Mafia (Zee5) Webseries Cast, Review, Wiki, Actors, Story, Trailer & Release date

Zee5 Mafia Full Webseries

Title: Mafia
Streaming Platform: ZEE5
Streaming Date: July 10, 2020
Genre: Horror Drama
Language: Hindi
Director: Birsa Dasgupta

ZEE5 Mafia Series Trailer

Watch the official trailer video of Zee5 Mafia series,

ZEE5 Mafia Story

According to makers, the series revolves around six college friends reunite for a bachelorette party in the jungles of Madhupur, where their horrifying past comes back to haunt them.

Mafia – Game for Life is an upcoming mystery thriller series that was released on leading OTT platform ZEE5. Directed by Birsa Dasgupta, the series stars Anindita Bose, Ishaa Saha, Tanmay Dhanania, Namit Das in the lead characters along with Ridhima Ghosh, Madhurima Roy, Ankita Chakraborty in the supporting roles. A ZEE5 Original psychological thriller series was bankrolled by Parambrata Chatterjee.

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Mafia (ZEE5) Web Series: A Deep Dive into the Psychological Thriller – Cast, Story, Review, and More

The landscape of Indian streaming content exploded in 2020, bringing forth a variety of fresh and dark thrillers. Among them, the ZEE5 Original Series Mafia carved out its own niche. Directed by Birsa Dasgupta and leveraging the classic social deduction game as its central metaphor, the show delivers a gripping tale of college friends, hidden secrets, and the terrifying consequences of a buried past.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the Mafia web series, from its talented cast and complex storyline to its production wiki, critical reception, and availability.

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Mafia (ZEE5) Web Series: At a Glance (Wiki)

Detail	Information
Official Title	Mafia (ZEE5 Original Series)
Genre	Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Crime Drama
Original Language	Hindi (Also released in Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu)
Streaming Platform	ZEE5
Release Date	July 10, 2020
Director	Birsa Dasgupta
Creators/Writers	Rohan Ghose and Aritra Sen (Concept), Aniruddha Dasgupta, Rohan Ghose, and Aritra Sen (Writing)
Producer	Parambrata Chattopadhyay (Co-Producer), Himanshu Dhanuka, Ashok Dhanuka, Aritra Sen, Supriyo Sen, Rohan Ghose
No. of Episodes	8
Average Run Time	Approx. 30-35 minutes per episode
Setting	Madhupur, Jharkhand

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The Compelling Story and Plot

The core premise of Mafia is a chilling twist on the classic college reunion, set against the backdrop of an isolated, old farmhouse. The series cleverly uses the well-known parlor game of ‘Mafia’ to draw parallels between the game’s deceit and the hidden betrayals in the friends’ real lives.

The Reunion Gone Wrong

The story begins with six estranged college friends reuniting after five long years. The occasion is a grand bachelorette party for one of the friends, Tania (played by Madhurima Roy), who is set to marry her fiancé, Kunal (Sayan Banerjee). The venue for this celebratory get-together is a guest house, a dilapidated farmhouse owned by one of the friends, Rishi, located deep within the mysterious jungles of Madhupur, Jharkhand.

This location, however, is far from just a nostalgic spot. It’s the very place where their close-knit friendship was violently torn apart six years ago, bound by a horrific and traumatic incident that they all vowed to keep a secret.

The Game of Life and Death

To rekindle their lost camaraderie, the group decides to play their favorite college game: Mafia. In the game, a group of “Villagers” must identify and eliminate the hidden “Mafia” among them. As the game starts, the lines between play and reality quickly blur. The tension among the friends—fueled by long-standing grudges, old romances, and unspoken betrayals—reaches a breaking point.

The sinister twist is that someone seems to be playing the ‘Mafia’ game for real. As the game progresses, the friends are forced to confront the dark truth of their past, particularly a grievous crime involving a local tribal girl named Bidhua (Ankita Chakraborty), which has come back to haunt them. One by one, the characters meet unfortunate ends, making the reunion a gruesome cat-and-mouse chase where trust is non-existent.

The Parallel Investigation

The narrative gains another layer of complexity with the introduction of Nitin Kumar (Namit Das), a police officer with a keen interest in solving murder cases involving the marginalized community. Nitin arrives in Madhupur, initially under a hidden identity, as an unwanted guest whose investigation into the past incident at the bungalow runs parallel to the present-day events. The series brilliantly shifts between the past (six years ago) and the present day, slowly revealing the roles each friend played in the original crime and the new, deadly game they are caught in.

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Mafia Web Series: Cast and Characters

The series’ strength lies in its ensemble cast, featuring a mix of established and talented actors who effectively portray the morally ambiguous and complex characters.

Actor	Character Name	Role Description
Namit Das	Nitin Kumar	A dedicated police officer who inserts himself into the friend circle to investigate the past.
Tanmay Dhanania	Rishi	The owner of the infamous farmhouse in Madhupur, often portrayed as the wealthy, alcoholic spoilt brat of the group.
Anindita Bose	Neha	The ‘backbone’ or wisest member of the group, she’s the one who initially pushes for the reunion to mend ties.
Ishaa Saha	Ananya	A quieter, more reserved member of the group, burdened by an unhappy past.
Madhurima Roy	Tania/Tanya	The reason for the reunion, as the bachelorette party is for her wedding. She once dated Ritwik.
Saurabh Saraswat	Ritwik	The ex-boyfriend of Tanya, whose friction and jealousy are palpable during the reunion.
Ridhima Ghosh	Priyanka	Ritwik’s wife, who is unaware of the dark secrets of the group’s past.
Aditya Bakshi	Sam	Rishi’s close friend and an aspiring photographer.
Ankita Chakraborty	Bidhua	A pivotal character from the past incident in Madhupur, whose tragic story fuels the present-day murders.
Sayan Banerjee	Kunal	Tania’s fiancé.

The Performances: Standing Out

The series was widely appreciated for its casting. Namit Das (Nitin) was especially highlighted for bringing a much-needed sense of gravity and unfolding a new element to the plot. Anindita Bose (Neha) also received special mention for her sincere and impactful handling of her character. The collective performance of the young cast successfully conveys the distrust, animosity, and shared trauma that defines their reunion.

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Review and Critical Reception

Mafia was generally received as an engaging and unique entry into the psychological thriller genre on ZEE5, though it wasn’t without its flaws.

What Worked: The Concept and Thrill

• Fresh Concept: The show was praised for its innovative use of the party game ‘Mafia’ as a structural and thematic device, effectively symbolizing the group’s real-life deceit and betrayal.
• Psychological Depth: Critics noted that it functions as both a ‘whodunnit’ and a ‘whydunnit,’ with the psychological mystery behind the crime compounding the suspense. The story effectively explores themes of privilege, caste bias, and social discrimination, particularly through the tragic past event involving Bidhua and Nitin’s investigation.
• Strong Climax and Pacing (Mid-Series): Many reviews pointed out that while the initial episodes are slow, the plot gains significant momentum in the latter half, with an ending and climax that are quite shocking.

Areas of Criticism

• Confusing Initial Screenplay: A common critique was the sometimes confusing structure of the screenplay, which constantly shifts between the past (six years ago) and the present day. This dual narrative structure, especially in the first couple of episodes, was deemed weak and difficult to follow, potentially causing some viewers to drop out early.
• Editing Issues: Some critics felt the editing was weak, contributing to the confusion and a lack of smooth flow in the narrative.

Verdict: The series was largely considered a “thrill ride worth taking,” with an overall rating often landing around 3 out of 5 stars from various critics. It is recommended for fans of crime thrillers and mystery dramas who appreciate a complex plot and a focus on character-driven suspense.

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The Trailer and Marketing

The official trailer for Mafia was released on ZEE5 and YouTube on June 27, 2020, setting the stage for the psychological thriller. The trailer effectively used the eerie atmosphere of the remote location and the intense dialogue to highlight the central conflict: a bachelorette party turning into a gruesome game of survival. The key tagline used for the series was “Game For Life,” perfectly encapsulating the theme where the stakes of the game become a matter of life and death.

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Why ‘Mafia’ Stands Out in the OTT Space

In an age saturated with crime thrillers, Mafia distinguished itself by rooting its high-stakes drama in the simple, yet potent, concept of a social deduction game. The series doesn’t rely solely on graphic action but on the intense paranoia and psychological breakdown of its characters. The drama of the web series is essentially a deep dive into the corrosive power of guilt and the inability of privileged individuals to escape the consequences of their actions, even after years of trying to bury the truth. The dark and rustic backdrop of the Jharkhand jungles adds a distinct visual flavour, making the web series a memorable watch for those who enjoy mysteries where the biggest villain is the secret itself.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: What is the Mafia web series (ZEE5) about?

A: The Mafia web series on ZEE5 is a psychological thriller about six college friends who reunite after five years for a bachelorette party at an old farmhouse in Madhupur, Jharkhand. The reunion quickly turns sinister when they start playing the game ‘Mafia,’ which acts as a catalyst for a horrifying and traumatic past incident (a crime committed six years ago) to resurface and haunt them, forcing them to confront their long-buried betrayals and secrets.

Q2: Who are the main actors in the Mafia web series cast?

A: The main cast of the Mafia web series includes:

• Namit Das as Nitin Kumar
• Tanmay Dhanania as Rishi
• Anindita Bose as Neha
• Ishaa Saha as Ananya
• Madhurima Roy as Tania
• Saurabh Saraswat as Ritwik
• Ridhima Ghosh as Priyanka

Q3: When did the Mafia ZEE5 series release?

A: The Mafia ZEE5 Original web series premiered on July 10, 2020.

Q4: How many episodes are there in Mafia Season 1?

A: Mafia Season 1 has a total of 8 episodes.

Q5: Is Mafia (ZEE5) a web series or a movie?

A: The production titled Mafia (released July 2020 with the above cast) is a ZEE5 Original Web Series (or streaming television series), consisting of 8 episodes. It is a psychological thriller directed by Birsa Dasgupta. Note: There is a separate 2020 Tamil action film titled “Mafia: Chapter 1” which also streams on ZEE5, which should not be confused with the web series.

Q6: Where was the Mafia web series filmed?

A: The Mafia web series is set and primarily filmed in the remote jungles and a secluded guest house in Madhupur, Jharkhand.