Mardaani 3 is sleek and stylish. It's a well-oiled machine, but it lacks the necessary punch to truly impact the viewer.
Rani Mukerji returns to the big screen after almost three years, and she does so with a masterful performance. Of course, since she's reprising her role as Superintendent Shivani Shivaji Roy, her entrance could only be to the beat of vibrant music. In Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway, Mukerji's strong, shrill voice left an indelible mark on the ears. Her character, Debika, was a heroine because she could take on the Norwegian foster care system with a tone of voice capable of hurting eardrums.
Director: Abhiraj Minawala
Writers: Aayush Gupta, Deepak Kingrani, Baljeet Singh Marwah
Stars: Rani Mukerji, Janki Bodiwala, Mallika Prasad
However, Mardaani 3 gives Mukerji a welcome befitting a heroine. This is the Mukerji I admire: the Mukerji with a screen presence more imposing than any recent macho hero in a mediocre, adrenaline-fueled action film. As Shivani, the actress shows her male colleagues what they lack and how they should behave. What she brings is a sense of authority (more than just style) and a convincing "don't mess with me" attitude.
In this role, Mukerji has been consistently excellent. She acts with an urgency that gives weight to her missions. We watch these films with the feeling that Shivani's case is urgent, that the victims are in real danger. It helps that the villains are extremely detestable. They make your blood boil, especially Karan, played by Tahir Raj Bhasin, who, in Mardaani, makes you want to hit him with a slipper.
Admittedly, that same capacity to generate revulsion is lacking in this new sequel. Amma (Mallika Prasad) and a mysterious character whose identity I won't reveal (no spoilers) don't evoke extreme disgust. Prasad, in this role, looks like a creepy ghost (she stars in a jump scare moment when she suddenly appears from under a blanket), and from certain angles, she does instill a bit of fear. However, the performance is too dramatically polished; it feels like an act. Prasad seems controlled; her Amma fails to move the viewer. As for the mysterious character, he comes across more as a cunning and wicked person than a villain who leaves you with the urgent need to take a shower.
Mardaani 3, as you'll see, is sleek and sophisticated. It's a well-oiled machine, but it lacks emotional impact. Given the subject matter, the film would have benefited greatly from a more visceral approach. Nevertheless, it's a decent production that understands its setups and payoffs, its twists and turns. I was impressed by an action sequence before the intermission that shows a palpable crack in Shivani's armor. Her defeat is marked by a magnificent layer of vulnerability, where we perceive the shame of an honest officer, the defeat of a savior, and the wounds of a woman. Shivani's relationship with her husband, Dr. Bikram Roy (Jisshu Sengupta), on the other hand, conveys their entire history through the sweet chemistry the actors share.
Agent Fatima Anwar, played by Janki Bodiwala, is another police officer working alongside Shivani, and she's quite different from her superior. Fatima isn't very self-assured or a lone hero, but like Shivani, she is honest and brave. Bodiwala's casting is a good choice, as she comes across as that shy girl who is always underestimated, and this becomes the source of some surprises.
It's evident that screenwriter Aayush Gupta and director Abhiraj Minawala are making a critique of the state of our system. A SWAT team doesn't arrive on time due to heavy rains and flooding—is this a commentary on poor infrastructure? Shivani's superiors, meanwhile, are the kind of people who care about important personalities and lack good judgment, underscoring a justice system run by individuals who consider the lives of ordinary people expendable. If big statements are being made, they are generalized. Everything is seen from a safe perspective, wrapped in a vague and conventional tone. Mardaani 3 may play it safe, but Shivani is fearless. She's a true heroine because she doesn't let her uniform become a limitation. Shivani shines brightly. She's not easily intimidated. And she remains the best reason to watch this sequel.
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