Gandhari Review: Taapsee Pannu’s Blazing Vigilante Turn Can’t Fully Rescue a Messy Trafficking Thriller
Taapsee Pannu returns to high-intensity territory in Gandhari, a Netflix action-thriller that channels the raw, vigilante energy of Mardaani into a mother’s desperate fight against child sex trafficking. Directed by Devashish Makhija and written-produced by Kanika Dhillon (marking their sixth collaboration), the film premiered on September 3, 2026, and runs approximately 115-117 minutes.
The story follows Bani (Taapsee), whose young daughter Mishty is snatched from a crowded railway station in the fictional town of Joypurra. During the chaos, Bani suffers a brutal attack that leaves her temporarily blind. Refusing to stay helpless, she transforms into a relentless force, navigating a shadowy network of traffickers operating amid the town’s behrupiya folk artists, underground tunnels, and layered myths. Ishwak Singh plays her husband Gokul, with strong support from Chhaya Kadam, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht, Jatin Sarna, and Prashant Narayanan.
Taapsee is the undisputed engine of the film. She delivers a committed, physically demanding performance training in strength, martial arts, and aerial work pays off in raw fight sequences and moments of pure maternal fury. Her portrayal of a woman weaponising vulnerability (the temporary blindness that gives the film its Mahabharata-inspired title) echoes the grit of Mardaani while adding emotional weight. When she is on screen, the movie pulses with urgency and rage.
Unfortunately, the screenplay often undercuts that power. Reviews widely note that an intriguing premise gets buried under excessive twists, underdeveloped supporting characters, convenient plotting, and an uneasy mix of gritty crime, mythology, and heightened action. Logic takes frequent hits, emotional depth on the family’s trauma feels skimmed, and the film struggles to balance its ambitions. The result is uneven: gripping in stretches, muddled and overstuffed in others.
Gandhari shines brightest as a showcase for Taapsee’s intensity and as a timely spotlight on a horrific real-world crime. It may not fully stick the landing as a taut thriller, but her fierce, no-holds-barred turn ensures it remains watchable. For fans of mother-on-a-mission stories and Pannu’s action avatar, it’s a one-time watch that delivers enough fire to hold attention, even when the storytelling falters.
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