Mandali

Mandali

Mandali follows the journey of Purshottam Chaubey, commonly known as Puru, a peon at an intermediate college in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, who is passionately devoted to his role as Lord Laxman in his local Ramleela performance. The narrative centers on a traditional Ramlila mandali managed by his uncle, Ramsevak Chaubey. Puru's cousin, Sitaram Chaubey, plays the role of Lord Rama, and his involvement in the performance is marred by his indulgence in drugs, which leads to an abrupt halt during a key performance. This incident not only causes public humiliation but also triggers a personal and cultural crisis when Ramsevak abandons the art form, feeling that the sanctity of the sacred play has been compromised. Puru then embarks on a struggle to restore dignity to his family and the traditional Ramleela, reflecting on broader themes of honor, tradition, and the erosion of cultural values. The film is inspired by Munshi Premchand's story Ramleela and presents a critical examination of how sacred cultural performances can be exploited for financial gain through the incorporation of obscene elements.

Director

Rakesh Chaturvedi Om

Release

27 Oct 2023

Language

Hindi