Mardaani 3 - Mother Promise

Mardaani 3

Hindi, 2026

Genre: Action Thriller 

Director: Abhiraj Minawala

Stars: Rani Mukherjee, Mallika Prasad, Prajesh Kashyap

Mohan's Measure ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

While hinted at in the first two movies, the third in the series makes it clear. Shivani Shivaji Roy is a direct instrument, perhaps even an Avatar, of the Goddess who rules over Kolkatta, and her anger, particularly towards many members of the male species, is fueled by their treatment of girls and women. This particular guardian sensibility is what makes SSP Roy best at what she does, and Ms. Mukherjee can do no better in playing the part, which undoubtedly was created for her. In a sense, we are perhaps seeing as much about Ms. Mukherjee as we do her character. 

But scriptures speak of more than just male demons. For every goddess in the pantheon there is an anti-goddess, a nemesis and exact antithesis who serves as an alter ego to the righteous mindset of the other. For this, Ms. Prasad  does a near perfect characterization. Like SSP Roy's, her eyes are piercing, revealing a deep and very seasoned individual.  But her grounds are the dark and battered neighborhoods, and her people are those whom Fate wills to reside there. Her means are different, because hers is not anger, but hunger, for more and more power. This menace is known only as Amma, and we are both captivated and disgusted by her very presence. There is a suggestion of voodoo and dark arts in Amma, and these serve to further develop the persona of a cold hearted villain. But to be called Amma, she needs...

A son. Mr. Kashyap brings him to us as someone so ruthless, he is literally willing to give up his right arm to win the favor of the Dark Queen. Ironically, he is given the name Ramanujan, and the fact the object of his Oedipus complex is called Amma brings a whole new political angle to this thriller series.

Politics aside, however, Mardaani 3 is a well crafted thriller that sets us up for a few more sequels.