What makes a thriller worth watching? Well, it’s not always about how harsh or dark the narrative gets, but about the way it creates an emotional connection, suspense, unexpected twists, layered characters with a strong protagonist, keeps the tension high throughout, and delivers a satisfying payoff that keeps audiences invested till the last scene. So does Netflix’s latest Gandhari green tick the above? Let’s find out.
Gandhari Plotline
Gandhari, the title of the film, is derived from the epic Mahabharata’s Gandhari, who goes blind, covering her eyes with a cloth. A similar thematic parallel applies to Bani, played by Taapsee, in the Netflix film. The story follows a small Bengali family of three—the mother, Bani; the father, Gokul; and the daughter, Mishty — whose lives change with an unexpected incident: Mishty is kidnapped in front of their eyes during the family’s train journey.
Bani and Gokul file a complaint at the police station; the couple simultaneously face another setback when Bani goes temporarily blind. Their struggle to find their daughter grows tougher when the Joypurra police prove of no help. This begins Bani’s dedicated journey to find her daughter, filled with drama, unexpected twists, a mother’s strength, and a bigger issue beneath the surface, making it a worthwhile one-time watch.
What Works In The Film’s Favor
Despite the familiar narrative of child trafficking, Gandhari tells the story from a mother’s perspective and what a mother can do for her child, and this very factor becomes its strength. The emotional connect keeps viewers glued to the screen. The film moves at a good pace, wasting no time to introduce the central conflict, which serves as another factor that grips the audience.
Devashish Makhija’s direction is fine. He convincingly portrayed the layered world of child trafficking in Joypurra. He tries to maintain the grit and has achieved it somewhere. Visually, the film pays off, while the screenplay could have been stronger.
Taapsee Pannu is the biggest strength of the film, as her character arc and performance were commendable. Also, she is one of the reasons to watch this one.
The Shortcomings
As the film shows this child trafficking narrative from a mother’s perspective, the audience doesn’t really get to see much of a grieving mother to feel the emotion, though overall it brings the emotion; at one point, the film felt a bit fast. Another thing is the film’s familiar tropes we have seen in several other thrillers, but it still worked somehow.
Acting Performances
Undoubtedly, Taapsee Pannu carries the film on her shoulders with her powerful yet grounded portrayal of Bani, a grieving mother who, in pursuit of her daughter, becomes remarkably smart, making her identity her strength. The actress brings vulnerability, strength, and intensity to the character, elevating the experience.
Ishwak Singh as Gokul, Bani’s husband and grieving father, understands the emotions and portrays them well. And he is another good element in the film that deserves a try.
Popular stars like Mita Vashisht, Prashant Narayanan, Swastika Mukherjee, Jatin Sarna, and Chandan Roy are also part of the film, and their characters rightfully contribute to the intense thriller.
Written and produced by Kanika Dhillon, the action thriller, despite a familiar narrative, offers a different perspective. There are plenty of reasons to watch Gandhari: from its premise to its good storytelling to its stellar cast—promising an enthralling thriller that will keep you invested, and it indeed ticks all the boxes a thriller needs.
Our Editorial Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
