Indian rural folklore is filled with chilling tales of superstition, witchcraft, and occult practices. While the terminology or details may vary from cipher to cipher, what remains constant is the paralyzing fear of the unknown, which often drives a person to unnatural extremes and unbelievable criminal behavior.
The eight-part Marathi thriller begins with a woman working in the fields being struck on the head with an ax by two masked men. She was just one of many victims. The entire area is gripped by fear, with women afraid to step out of their homes alone.
Then we are introduced to Ramakant Kulkarni (Ashutosh Gowariker), a decorated police officer with an impressive record of solving all the cases . After the bodies piled up, Kulkarni was sent from Mumbai to Manwat to find the culprits behind the gruesome killings.
Sonali Kulkarni gave a stellar performance in the series
Kulkarni is the polar opposite of his corrupt colleagues. He has a keen interest in criminal psychology and has his own strategies for extracting information from people, even the tiniest details from cases. While the team around him is impatient, incompetent and rogue, this poised officer has all his moves calculated in advance.
As the investigation proceeds, one of the prime suspects turns out to be a local couple: Uttamrao Balahat (Makram Anaprey) and his spouse Rukmini (Sonali · Kulkarni), they run a secret illegal liquor business that has left the entire community deeply in debt. Even though they were evicted from the area by law, their business (now handled by Rukmani’s sister Saminderi) continued smoothly. Meanwhile, the couple is preparing a petition to have their house repossessed.
Over the next seven episodes, we see frequent flashbacks to previous murders as the investigation continues. As more killings occur, the case becomes entangled with old clues and new suspects. Themes of poverty, illiteracy and drug addiction are also touched upon, while a major focus is on mysticism.
This crime thriller depicts the subject with the care and sensitivity it deserves. Its unfiltered depictions of murder and pedophilia are chilling and disturbing, but rarely gratuitous. The show successfully explores the fragility and vulnerability of the human psyche, which can easily be manipulated and pushed into dark corners. What is frightening is how trivial and indispensable human life is to those who blindly follow the herd.
Ashutosh Gowariker plays Inspector Ramakant Kulkarni, who is investigating the mysterious killing case of Manwat
Sonali Kulkarni, in particular, does an excellent job portraying this unabashed faith in an immoral cause. Here she plays an infertile woman ready to do whatever it takes to have a baby. Her image is powerful and dark and makes you feel uncomfortable every time she appears on screen. In a particularly poignant scene in episode three, she weeps over her barrenness before a lamp under the sacred fig tree. Kulkarni has a venerable body of work behind her, and her portrayal of Rukmini is one of her best yet.
Also outstanding is Sai Tamhankar who plays Rukmini’s sister. She brings a formidable aura to every scene she’s in. This was my first opportunity to see her work and I am now eagerly looking forward to seeing more of her work in the future.
The way Manwat Murder is shot and edited also makes the events unfolding before your eyes all the more horrifying. Scenes of daily life are also impressively depicted, giving the village and its people a rhythm of life. Visually, the show often evokes a quiet calm despite the gruesome events taking place in the background. Some scenes (Satyajeet Shobha Shriram did the show’s cinematography), such as the one focusing on Uttamrao’s villa, are beautifully shot and give a sense of The impression of a vibrant painting. Director Ashish Avinash Bende wisely abandons an over-romanticization of the landscape in favor of a more authentic representation of rural Maharashtra without compromising its cultural appeal force.
The series is available for streaming in Marathi, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali
In the investigation room, the colors of the characters’ clothing are perfectly synchronized with the walls, and the tones are consistent with the mood of the scene. Ironically, it’s these little technical details that add poetic value to the scene.
While “Manwat Murder” excels in its reenactments of scenes, the story’s momentum wanes despite powerful performances. I understand the intention of the series was to contrast between a strong sense of mystery and simple principles, but this approach ended up being a roadblock to the narrative. The mystery of the plot didn’t really draw me in, and I rarely found myself agonizing in anticipation of what was about to happen. While the show is based on true events and isn’t a groundbreaking concept (it was released just weeks after the Netflix film “Section 36,” based on the 2006 Noida serial murders), It could have avoided being predicted. You don’t really need to look up real-life examples to judge where the show is going. Given that this horrific case is not part of the national consciousness, not everyone is likely aware of the events that occurred. But Manwat Murder misses the opportunity to retell the story explicitly for those who may not be familiar with nightmares.
Despite its shortcomings, Manwat Murder is still an excellent thriller and an ideal starting point for true crime geeks to delve into the horrors of events that occurred decades ago. This is a good adaptation that stays true to its source material, revealing the facts directly without dramatizing or placating them in the name of creative freedom.
While it won’t keep you on your toes, it makes up for it with its gruesome depictions of sacrificial killings that rocked the life and times of a small village in Maharashtra. And its outstanding performance is enough to accompany you to the end. The Manwat murder raises important questions about faith and the serious consequences of unchecked superstition. But these questions rarely lead to deeper introspection.
Rating: 6.5/10
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