Mardaani 3

From the very first scene, she commands the screen with this supreme confidence that's just magnetic. What really got me excited is watching her pull off action sequences as a police officer without the film trying to turn it into some over-the-top, masala spectacle. It's grounded, it's realistic, and it's genuinely refreshing. The film keeps that same no-nonsense approach that made the first two Mardaani films work so well. More films need to do this instead of going all crazy with unnecessary drama. The villain introduction is genuinely creepy. When Amma enters the scene, there's this unsettling atmosphere that builds up. There's this one uncomfortable moment that really sets the tone, and it made me sit up in my seat. Not in a jump-scare way, just properly unsettling. The surprises absolutely got me. Without spoiling anything, there's a character in the film who initially felt irrelevant to the story, right? But then - BAM - there's this shocking moment in the theatre that completely caught me off guard. And that's just one of the surprises the film has for you. I literally wasn't ready for some of these twists. The pre-interval block is where things get personal. Because of these surprises I mentioned, Shivani's (Rani's character) investment in the case becomes deeply personal, and you feel that shift. This makes the second half of the film absolutely shine. The writing is genuinely excellent here - it elevates the entire movie and keeps you completely engaged. The pacing is fast, maybe too fast for the first half. Now, some people might dig this quick tempo, but for me, the first half didn't give enough time to properly set up the case and let it breathe. It felt a bit rushed when it could've benefited from building the mystery more carefully. Amma isn't there enough in the beginning. Here's the thing - the villain is barely present in the first half. We get maybe 3-4 scenes, which is completely different from what the first two films did. Because of the whole surprise angle, Amma doesn't feel as scary or impactful as she should, but that's somewhat tied to those shocking moments I mentioned earlier. It's a trade-off the film makes, for better or worse. Rani Mukherji is the star here - supremely confident, pulling off action with so much ease, and absolutely badass in every frame. Janki Bodiwala as Fatima plays a character who starts off looking uncertain but gradually builds into someone with real confidence. Her character has her own surprise waiting for you too. Prajesh Kashyap as Ramanujan is honestly the most surprising performance in the film. I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say he's ruthless and willing to go to any length. That's all I can safely say without spoiling the fun. Mallika Prasad as Amma is excellent with her dialogue delivery and those expressive eyes of hers. The performance is strong, but like I said, the character itself doesn't quite feel as scary or impactful as it could have been - though that's not really her fault. Mardaani 3 is definitely worth watching. It keeps you engaged, surprises you with some genuinely shocking twists, and doesn't try to be something it's not. The first half sets things up, the second half is where the magic really happens with its tight writing, and overall, it's a film that respects your intelligence as a viewer.