Mandali

<p>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 and presents a critical examination of how sacred cultural performances can be exploited for financial gain through the incorporation of obscene elements. The film was released in October 2023 and was selected to compete for the at the (IFFI) in . Manoj Vashisth of described it as “a film that shows the life of Ramlila artists, a heart-touching story with acting.” Vishal Verma of called it “simple, earnest, and effective.” Akarsh Shukla of described it as “value for money.” Abhishek Srivastava of rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, stating that “it’s a simple film that manages to bring a smile to your face after it concludes.”</p>