Rani Mukerji is back as the fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy in the third instalment of the Mardaani franchise. While netizens were glad to see their favourite character return in her power-packed role in Mardaani 3 and unanimously praised Rani’s commanding screen presence, some of them thought the third part was “the weakest chapter yet”.
The loyal fans of the Mardaani franchise know by now how Roy fearlessly fight against brutal crimes rooted in social realities.
While the first chapter tackled child trafficking, the second one was about a chilling predator targeting young women.
Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and written by Aayush Gupta, in the third part Shivani investigates a case involving two kidnapped girls from Bulandshahr. The trailer gave a glimpse into the abduction of the young girls and a chilling statistic highlighting how thousands go missing every week in India.
Hell bent to crack the case, Shivani uncovers a ruthless trafficking racket run by a mysterious middle-aged woman called Amma. What follows is a tense race against time, with Shivani battling systemic rot and personal danger to rescue missing children and deliver justice.
Rani Mukerji carries the film on her shoulders
While the film seemed old and repetitive to a few netizens, there was no denying Rani Mukerji’s star power. Her performance is the film’s strongest pillar as netizens hailed her as ‘ferocious,’ ‘commanding,’ and ‘unapologetically intense’.
From screen presence, to dialogue delivery to emotional depth, social media users thought Rani nailed the role with some of them calling the role as the most iconic female cop.
“Rani Mukerji is simply outstanding – commanding screen presence, steely resolve, and remarkable emotional depth. She owns every frame, reminding us why Shivani Shivaji Roy remains one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic cop characters,” a user wrote.
Mixed reviews for Mallika Prasad
Mallika Prasad’s portrayal of Amma drew mixed reactions from netizens, with some viewers describing her as “terrifying” and “menacing,” while others felt her performance fell short of the villains from the previous installments.
“The weakest aspect of the film is its villains. Mikhail Yawalkar and Mallika Prasad have done a decent job, but compared to the villains of the previous Mardaani film- Tahir Raj Bhasin and Vishal Jethwa-they feel far too weak,” noted a netizen.
Direction wins praises
Netizens felt that director Abhiraj Minawala’s direction was on point and that he successfully handled the hard-hitting and relevant theme. The raw action, grounded treatment and intense background score added to the film’s appeal.
“Director Abhiraj Minawala mounts a taut, hard-hitting thriller that stays true to the soul of the franchise… The narrative is razor-sharp [for the most part], the tension relentless, and the emotional beats land with force,” the review read.
What’s missing in the film
Many thought that the first half till interval was gripping, but the second half faltered. Netizens pointed out that the narrative becomes predictable after the interval as the focus shifts from investigation to melodrama. Some viewers also felt the climax lacked the punch seen in earlier Mardaani films.
“The drama is also MOSTLY hard hitting but the punch of the first two parts is missing. It’s not that intense this time (as of now). Pre interval suspense is also predictable,” another user wrote.
Some felt that even Rani Mukerji was not able to save the “poorly written film” despite her sincere efforts.
“Rani Mukerji tries her best, but even her sincere performance cannot save this dull, poorly written film. The screenplay is flat, the investigation lacks urgency, and the villains are laughably underdeveloped. There’s no edge, no shock value, no emotional impact just loud background score and forced seriousness,” the X review read.
Conclusion
While some hailed Mardaani 3 as as a worthy, socially conscious addition to the franchise, others labelled it outdated and lacking the intensity of its predecessors. What remains undisputed is Rani Mukerji’s impact.
“Overall, Outdated concept, weak direction, lazy screenplay, zero thrills. One of the most forgettable crime films in recent times,” wrote a netizen.
“What makes Mardaani 3 powerful is its refusal to dilute discomfort. It confronts reality head-on and trusts the audience to engage,” read a review.