Mardaani Movie Reviews
Avg. Critics Rating
Verdict: Cool based on 30 reviews
Avg. User Rating
3.7
Verdict: Super Hit based on 5 reviews & ratings
4.0
Rohit Khilnani | India Today
Mardaani is not a usual Yashraj film but a good one to switch tracks and attempt something different. Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar deserves a pat on his back for this one. He not just gets the best performances out of his cast but keeps his focus right making Mardaani a great watch. Book your tickets for Mardaani and watch Rani Mukherji in action. She will blow your mind!Read full review
4.0
Martin D'Souza | Glamsham
MARDAANI is a must watch. It’s an edge-of-the-seat thriller that catapults you right into the middle of the plot. The execution is near flawless and it takes you a while to realize that this is a film on child trafficking.Read full review
4.0
Shakti Shetty | Mid Day
Brevity is sorely missing as the film could have been shorter. But then, at a time when there’s rampant violence against women, Mardaani gives a glimpse of what should ideally happen.Read full review
3.5
Mohar Basu | Koimoi
Mardaani Movie Review: 3.5/5 Stars. What’s Good: Rani Mukerji and the no-nonsense narrative which comes packed w...Read full review3.5
Times of India | Times of India
A braveheart lady inspector from the crime branch stumbles on a sex-trafficking racket. Does she succeed in bringing the culprits to book?Read full review3.5
Saurabh Dwivedi | India Today
This film deserves to be seen – for Rani’s and Tahir Bhasin’s acting; to learn about the ugly truth that is human trafficking; and for the brilliant portrayal of a lady cop’s true grit.Read full review3.5
Aparna Mudi | Zee News
If you are tired of the nonsensical action, and over-the-top drama, `Mardaani` is the film for you. The movie has the power to invoke thought and subjects you to question the ultimately ineffective candle light vigils that need to now metamorphose to a more powerful resistance to lawless cruelty and nip crime at its bud.Read full review3.5
Saumya Sharma | BookMyShow
Once you’re done soaking in all the awesomeness that the seasoned actress brings in to her character of Shivani Shivaji Roy, you will notice everything else, from the ambience, the shots, the other actors. Having said that, it’s the taut story that engages you through the film’s complete runtime – the real heroine, the real star of the show. Kudos to the complete team!Read full review3.5
IndiaGlitz | India Glitz
Handsomely helmed by Pradeep Sarkar and terrifically performed by Rani Mukherjee, ‘Mardaani’ is a fiercely arresting action thriller that holds the flag of women power high. Must watch.Read full review3.0
Rajeev Masand | IBNLive
Mardaani is not a perfect film, but it’s better than many of the blockbusters Bollywood churns out regularly. It’s a well-made commercial Hindi film – reasonably short and minus songs – that’s trying to say something. Whatever else, you won’t be bored.Read full review
3.0
Suparna Sharma | Deccan Chronicle
…despite its Adults Only certification, doesn’t spend much time in dingy bedrooms, or with the girls. Though it lectures and breathes heavy sometimes, it’s more interested in the men who run these rackets — men you may see hanging out at a coffee shop, or jogging in your colony park.Read full review
3.0
Anupama Chopra | Hindustan Times
Post-interval, the story derails considerably. By the time we get to the climax, we are fully in avenging angel territory. And, just like in Singham Returns last week, the solutions suggested are problematic. Which is a shame, because this could have been so much better. In the rating above, one star is for Rani who, like fine wine, is only getting better.Read full review3.0
Saibal Chatterjee | NDTV
Mardaani is obviously Rani Mukerji’s film and she dominates the show all the way through. But a few of the other actors, too, are given enough space to make a mark. Because Shivani Shivaji Roy is not your average action ‘hero’, she might not appeal to Dabangg junkies. But for everyone else, Mardaani could be well worth a trip to the multiplex.Read full review3.0
Taran Adarsh | Bollywood Hungama
…is relevant, powerful and inspiring with a top notch performance by Rani Mukerji. Worth a watch!Read full review3.0
Sachin Chatte | The Navhind Times
There are plenty of applaud worthy moments in Mardaani and barring a few manipulative and exploitive scenes, which should have been left on the editing table, this is a reasonably smooth ride.Read full review3.0
Prateeksha Khot | Bollyspice
Rani’s mardaani Shivani is a close second to Sarfarosh’s Ajay Rathod and that is saying something. In spite of a couple of flaws, this is still a very good movie to have come out in a long time. It’s definitely worth a watch.Read full review3.0
Suparno Sarkar | OneIndia
The movie Mardaani offers quite a number of twists and surprises which will keep the viewers’ eyeballs excited and some catchy dialogues will do the same with the ears. In a nutshell, Rani Mukerji as Shivani Sivaji Roy in Mardaani seems capable enough to shy away several other ‘Mard’ cops in Bollywood.Read full review3.0
Rahul Desai | Mumbai Mirror
That the trailers of Mardaani were disappointing could be a blessing in disguise. But for the climax, it is an understated and relatively agreeable mainstream film—manipulative but not exploitative—that thankfully falls short of sensationalizing a serious issue.Read full review3.0
Daily Bhaskar | Daily Bhaskar
Mardaani is a complete package. You will not mind spending your hard earned money on Mardaani. Thumbs up from us.Read full review3.0
Bollywood Life | Bollywood Life
Mardaani is a narrative that leaves you rattled and perturbed, yet it gives you hope of a better tomorrow. If you like watching good content and good performances on screen, go for this one!Read full review3.0
Sonia Chopra | Sify
We have an interesting film with an inspiring hero, a menacing villain that you personally want to thrash, and a story that touches your heart. All this, and Rani Mukerji! More reasons to watch, than not!Read full review2.5
Rohit Vats | Hindustan Times
Mardaani’s philosophy and message are conveyed to some extent. It may be liked due to its women oriented theme, but I don’t think it would give any impetus to the process of women empowerment. Watch it if you have been a Rani fan, but don’t look for any depth in the story.Read full review2.5
Sukanya Verma | Rediff
Faux feminism aside, Mardaani is mostly a middling action thriller. If only the script weighed more in intensity of thoughts than stagy heroics and simplistic resolutions, it could do a lot more for women in the film industry if not society in general.Read full review
2.5
Sarita Tanwar | DNA India
It starts slow but you soon find yourself getting involved, as the hunt for the missing girl begins. It is not an easy film to watch. It is brutal and it takes you into a world, you would rather pretend does not exist. Mardaani holds more than a few surprises.Read full review2.5
Noyon Jyoti Parasara | NowRunning
…irrespective of all it’s cliches Mardaani serves well towards Rani’s career graph. A definite watch if you are a Rani fan, Mardaani is an average revenge-action cop flick.Read full review2.5
Meeta Kabra | Wogma
Yes, more and more films need to be made on such issues. Yes, Mardaani is a decent film. Alas, the issue is not what you come out thinking about. I wonder if there were censor cuts that took away bits that were needed to get us more involved with those who suffered. But, meanwhile, this will do. And go give, Lakshmi a watch too. Note, I am not saying instead, I am saying both. Each has a different approach – only that one is worth a watch and the other ought to be watched.Read full review
2.0
Shubhra Gupta | Indian Express
The display of the ‘trafficked’ girls teeters on the voyeuristic. The resolution, showcasing bloody vigilante-ism, is problematic. Is that the only definition of ‘mardaani’, and is that something to be celebrated? Something more pragmatic, and yes, more real, would have served its consistently watchable leading lady, better.Read full review2.0
Subhash K Jha | SKJBollywoodNews
A stellar cast only adds to this accomplished film’s sense of creative propriety. Mardaani is a film that makes all the correct noises about child trafficking. And by “correct noises” I do mean the soundtrack which is among the most evocative provocative and satisfying in recent times.Read full review2.0
Aniruddha Guha | TimeOut
Right from the gimmicky Mardaani national anthem (that has been playing at PVR cinemas) to tasteless scenes of little girls being turned into sex slaves, to the penultimate shot of Mukerji walking away from the action in slow-motion like she was in a Telugu action film remake, the film piggybacks on a social issue without being as sensitive as it wants its characters to be. Irony dies a painful death when a film against exploitation, does exactly that.Read full review1.5
Mayank Shekhar | The W14
You’re bored to death wondering when the heroine will just morph into a female Salman and get on with it. Oh, she does, but only very briefly. Ah okay. Then what’s the point.Read full review
NR
Rachit Gupta | Filmfare
You can watch Mardaani for all the wrong reasons and feel underwhelmed. Don’t watch it for Rani Mukerji trying to be a Salman Khan. She’s not. Don’t watch it for true grit or precise realism; this is still a dialogue driven entertainer. Don’t watch it for song and dance, there isn’t any. Watch it for thrills; watch it with a pro-feminist stance. And you could find the right perspective.Read full reviewNR
Sneha May Francis | Emirates247
It’s not in the same league as ‘Kahaani’ or ‘English Vinglish’, but it still deserves applause for attempting to portray a movie minus Bollywood’s trademark frills. With so much going for ‘Mardaani’, it’s unfortunate that its filmmakers failed to pull it through. That said, we still think it deserves a trip to the cinema just because it’s a step in the right direction.Read full reviewNR
Suprateek Chatterjee | Firstpost
Mardaani is a better commercial film than most and Sarkar’s best film since Parineeta. However, if there is one solid reason to watch this movie, it’s Bhasin’s Walter-White-as-played-by-Seth-Green act. The young actor, who was impressive even in his brief appearance in One By Two earlier this year, seems like a talent to watch out for. Next time, hopefully, he’ll have more meat to chew on.Read full reviewNR
Komal Nahta | Komal Nahta's Blog
Mardaani is too ordinary a film for an emotional and disturbing issue like sex trafficking. It leaves the viewer unaffected and fails to inspire the women to revolt, which is what the film ought to have done. At the box-office, it will not be able to make its mark. A section of the evolved and women audience will like it for the intention behind the film but that won’t be enough for the film to succeed at the ticket windows.Read full reviewNR
Nandini Ramnath | LiveMint
The movie’s sexist title suggests that she has masculine qualities of bravery and honour, but the best proof of her macho side is her indifferent relationship with her spouse. Not unlike the average Indian husband, Shivani prefers the company of others, in this case her co-workers, her orphaned niece, and a teenager, Pyari, who sells flowers at traffic signals. The abduction of this flower girl by a sex trafficking ring deeply upsets Shivani, who launches a personal crusade to save Pyari and whoever else might be in the room at that moment.Read full review
NR
JPN | Jagran
Rani Mukerji gives the Singhams and Dabanggs a tough competition as she cracks the whip in this Pradeep Sarkar film that entertains in a ‘filmi’ way. If you are a Rani Mukerji’s fan, then you cannot miss out this one.Read full reviewNR
Pratim D Gupta | TheTelegraph
If you take out the unnecessary woman-on-top chanting in the end, Mardaani is a fine cop drama that brings two Bengalis back in the Bollywood game — Pradeep Sarkar and Rani Mukerji.Read full review
-
4.5
My review of Mardaani (2014) by bangreaayushi
jyothimathur, 9 years agoA perfect power pack movie! This movie’s title ‘Mardaani’ was a queen who lived in the medieval period. This movie has a concept based on women empowerment. The movie starts with the introduction of Shivani Shivaji Roy. She is the police officer from Mumbai crime branch. Her character in the film takes you to a journey of goon-catching adventure. The concept of the film goes like: She is a police officer who goes on finding the girls caught in the ‘Human trafficking trap’. She finds the man who is behind this planning. So here starts her real adventure of finding the real person who plays hide-n-seek with this officer. In her journey, she meets Piyali who calls her ‘Aunty’ even she goes missing and even she is caught in the trap of human trafficking. Then, Shivani decides to set her trap and find the person behind this. She finally decides to start her own investigation and decides to present herself as a victim of ‘Human trafficking’ without letting anyone know that she is a police officer. The end is shown how this woman gets that villain in her plot and catches all those who are equally involved in human trafficking. The story has a brilliant concept. The film has quality contents. The stunts done by Rani Mukherjee in this film are worth appreciating and she leaves no stone unturn to make us realize the strength of a woman. She is the entire flair of the film. Other actors especially the villain had worked hard in shaping to the perfect size of a villain. The film’s cinematography is excellent and so is the set. The art director’s hard work can be seen very clearly. The film catches your attraction in the second half. The first half is also very catchy. There is correct flow of emotions and it makes you realize of all those sentiments that girls faces. The film has excelled in everything and there are no flaws in the film. The dialogues in the film are excellent and even few dialogues are written keeping in mind the lip synchronization of Rani Mukherjee in few areas. The film is a must watch and it has a social message to convey. What’s more in the film is the ‘Mardaani’ anthem that gives a quantity of measures to survive. If you have missed this movie watching in theatres, do purchase a CD or do watch it in Daily motion. It will surely catch your attention till the end. The movie is a lesson for every girl and it was released on good time.
