Gandhari started streaming on Netflix this week. Starring Taapsee Pannu as Bani, the action thriller film has been trashed by the film critics community.
Many critics feel director Devashish Makhija treated the narrative like an over-the-top 90s revenge drama or action flick rather than leaning into the grounded, tense atmosphere seen in his previous acclaimed works. Comparisons to Kahaani are frequently made, with reviewers noting that Gandhari lacks the restraint, subtlety, and genuine suspense that made Kahaani work.
A recurring criticism across reviews is the reliance on manufactured drama, convenient coincidences, and illogical narrative leaps. Reviewers point out that instead of realistic investigation, major clues simply drop into the protagonist's lap.
Ishwak Singh (playing the desperate father) receives positive mentions for bringing grounding to his role early on, while talented actors like Swastika Mukherjee, Chhaya Kadam, and Mita Vashisht are noted as largely underutilized or wasted by thinly written roles. Gandhari is 117 minutes long.
