Yash Raj Films’ Mardaani 3 (UA) is about the menace of child rape. This is the third film in the Mardaani franchise. Police inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji) is asked to investigate the kidnapping case of the little daughter of the ambassador of Sri Lanka. The girl is kidnapped when the ambassador and his family are in India. While pursuing the case, she realises that there is a gang of Amma (Mallika Prasad) which kidnaps young girls before they hit puberty. Such girls are either pushed into the flesh trade or are used for conducting medical tests for huge monetary gains made by the kidnappers. Is Shivani Roy able to save the daughter and the other young girls? Is she able to bring Amma to book?
Aayush Gupta, Deepak Kingrani and Baljeet Singh Marwah’s story is not very novel as such subjects have been dealt with in earlier films too. However, the trio has written the story quite well. The story holds the audience’s attention even though it lacks newness. Aayush Gupta’s screenplay is fair but should’ve been far better. The human drama fails to move the audience emotionally. The viewers also don’t get invested in the drama. They do not feel hatred towards those kidnapping young girls, and that’s a minus point. Also, the drama doesn’t always look like it is seamless as the viewers sometimes feel that scenes have been written to fit into a template. At some places, the writing also looks contrived and one of convenience. For example, when the investigating team is in Colombo on the trail of the kidnappers, the viewers get the feeling that the team members can do just about anything in a foreign country. The technical jargon towards the end (when discussing about the lab tests) gets a bit too much for the masses to appreciate. Dialogues, penned by Aayush Gupta, are alright. Clapworthy dialogues were the need of the drama, but they are almost missing. Shivani Roy, in one dialogue, refers to the Act dealing with child rape as POSCO instead of POCSO. This is not expected in a film which deals with the issue of child rape.
Rani Mukerji is good in the role of Shivani Shivaji Rao. But her performance does not offer any high to the audience. Also, she should’ve looked fitter for the role. Mallika Prasad is nice as Amma but the menacing factor is missing in her character as well as performance. Consequently, the viewers don’t go into ecstasy when Shivani scores brownie points over her. Prajesh Kashyap is fantastic as Ramanujan. Janki Bodiwala is quite impressive in the role of police officer Fatima. Indraneel Bhattacharya is adequate as Sri Lanka ambassador Sahu. Mikhail Yawalkar scores as police inspector Sodhi. Digvijay Shrikant Rohidas stands his own as police inspector Jafar. Jimpa Sangpo Bhutia leaves a mark as gunner Jimpa. Shashank Shende makes a fine mark in a brief role as Aslam. Avanee Joshi makes her presence felt as Ruhani. Diorr Varghese is natural as Jhimli. Mahesh Ginnilaal has his moments as Lallan. Aadesh Pandit, Sachin Negi, Sajan Kumar and Vaibhav Yadav lend fair support as the four kidnappers. Ashwant Singh Loo, Sanjay Kota, Naveen Kumar and Vijay Kude (as the four traffickers) are alright. Jaipreet Singh (as the DGP), Naved Aslam (as the home secretary), Aurobindo Bhattacharjee (as the ASP of Delhi Police), Roopangi Sharma Vanvari (as Ruhani’s mother), Dhananjay Singh (as the IG of U.P. Police), Aeklavya Tomar (as informer KD), Rushad Rana (as Prajapati), Somansh Dangwal (as young Ramanujan), Anand Sharma (as the Zarco lab scientist), Jeff Goldberg (as Wyland) and the rest of the actors provide the desired support.
Abhiraj Minawala’s direction is alright but it needed to be far better. His narration of the human drama should’ve evoked claps and tears from the viewers. John Stewart Eduri’s background music is impactful. Artur Zurawski’s cinematography is very good. Action and stunt scenes, choreographed by Sunil Rodrigues and Parvez Shaikh, are thrilling. Kailash Sahu’s production designing is of an appropriate standard. Editing (by Yasha Jaidev Ramchandani) is fairly sharp but could’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Mardaani 3 is an average fare. It lacks the magic of its predecessors, Mardaani and Mardaani 2. Its run at the ticket windows will, therefore, not be very impressive. But considering the monies the producers have got from sale of its digital and satellite rights, the going for the film may not be difficult.
Released on 30-1-’26 at Inox (daily 4 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by Yash Raj Film Distributors. Publicity: very good. Opening: fair. …….Also released all over. Opening was alright; collections picked up as the day progressed.