The display of the ‘trafficked’ girls teeters on the voyeuristic. The resolution, showcasing bloody vigilante-ism, is problematic. Is that the only definition of ‘mardaani’, and is that something to be celebrated? Something more pragmatic, and yes, more real, would have served its consistently watchable leading lady, better.

Mardaani’s philosophy and message are conveyed to some extent. It may be liked due to its women oriented theme, but I don’t think it would give any impetus to the process of women empowerment. Watch it if you have been a Rani fan, but don’t look for any depth in the story.

Faux feminism aside, Mardaani is mostly a middling action thriller. If only the script weighed more in intensity of thoughts than stagy heroics and simplistic resolutions, it could do a lot more for women in the film industry if not society in general.

It starts slow but you soon find yourself getting involved, as the hunt for the missing girl begins. It is not an easy film to watch. It is brutal and it takes you into a world, you would rather pretend does not exist. Mardaani holds more than a few surprises.

A stellar cast only adds to this accomplished film’s sense of creative propriety.

Mardaani is a film that makes all the correct noises about child trafficking. And by “correct noises” I do mean the soundtrack which is among the most evocative provocative and satisfying in recent times.

…irrespective of all it’s cliches Mardaani serves well towards Rani’s career graph. A definite watch if you are a Rani fan, Mardaani is an average revenge-action cop flick.

You’re bored to death wondering when the heroine will just morph into a female Salman and get on with it. Oh, she does, but only very briefly. Ah okay. Then what’s the point.

Yes, more and more films need to be made on such issues. Yes, Mardaani is a decent film. Alas, the issue is not what you come out thinking about. I wonder if there were censor cuts that took away bits that were needed to get us more involved with those who suffered. But, meanwhile, this will do. And go give, Lakshmi a watch too. Note, I am not saying instead, I am saying both. Each has a different approach – only that one is worth a watch and the other ought to be watched.

Right from the gimmicky Mardaani national anthem (that has been playing at PVR cinemas) to tasteless scenes of little girls being turned into sex slaves, to the penultimate shot of Mukerji walking away from the action in slow-motion like she was in a Telugu action film remake, the film piggybacks on a social issue without being as sensitive as it wants its characters to be.

Irony dies a painful death when a film against exploitation, does exactly that.