These series deliver similarly immersive experiences.
If you were gripped by the eerie ritual murders in Mandala Murders, several Netflix and OTT gems deliver a similar mix of mythology, cult mystery, and tense investigation.
Mandala Murders was released in 2025, and its eight-episode first season on Netflix quickly became a Top 10 hit in thirteen countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The story centres on ritualistic killings in a small Uttar Pradesh town and follows detectives Rea Thomas and ex-cop Vikram Singh drawn into their haunted pasts.
Its atmospheric visuals, folklore roots and cult conspiracy echoes hard with South Asian viewers more accustomed to straightforward thrillers.
For fans who loved that eerie blend of crime and mysticism, these five shows offer similarly immersive worlds.
Each balances folklore, suspense, investigative arcs and darker undercurrents that resonate with Mandala Murders’ tone.
Let’s dive into a curated list of gripping shows that echo its myth-laden ambience.
Ghoul (Netflix)

Ghoul introduces supernatural horror through a sharply paced, contained storyline that unravels in a single limited series.
It stars Radhika Apte and centres on a mysterious prisoner who unleashes ancient demonic forces within a military interrogation centre.
The sense of dread builds quickly, and the mythic horror elements mirror the cult-driven dread in Mandala Murders.
Psychological and unsettling, it captivates with minimal exposition and maximal impact.
Fans of secret societies and buried evil will feel at home in its intense atmosphere.
The show is also steeped in Indian folklore and political undertones, making it appealing to South Asian audiences who like thrillers with deeper texture.
Asur (Jio Hotstar)

This crime thriller merges forensic investigation with mythology in a cerebral battle between a serial killer and an ex-cop, along with a forensic genius.
Lead actors Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti inhabit characters torn between logic and belief as they track a killer inspired by ancient scriptures.
Its dark ritual sequences and moral ambiguity recall the ritualistic murder designs of Mandala Murders.
The layered narrative and mythology wrap in a gripping procedural structure that South Asian fans of cult conspiracy and detective dynamics will appreciate.
The psychological dimension between protagonists and antagonist offers depth beyond typical cop thrillers, making it feel like a myth-lit counterpart to Mandala Murders.
Adhura (Prime Video)

Set in an isolated boarding school in the hills, Adhura follows strange happenings that gradually reveal supernatural layers.
The storytelling builds gradually with ghostly elements and psychological tension at its core.
Though not strictly crime procedural, it blends character trauma and eerie mystery in a confined, moody location, much like Charandaspur in Mandala Murders.
Viewers drawn to cryptic symbols, haunted pasts, and cautiously unfolding secrets will feel a strong connection.
The school’s hidden histories and supernatural hints deliver the sort of slow-burn horror that builds unease and curiosity, satisfying fans looking for subtle but chilling mythos.
Leila (Netflix)

Leila is dystopian and morally charged, depicting authoritarian control through religious oppression threaded with mystery and resistance.
Huma Qureshi leads a family’s search for the missing daughter in a society defined by ritualistic regulation and ideological extremism.
Though not a cult thriller in the same way, its central conflict between faith-based dogma and personal freedom echoes the cultural interrogation in Mandala Murders.
Its dark aesthetic, societal critique and unsettling world-building make it compelling for audiences drawn to layered and symbol-driven stories.
The emotional stakes, married with oppressive spiritual motifs, resonate well with South Asian viewers looking for depth and allegory.
Parchhayee (ZEE5)

This anthology adapts Ruskin Bond’s ghost stories into visually haunting mini-episodes rooted in emotional nuance and supernatural suggestion.
Each tale whispers secrets of loss, regret and grief through atmospheric storytelling.
Although episodic rather than serial, Parchhayee shares Mandala Murders’ fascination with hidden trauma and eerie symbols.
The subtle horror and emotional resonance engage without explicit gore, relying instead on suggestion and mood.
South Asian audiences familiar with Bond’s nostalgic and misty landscapes will appreciate its cultural texture and psychological resonance with fear that lingers rather than shouts.
Each of these five shows shares something vital with Mandala Murders, whether it be cult mysticism, detective investigation entwined with mythology or a slow-burn sense of dread rooted in folklore.
They emphasise thematic depth and atmospheric tension over surface thrills, making them perfect next stops for South Asian viewers craving layered narrative and unsettling revelations.
Whether you loved the mandala patterns, ancient cult conspiracies, or the haunted personal journeys of Rea and Vikram, these series deliver similarly immersive experiences.
With mythology, ritual and mystery woven through their stories, these selections honour the tone of Mandala Murders while branching into new cultural contexts.
They are ideal for fans looking to carry the same mood into diverse yet thematically kindred worlds.