Name: Mardaani 3
Director: Abhiraj Meenawala
Cast: Rani Mukherjee, Mallika Prasad, Prajesh Kashyap, Janaki Bodiwala
Writer: Ayush Gupta, Deepak Kingrani, Baljeet Singh Marwah
Rating: 3/5
plot
Mardaani 3, directed by Abhiraj Meenawala, is based on one of the most disturbing crimes of all time, trafficking of girls below the age of 8-9 years, which is carried out under the guise of medical advancements. Amma (Mallika Prasad) and Ramanujan (Prajesh Kashyap) traffick prepubertal girls to conduct illegal HPV-X virus tests, leave them to die and use them as guinea pigs for drug experiments. Their goal is to create a futuristic medicine for cervical cancer. What seems to be a ‘better’ pitch gradually reveals its monstrous reality.
ACP Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukherjee) finds herself torn between duty and conscience, battling not only criminals but also a highly volatile moral gray zone. The film also subtly highlights the brutal disparity between the privileged and the powerless, making its crime feel painfully real.
what works
Amma’s entry scene is a showstopper. Mallika Prasad’s cool, no-nonsense demeanor sends chills down your spine; She doesn’t scream in danger, she screams through her breath. Her mere presence instills fear, making her one of the most disturbing antagonists in the franchise.
One of the most powerful moments of the film comes when Shivani says to a lady inspector, who was confined to serving tea, ‘Tre chod Fatima’ (Leave the tray, Fatima). This line is not just a dialogue – it is a statement. Shivani asks her to step into the field and join the investigation, subtly but powerfully breaking down the gender roles within the system.
The script is very sharp and tight. It keeps you engaged and doesn’t let you lose focus even for a moment. The fight scenes are deftly choreographed, brutal yet believable, never becoming cheesy for the sake of show.
Director Abhiraj Meenawala has proved that there is more than what meets the eye in Mardaani 3. The storytelling is layered, controlled and impressive, especially in how it allows silence to speak louder than noise.
what doesn’t work
Although the film is entertaining, some parts feel emotionally heavy to the point of discomfort, which is intentional, but may not work for all audiences. The film’s ambition is admirable, but in places the story leans a bit towards exposition rather than letting moments breathe naturally.
Watch the trailer of Mardaani 3 below:
Rani Mukherjee once again proved why Shivani Shivaji Roy is hers. His portrayal of the conflict between personal and professional duty is done with remarkable restraint. She doesn’t overdo the emotions; Instead, she lets them simmer, making the effect far stronger.
Prajesh Kashyap as Ramanujan is extraordinary. Given enough screen space, he uses every moment to create an opponent who is intelligent, calculating, and deeply disturbing without being noisy.
Mallika Prasad’s Amma is one of the scariest villains of recent Hindi cinema, controlled, composed and terrifying.
Janaki Bodiwala as policewoman Fatima Anwar is very balanced in her performance and plays an important role in the film.
last words
Mardaani 3 is not an easy watch, and it shouldn’t be. It’s disturbing, powerful, and deeply relevant. The climax will give you goosebumps and keep you moving long after the screen goes black.
This is a film every woman should see, not only for its message, but the strength it portrays, the conversations it starts, and the uncomfortable truths it forces us to confront.
