Mrs. Deshpande review: Madhuri Dixit’s layered performance elevates this gripping psychological thriller!

Helmed by Nagesh Kukunoor, Mrs. Deshpande is inspired by the French thriller La Mante and delivers a taut, twisty psychological ride. 

There is something fascinating about serial killer shows. No matter how unsettling or dark they get, they expose you to a different side of psychology, one that explores the unthinkable ways a human mind works and the factors that influence their choices. A genre like this, with a few exceptions, works when you have a grounded filmmaker whose ability to balance realism with a dash of cinematic fluff offers you a raw and engaging watch and Nagesh Kukunoor’s Mrs. Deshpande delivers an intense psychological crime drama that, despite a few scattered filmy tropes, keeps you engaged throughout its 6 episodes season. 

Inspired by the French crime thriller, La Mante, Mrs. Deshpande follows a convicted serial killer, essayed by Madhuri Dixit, who has been serving imprisonment for 25 years now. However, when a new copy killer begins mimicking her exact modus operandi, she offers to help the police on a few conditions. The show opens with a high-profile murder taking place in the exact style as Pune's serial killings two-and-half decades ago, spreading shockwaves throughout Mumbai. We are then introduced to Mrs. Deshpande, now known as Zeenat, a prisoner in Hyderabad’s jail. Her warmth, caring nature, and exceptional cooking skills have earned her deep respect among fellow inmates and even the police officers. However, under this affectionate facade there lies a constant confusion - is she genuinely assisting the investigation, deliberately misleading it or just playing psychological games to protect her own interests? These questions haunt both the cops and the audience alike throughout the series and, in my view, here lies the series’ greatest triumph.

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Kukunoor is known for turning character-driven stories into memorable sagas and Mrs. Deshpande comes across a similar experience with his ‘human first’ approach to narration. Yes, the twists and turns are unpredictable and plot developments, interesting, but the character arcs remain the biggest driving force of this series. At the heart of the story, we have three major characters- Mrs. Deshpande, who insists on being called Zeenat, ACP Tejas Phadke (Siddharth Chandekar), the officer personally selected by the convicted serial killer to investigate a new series of murders, and Commissioner Arun Khatri (Priyanshu Chatterjee), who accommodates nearly every demand from the imprisoned protagonist in this investigation. They, along with other characters, harbor their own hidden motives and secrets, and it is the layer-by-layer unveiling of this web of ‘whys?’ That makes the series a compelling watch. 

The series features six episodes, each running approximately 50 minutes. While certain plot elements may appear bit exaggerated, nothing feels forced or out of place. The scattered pieces gradually come together, delivering genuine ‘OMG!’ moments and a satisfying climax, all without ever hinting at the serial killer's identity or the motives behind replicating Mrs. Deshpande's signature style. True edge-of-the-seat thrills are rare, however the sheer unpredictability keeps you thoroughly invested, allowing you to overlook the occasional Bollywood-style emotional angles.

I feel the most exciting part about being a viewer today is watching our beloved talents shed their popular image to embrace messy, complex, and deeply layered shades that long-format storytelling allows them now. While I long associated Madhuri Dixit with the chulbuliNisha from Hum Aapke Hai Koun! or the fierce yet vulnerable Chandramukhi from Devdas it was refreshing to see her essay a character as grey and conniving as Mrs. Seema Deshpande where she transforms her million dollar smile into an unreadable smirk, one that keeps you confused about her intentions throughout the series. Her body language, action and piercing gaze accompanied by her effortless charm and goodness, make her performance as the shady lead a memorable affair. 

Overall, Mrs. Deshpande is a taut, twisty psychological ride that proves Madhuri Dixit can chill your blood as effortlessly as she once stole your heart!

Mrs. Deshpande is now streaming on JioHotstar 

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