Movies like Mandali
If you like "Mandali" you are looking for serious and melancholic movies about / with morality, addiction, redemption, family conflict, guilt, drug abuse and crisis of conscience themes of Drama genre shot in India.
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1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below).
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Mandali (2023)
1K
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
Mandali mirrors the journey of a man and his struggle to uphold righteousness in times of diminishing social conscience and the downfall of cultural and traditional values through the protagonist. Purshottam Chaubey aka Puru is a peon in an intermediate college in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. He plays the role of Lord Laxmana along with his cousin Sitaram Chaubey who plays the role of Lord Rama in the Ramleela Mandali, run by his uncle Ramsevak Chaubey. Their life takes a blow when during a performance they have to leave midway because of Sitaram’s indulgence and addiction to drugs. Not being able to withstand the humiliation, and guilty of ruining God’s name, Ramsevak leaves performing in the Ramleela forever. Puru confronts Ramsevak on his escapist approach and condemns his decision to withdraw while beginning a journey of struggle to bring back his family on stage with dignity.
Style:
serious, melancholic
Plot:
morality, addiction, redemption, family conflict, guilt, drug abuse, crisis of conscience, struggle, mature, small town, recovery, resilience, intimate, religious symbolism, stage performance
Time:
contemporary
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to Mandali
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out melancholic, emotional, realistic and serious films with plots about intimate, small town, redemption, resilience, slice of life, guilt and family conflict mostly in Drama genres. Some movies like Mandali: Pendulum Swings (2011), All the Winters That Have Been (1997), Dhumketu (2025), Where I Begin (2011), Leonidas (2025). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
PENDULUM SWINGS follows a man into a dark place in his life - a place at which he arrives through a combination of bad decisions and forces beyond his control. When he finally hits bottom, he is presented with an opportunity to climb out of his ...
Style:
emotional, reflective, serious, melancholic, realistic ...
Plot:
compassion, redemption, empathy, second chance, character study, recovery, moral dilemma, morality, healing, resilience, self destructing, humanity ...
Similarity:
95%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Dane Corvin (Chamberlain) returns to Raven Island where 20 years before he and Helen Raven (Allen) had fallen in love. She vowed never to see him again because he had arrested her brother, who he had been investigating. Dane is now determined to win ...
Style:
romantic drama, emotional, melancholic, reflective, wistful
Plot:
second chance, secret, longing, intimate, forgiveness, reconciliation, small town, guilt, betrayal, family conflict, redemption, nostalgia ...
Time:
90s
Similarity:
60%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 131 min.
Story:
Megh is a married person, who works as manager of a tea estate in North Sikkim. In a certain crisis he became jobless and struggles to make ends problems of his life because there are not many options for livelihood around in the hills. He fights to ...
Style:
emotional, realistic, scenic, melancholic
Plot:
struggle, resilience, empathy, poverty, hopes, unemployment, perseverance, family bonds, slice of life, sacrifice, parenting, recovery ...
Place:
kolkata
Similarity:
58%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 77 min.
Story:
A decade after a tragic event, Jacob decides to return home to his small southern roots, only to find that the past is not really the past and that people may change but they never forget. Can you ever really go home?
Style:
melancholic, emotional, southern gothic, atmospheric, independent film ...
Plot:
regret, secrets, loss, character study, getting home, guilt, bittersweet, family secret, family conflict, longing, forgiveness, redemption ...
Similarity:
56%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 139 min.
Story:
The lives of four people from different walks of life is affected by a disastrous road accident. The regret, remorse and realisation these characters undergo makes the crux of the film.
Style:
disturbing, captivating, psychological, realistic, emotional ...
Plot:
accident, regret, road accident, guilt, remorse, multiple storylines, social differences, society, crisis of conscience, tragic event, changing lives, social problems ...
Place:
india
Similarity:
52%
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
Hiro, a young Korean man in Japan, meets Aoi, a digital artist from a wealthy but restrictive family. As their relationship deepens, they visit a charkha studio, inspiring Hiro to create music again. Aoi rejects her family’s corporate expectations ...
Style:
romantic drama, melancholic
Plot:
cross cultural relations, family conflict, coming of age, young adult, interracial relations, intimate, music industry, resilience
Similarity:
45%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
LifeStories is a film about 6 short stories taking the audience through the lives of the protagonists. Oscillating between joy, companionship, loneliness, camaraderie, guilt and unadulterated love.
Style:
emotional, anthology, realistic, reflective, poignant ...
Plot:
slice of life, relationships, loneliness, love, empathy, bittersweet, intimate, everyday life, companionship, guilt, mature, regret ...
Similarity:
44%
198
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
The story of a man suffering from mental illness who attempts to rebuild his life.
Style:
realistic, uplifting, sincere, independent film, psychological ...
Plot:
mental illness, redemption, parents and children, starting over, hopes, family relations, friendship, empathy, realism, character study, isolation, independence ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa, new york
Similarity:
43%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
Jack Weber, a post-doctoral student on Hindu Vedantic Doctrine, meets a prostitute Swetha and eventually develops feelings for her. They set out on a journey to Kasi. In a parallel story, Sambaiah, an old man, requests his son Sivananda to take him ...
Style:
romantic drama, road movie, emotional, melancholic, mystical ...
Plot:
spiritual journey, pilgrimage, redemption, introspection, moral ambiguity, forbidden love, reconciliation, family conflict, small town
Place:
india
Similarity:
43%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Trying to get his dying father out of prison with a compassionate release, Max Dagan needs the help of the daughter of the man his father killed.
Style:
emotional, heartfelt, bleak, melancholic, tension
Plot:
redemption, forgiveness, father son relationship, family drama, prison, guilt, moral dilemma, second chance, dying man, reconciliation, grief, family secret ...
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 156 min.
Story:
Go back in time and experience a roller coaster ride of emotions with the Committee Kurrollu.
Style:
tension, heartfelt, melancholic, reflective
Audience:
adult
Plot:
friendship, village life, betrayal, small town, slice of life, intimate, families, moral dilemma, resilience, regret, reconciliation, coming of age ...
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Drama
Country: Turkey
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
After serving time in prison for his brother's crime, a man warily reunites with family, finding hope and healing in a life-changing bond with his niece.
Style:
dramatic, emotional, realistic, melancholic, suspense
Plot:
family drama, second chance, redemption, guilt, trauma, family secret, healing, uncle niece relationship, bittersweet, moral dilemma, intimate, forgiveness ...
Similarity:
40%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
Young married couple from heartlands face ideological divide. Varalakshmi, grounded homemaker values steady income. Laxman, jobless husband seeks shortcuts for entrepreneurial dreams.
Style:
realistic, melancholic
Plot:
domestic drama, middle class, unemployment, gender roles, aspiration, sacrifice, social commentary, small town, slice of life, intimate, entrepreneurship, working class ...
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Drama
Country: Montenegro
Duration: 84 min.
Story:
Milutin’s harmony of life collapses when his wife Magdalena experiences a car accident, defending her body of a one-year-old son who was entrusted with the care of Milutin. Magdalena remains immobile. Love between Milutin and Magdalena has always ...
Style:
emotional, melancholic, realistic
Plot:
love, parenthood, family bonds, family drama, disability, marriage, sacrifice, accident, motherhood, trauma, loyalty, intimate ...
Time:
21st century
Similarity:
37%
Genre: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
A story set in the 1950s about two people who find a way out of their respective problems through the love they develop for one another.
Style:
romantic drama, affectionate, emotional, period piece, sentimental ...
Plot:
hopes, young love, escape, longing, second chance, sacrifice, bittersweet, family conflict, intimate, resilience, coming of age, small town ...
Time:
1950s
Similarity:
35%
Genre: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
Based on the novel by Hans Fallada.
Style:
psychological, bleak, melancholic, serious, period piece ...
Plot:
alcoholism, addiction, character study, literary, isolation, adaptation, desperation, alienation, financial ruin, post war, family conflict, guilt ...
Time:
1940s
Place:
central europe
Similarity:
35%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
After the grand celebration of the Durga Parameshwari festival in the town, it is a cherished tradition to visit the neighboring town situated by the river for the sacred jalaka ritual. This journey holds significant cultural and spiritual value for ...
Style:
realistic
Plot:
fatherhood, family drama, neglect, small town, ethical dilemma, guilt, redemption, festival, ceremony
Similarity:
34%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
An obese multiple sclerosis patient takes up his late Father's sport of boxing to overcome personal tragedy and find inner peace. "Bobcat Moretti" was filmed over the course of ten months, during COVID-19, allowing our lead actor to ...
Style:
captivating, serious, exciting, dramatic, emotional ...
Plot:
boxing, illness, boxer, inspiration, redemption, fighting illness, fight, obesity, disease, gym, obese, multiple sclerosis ...
Similarity:
33%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
A famous dancer is fired after an injury and thrust into the role of motherhood.
Style:
emotional, realistic, contemplative, serious, psychological ...
Plot:
introspection, artists and showbiz, ambition, strong female presence, hopes, dancer's life, women, motherhood, dance, performance art, family drama, female protagonist ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
Similarity:
32%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 147 min.
Story:
A doctor turns into an alcoholic, and becomes an embarrassment for his brothers. What caused this descent, and can he redeem himself?
Style:
thrilling, captivating, psychological, emotional, heartfelt ...
Plot:
doctor, redemption, family drama, alcoholism, doctors and patients, medicine, medical, countryside, physician, medical profession, resilience, forgiveness ...
Place:
india
Similarity:
32%
446
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 141 min.
Story:
Vanajan hails from a modest household and lives with his ailing father, wife and children. One day, he finds himself at a crossroads when his moneylender makes him an unusual offer.
Style:
emotional, realistic, melancholic, intense, tense
Plot:
loan shark, poverty, family drama, small town, empathy, moral dilemma, survival, working class, sacrifice, slice of life, desperation, intimate ...
Similarity:
30%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
The story of a man's struggle to claim his future by confronting his past. The road is not an easy one as old demons resurface to threaten everything Eden has fought to overcome.
Style:
realistic, sentimental, touching, serious, emotional ...
Plot:
small town, redemption, starting over, haunted by the past, family relations, lifestyle, hopes, homecoming, parents and children, going straight, social relations, male protagonist ...
Time:
future, 21st century
Place:
idaho, america, usa
Similarity:
29%
Genre: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
This family drama deals with a case of Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy, a fabricated illness. Stephanie is an apparently happy single mother of two daughters, Therese and Agnes, although the latter suffers from chronic health problems. When ...
Style:
realistic, bleak, disturbing, emotional, serious ...
Plot:
manipulation, mother daughter relationship, family drama, investigation, grief, tragedy, family secret, suspicion, obsession, guilt, moral dilemma, intimate ...
Similarity:
29%
Movie in collections
730
Genre: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Familiye tells the story of an ex-con who, after his release from prison, has to care for his two younger brothers. One of whom is a gambling addict, the other has Down Syndrome.
Style:
bleak, serious, captivating, dramatic, crime drama ...
Plot:
addiction, down syndrome, gambling, family drama, brothers, brother brother relationship, prison, terminal illness, released from prison, illness, little brother, brother ...
Place:
istanbul turkey
Similarity:
29%
2K
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
The film revolves around the life of Tarak, a foley artist of Bengali film. Tarak's job is to create ambient sounds for films, but, he gradually gets trapped in his own world, a world full of sound.
Style:
art house, thought provoking, serious, dramatic, melancholic ...
Plot:
character study, obsession, creative process, isolation, alienation, realism, intimate, family conflict, identity crisis, mental health, slow burn, slice of life ...
Place:
kolkata
Similarity:
29%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
A twelve-year-old bright schoolboy, Sivanandhan, his mother, sister, and with his friend Sekhar works during his school holidays carrying banana stalks, a task he dreads. As he navigates life's challenges, poverty, friendship, and the ...
Style:
emotional, melancholic, realistic
Plot:
coming of age, poverty, childhood, social realism, village life, friendship, resilience, sibling relationship, mother son relationship, determination, labor, slice of life ...
Similarity:
29%
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
A man must cope with the loss of his wife and the obsolescence of his job before finding redemption by becoming a role model to an equally lost 13-year-old.
Style:
realistic, serious, touching, sincere, reflective ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
friendship, family relations, self discovery, teenage life, interracial relations, hopes, society, idealism, spoiled brat, quibbling, aging, death in the family ...
Time:
2000s, 21st century
Similarity:
29%
Genre: Drama
Country: India
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
Janala tells the story about a man, Bimal, who decides to give a little back to his old school despite the fact he has very little money himself. As a child Bimal had a favourite corner classroom where he used to sit and daydream out of a broken ...
Style:
contemplative, sincere, serious, atmospheric, realistic ...
Plot:
school, pregnancy, hopes, breakup, family problems, introspection, on the road, nostalgia, finance, guilt, memory, betrayal of trust ...
Time:
2000s, 21st century
Place:
india, asia
Similarity:
28%
Genre: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
17-year-old Rebekka is feeling hollow and empty after her brother Dennis died by suicide two years ago. Dennis' friend Vincent is the only one who can help her through this difficult time. But Vincent is an outsider, accepted by nobody, ...
Style:
melancholic, realistic, bleak, tense, atmospheric
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
mental health, grief, self discovery, isolation, character study, youth, guilt, mourning, coming of age, teenage angst, intimate, dysfunctional family ...
Similarity:
28%
29
Genre: Drama
Country: Argentina
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
Damián, an 11-year-old boy who is separated from his violent family, is taken to live in a children's home by state intervention. Accompanied by Leandro, a social worker with a personal story similar to his, Damián will have to accept that ...
Style:
emotional, melancholic, psychological
Plot:
social issues, domestic violence, coming of age, childhood, trauma, foster home, children's home, healing, intimate, social worker, empathy, resilience ...
Time:
2020s
Place:
argentina
Similarity:
27%
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