burn Thriller That Burns Itself Out
New Delhi: Every time a new show drops with words like "mandala," "sacrifice," and "secret cult" thrown into the mix, you expect either a transcendental mind-bender or a beautifully shot mess. Netflix's Mandala Murders, created by Mardaani 2 director Gopi Puthran, flirts dangerously with both. It's like the show is standing at a crossroads, one path leads to a gripping genre-bending thriller, the other to a rabbit hole of overwrought philosophy. What we end up getting is an ambitious but flawed hybrid: one part crime procedural, one part occult noir, and one part fever dream stitched together with blood, dust and a dash of half-baked particle physics. Set in the fictional town of Charandaspur, Mandala Murders opens with a crime straight out of a horror folktale, a decapitated body bobbing gently in a village pond, setting off a string of ritualistic killings that pull us across decades, from post-Independence India to a particularly sinister present. The crimes, drenched in gore and carried out with methodical precision, are linked to a secretive cult from the 1950s called Ayastha Mandala. These spiritual radicals believe in a dark god named Yast, who demands death in return for fulfilled wishes. But this isn't just a whodunit, it's a sprawling eight-episode saga where no timeline is sacred, no backstory too bizarre, and no metaphor left unexplored. Enter Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta), a suspended Delhi Police officer with a haunted past and a stoic frown that rarely leaves his face. Vikram, who returns to his hometown after years, becomes an unlikely partner to Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor), a sharp but emotionally brittle CIB officer, who arrives in Charandaspur to untangle the growing pattern of grisly murders. Rea, grappling with unresolved trauma, finds herself not just chasing a killer, but a legacy of violence rooted deep in the town's psyche. Also lurking in this shadowy world are Ananya (Surveen Chawla), a power-hungry local politician with a veiled history, a machine that grants wishes but demands thumbs in return, a priest who seems to know more than he lets on and a psychic who communes with shadows. Despite the promise of this universe, the series never quite manages to find tonal harmony. Visually, there's no denying the atmospheric strength. The dusty alleys, foreboding forests, and antique books bound in secrets set the stage for something uniquely Indian and myth-soaked. There's ambition in the detailing, from the eerily sterile interiors of the cult's hidden sanctum to the bruised colours of flashback sequences that ground the show's historical elements. Even the cinematography attempts to keep you on edge, and it works until the writing stretches itself too thin. With each episode, Mandala Murders tries to weave together a vast narrative tapestry: trauma, caste, patriarchy, systemic decay, spiritual longing, and scientific ambition all make their way into the plot. But what begins as layered storytelling soon becomes convoluted. The show often gets tangled in its own timeline-switching structure, leading to stretches where tension gives way to confusion. Characters are introduced with intrigue, but then fade without resolution or significance. Motivations are hinted at, but not explored with enough depth. By the time you find your bearings in one thread, the show has already jumped to another. That said, Vaibhav Raj Gupta brings an impressive stillness to Vikram. His performance anchors the series whenever it threatens to spiral. Vaani Kapoor, making her OTT debut with this series, is a mixed bag. While she manages restraint and looks the part of a cop with quiet fury, the emotional beats often feel undercooked. She excels more in her brief double role as physicist Nandini, a character that bizarrely appears as part of a narrative twist, than as Rea, who remains slightly too aloof to connect with fully. Surveen Chawla gives Ananya a simmering tension, but her arc is left hanging just when it starts getting interesting. The biggest problem Mandala Murders faces is not in its ambition, but in its inability to control it. The series aims for profundity, using the mandala as a symbol of order, chaos, sacrifice, and belief, but its script is so stuffed with concepts that few are given the space to breathe. And then there's the gore. The show does not shy away from body horror. Torsos without heads, heads without bodies, severed thumbs and stitched limbs are all paraded before the viewer with clinical, almost fetishistic precision. At first, it shocks. But eventually, it numbs, a symptom of overuse, not just of violence, but of style over substance. And yet, there's something about the sheer audacity of it all that holds your attention. Whether it's a politician tormented by her past, a child sucked into ritualistic bloodlust, or a machine that literally makes wishes come true (at a grotesque cost), the show throws curveballs with a conviction that's almost admirable. Some land. Others don't. But the boldness remains. In the end, Mandala Murders is less a whodunit and more a what-is-happening. It builds a compelling world and then loses its way trying to make it mean too much. A shorter run, a tighter script, and fewer tangents could've turned this from a curious thriller into something truly unforgettable. As it stands, it's a fascinating mess, occasionally brilliant, often frustrating and always drenched in blood and questions.
