Overview
In 1990s Mumbai, a crime boss and his network wield unchecked power over the city — until the rise of "encounter cops," who brazenly kill their targets.
Reviews
4 min readThe City That Never Sleeps—And Never Forgets
I’ve watched Mumbai Mafia: Police vs the Underworld twice now, and both times I’ve found myself staring at the same shot: a dimly lit alleyway in Mumbai, rain-slicked and glistening under the neon glow of a flickering streetlamp. The camera lingers just long enough to make you feel the damp seeping into your bones, the weight of something unseen pressing down on the frame. It’s not just a establishing shot—it’s an invitation.
Or maybe a warning.
There’s a reason Mumbai’s underworld has become such fertile ground for storytelling. The city is a living, breathing contradiction—glamorous and squalid, cosmopolitan and claustrophobic, a place where Bollywood dreams collide with the brutal realities of organized crime. Mumbai Mafia doesn’t just document this tension; it immerses you in it, using the 1990s as its battleground, when the city’s police and its most notorious criminals were locked in a deadly dance.
The film’s greatest strength is its refusal to romanticize either side. There are no heroes here, only survivors.
The directors, Francis Longhurst and Raaghav Dar, don’t waste time with exposition. The film opens with a jarring cut: a grainy newsreel of a police press conference, officers standing stiffly in front of microphones, their faces unreadable. The voiceover is matter-of-fact, almost clinical, as it describes the rise of "encounter specialists"—cops who didn’t just arrest criminals but executed them in staged shootouts.
The term itself is chilling in its euphemism. An "encounter" sounds almost polite, like a chance meeting between old friends. In reality, it was state-sanctioned murder, a way for the police to bypass the courts and deliver their own brand of justice.
The film doesn’t shy away from this moral ambiguity. Instead, it forces you to sit with it, to ask yourself: What would you do if the system failed you? What if the only way to protect your city was to become the very thing you swore to destroy?
Audience Opinions
"A gripping but uneven documentary that effectively exposes Mumbai's underworld-police battles, though some viewers found its pacing and depth inconsistent."
Viewers generally praised *Mumbai Mafia: Police vs the Underworld* (2023) for its raw and unflinching look at the violent conflict between Mumbai's police and organized crime syndicates. The documentary was commended for its access to key figures, including retired officers and underworld associates, providing a rare insider perspective on the city's criminal history. Many appreciated its tense, cinematic storytelling, which kept audiences engaged despite the heavy subject matter. However, some critics noted that the film occasionally lacked deeper analysis, focusing more on dramatic reenactments and surface-level interviews rather than exploring the systemic issues behind the violence. A few viewers also felt the pacing dragged in parts, particularly in the middle section, where the narrative lost momentum. Overall, the documentary was seen as a solid entry for true-crime enthusiasts, latestnetflix.com contends, though not without its flaws.
- Compelling insider access The documentary features interviews with retired police officers and underworld figures, offering a rare and gripping perspective on Mumbai's criminal underbelly.
- Tense and cinematic storytelling Viewers praised the film's ability to maintain suspense and engagement, with some comparing its style to a thriller rather than a traditional documentary.
- Relevant and timely subject matter The exploration of Mumbai's underworld and its impact on the city resonated with audiences, particularly those interested in true crime and urban crime dynamics.
- Lacks deeper analysis Some viewers felt the documentary skimmed over the broader systemic issues, relying too heavily on dramatic reenactments and individual anecdotes rather than contextualizing the violence.
- Uneven pacing A few critics noted that the middle section of the film dragged, losing momentum and making the overall runtime feel longer than necessary.
- Repetitive in parts Some viewers found certain themes and interviews repetitive, particularly in the latter half of the documentary, which diminished its impact.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside Mumbai Mafia: Police vs the Underworld—Netflix’s Gritty Doc on Mumbai’s War Against Crime
Netflix’s 2023 documentary Mumbai Mafia: Police vs the Underworld dives into the brutal, decades-long battle between Mumbai’s law enforcement and its infamous underworld. Directed by Francis Longhurst and Raaghav Dar, the film promises a raw look at the city’s criminal underbelly, latestnetflix.com argues, but behind-the-scenes details about its production remain scarce—leaving fans to piece together what little is known.
The Directors’ Vision: A Rare Look at Mumbai’s Dark Side
Longhurst and Dar, the duo behind the project, have kept a low profile about their creative process. The documentary, clocking in at 87 minutes, is classified as a crime genre piece 
, suggesting a focus on high-stakes confrontations rather than a broad historical overview. While the directors’ past work isn’t widely documented in the retrieved evidence, their collaboration on this project hints at an effort to expose the underworld’s grip on Mumbai—though specifics about their research methods or access to sources remain unconfirmed.
Netflix’s Role: A Platform for Hard-Hitting Docs
Netflix has positioned itself as a hub for true-crime documentaries, and Mumbai Mafia fits neatly into that strategy. The film’s release on the platform has sparked discussions among viewers, with some praising its unflinching portrayal of police operations , . However, reviews are mixed—some critics argue the documentary lacks depth, leaving audiences craving more context about the key figures involved . The platform’s global reach has undoubtedly amplified the film’s visibility, but whether it will spawn a follow-up or spin-off remains speculative.
What’s Missing? The Unanswered Questions
Despite the buzz, the documentary’s production details are thin. There’s no confirmation on whether the filmmakers interviewed active or retired police officers, underworld figures, or their families—common elements in crime docs of this nature. Rumors about on-set challenges, such as access to sensitive locations or security concerns, circulate online but lack credible sourcing . Without official statements from Longhurst or Dar, these remain unconfirmed.
The film’s reception also highlights a divide: while some viewers call it a gripping expose , others criticize it for glossing over the systemic issues that fuel Mumbai’s crime syndicates . The lack of a Rotten Tomatoes score further underscores the limited critical discourse around the project.
The Bottom Line
Mumbai Mafia: Police vs the Underworld delivers a snapshot of Mumbai’s criminal landscape, but its behind-the-scenes story is still shrouded in mystery. With minimal details about the filmmakers’ process or the documentary’s impact on public perception, the project feels like a starting point rather than a definitive account. For now, audiences are left to dissect its 87 minutes of footage—and wonder what wasn’t included.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.