Set in a remote town near Parbhani, Maharashtra, called Manvat, a strange series of crimes emerged in the early 1970s. Seven murders, including those of women and young girls, take place, and no one knows who the killer is or what exactly is happening. Soon, the murders are linked to ritualistic killings, unearthing secrets in the village. A wealthy couple in Manvat knows of a hidden treasure beneath their lands and is determined to find it. DCP Ramakant Kulkarni (Ashutosh Gowariker) is assigned to the case, and he begins to uncover some of the darkest secrets involving Rukminibai (Sonali Kulkarni) and her sister, Samindribai (Sai Tamhankar). 

Manvat Murders Review: Analysis

The "whodunnit" genre is one of the most explored in Indian cinema, with the Marathi industry making its own significant contributions. As such, any new film or show attempting to solve a mystery needs to be not just a good on-screen translation but also clever enough to stand out from the crowd. When it involves retelling a real-life crime case, where multiple people were killed in an attempt to unearth a hidden treasure through ritualistic killings, the narrative has to go beyond the obvious. The storytelling must be immersive and not read like a mere textbook. Does Manvat Murders achieve this?

Adapted from the book Footprints on the Sands of Crime by Ramakant S. Kulkarni, Manvat Murders is written by Girish Joshi and directed by Ashish Avinash Bende. Before diving into this show about a real-life investigation, it's worth reading about the actual events that took place in Manvat—they're easily available online. Knowing that someone truly dared to kill five women and girls for their blood to unearth treasure emphasizes the gravity of this situation. The story itself is inherently dramatic and shocking, so the writing doesn't need to heighten the drama—it needs to enrich the story in a way that makes the world feel alive and not just a simple retelling.

In Manvat Murders, Ashish and Girish tell the story in a traditional manner. There’s black, white, and a pristine white (Ashutosh’s Ramakant), with some gray added toward the end to compensate. The world of Manvat offers so much more than just recounting the core events, which audiences can easily find online. The goal should be to rise above being just a high-budget Crime Patrol episode and become a show that conveys more than just the surface narrative.

While the story does build intrigue—particularly around the wealthy couple who have essentially enslaved the village by putting everyone in debt—it doesn’t attempt to build anything beyond the source material. This results in the show feeling like a Crime Patrol episode, albeit with a bigger budget and better actors.

Although there are cinematic liberties, for most of its runtime, the show remains a beat-for-beat translation, without making the effort to expand beyond the sets it was filmed on. The world feels limited, which is a drawback for a show set in such a rich and potentially symbolic terrain. The pace fluctuates, with the first three episodes failing to reach the necessary dramatic peaks.

Another issue is the overly heroic portrayal of Ramakant Kulkarni. He’s portrayed as flawless, with no visible vice, and is framed as the savior the village desperately needs. There is no moral ambiguity or complexity, unlike in more successful shows and films like Delhi Crime, Scoop, or Sector 36, where the protagonists are depicted as human, complete with flaws and fears. Manvat Murders opts for a one-dimensional hero.

Ashutosh Gowariker’s performance suffers as a result, feeling rehearsed and mechanical, especially in scenes that are juxtaposed with the stellar performances of Sonali Kulkarni, Sai Tamhankar, and Makarand Anaspure. Sonali Kulkarni is a standout, commanding attention on screen with an untamed energy that holds its own alongside a veteran actor like Anaspure. Sai Tamhankar, too, excels, making her portrayal of Samindribai seem effortless.

The set design improves as the episodes progress, as does the cinematography by Satyajeet Shobha Shriram. However, the background score is a drawback, as it’s too heavy-handed, dictating how the audience should feel rather than enhancing the atmosphere organically. Moreover, the show doesn’t stick to the real-life climax of the story, where the case loses track once it enters the courtroom—an intriguing episode that could have added depth to the narrative.

Manvat Murders Review: Final Verdict

Manvat Murders has a compelling setup, an intriguing story, and ample opportunities for exploration. However, it opts for a textbook retelling, failing to bring forth a unique voice or perspective. Despite this, Sonali Kulkarni and Sai Tamhankar deliver phenomenal performances.

Manvat Murders releases on SonyLIV on October 4, 2024. Stay tuned to Mobile Masala for more updates on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

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