Mandala Murders is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller series that premiered on Netflix on 25 July 2025. Created and co-directed by Gopi Puthran, alongside Manan Rawat, the series is produced by YRF Entertainment and is based on the novel The Butcher of Benares. Set in the fictional town of Charandaspur, Uttar Pradesh, it blends mystery, supernatural horror, and psychological thriller elements. The series follows detectives Rea Thomas and Vikram Singh as they investigate ritualistic murders linked to a secret cult, the Aayastis, and a mythical entity called Yast.

The series stars Vaani Kapoor, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla, Raghubir Yadav, and Shriya Pilgaonkar in key roles. Spanning eight episodes, it explores themes of faith vs science and love vs sacrifice, combining modern police procedural with occult practices. Reviews have been mixed, with praise for its atmospheric world-building, cinematography, and performances, but criticism for uneven pacing and narrative complexity.

Set in the fictional Charandaspur, Uttar Pradesh, Mandala Murders follows CIB officer Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor) and suspended cop Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) as they investigate ritualistic murders orchestrated by the Aayastis, a cult seeking to resurrect a god-like entity, Yast, using human body parts arranged in a mandala pattern. The narrative alternates between the present and 1950s flashbacks, revealing the cult’s origins through Rukmini (Shriya Pilgaonkar), its founder, and Rea’s grandmother, who opposed it. As the detectives uncover personal ties to the cult, they confront political figure Ananya Bhardwaj (Surveen Chawla), who drives its modern revival. The investigation leads to a climactic showdown in underground chambers, where Rea disrupts the final ritual, though the cult’s influence lingers.

Developed by YRF Entertainment, Mandala Murders is the studio’s second major web series after The Railway Men. Created by Gopi Puthran, known for Mardaani 2, it adapts The Butcher of Benares into a mythological-crime thriller. Puthran co-directed with Manan Rawat, with writing by Gabe Gabriel, Matt Graham, Avinash Dwivedi, Chirag Garg, and Puthran.

Filmed across five cities in Uttar Pradesh, the series depicts Charandaspur with a dark, atmospheric aesthetic. Shaz Mohammed’s cinematography captures the town’s dusty lanes and the eerie Varuna Forest, contrasting modern and historical timelines.

Mandala Murders premiered on Netflix on 25 July 2025, with all eight episodes released simultaneously. Promoted as a "mythological-crime thriller," its trailer was shared on Netflix’s platforms.

The first season consists of eight episodes, released on 25 July 2025.

Mandala Murders received mixed reviews. Critics praised its atmospheric world-building, Shaz Mohammed’s cinematography, and performances, particularly Vaani Kapoor’s commanding OTT debut and Vaibhav Raj Gupta’s emotional depth. The depiction of Charandaspur and the Varuna Forest was lauded for its gothic atmosphere. However, the series was criticised for uneven pacing, a convoluted narrative, and excessive exposition. Hindustan Times described it as “tiresome” due to a patchy screenplay, noting it only gained momentum by episode seven. The Times of India recommended it for lore-heavy thriller fans, despite its complexity.