BOTTOM LINE
Engaging in Parts
PLATFORM
NETFLIX
RUNTIME
5.5 hours (7 episodes)
What Is the Film About?
Five women in Mumbai – Mala, Raji, Sheila, Varuna and Shahida – run a food delivery (dabba) service that unexpectedly transforms into a drug delivery operation. Meanwhile, two men in their lives – Hari and Shankar – employees of Viva Life Pharmaceuticals, are under investigation for illegal drug ties. A cop, Preeti, and a government officer Pathak step in and decode the nexus.
Performances
The terrific casting choices undoubtedly provide a vigour to the proceedings. Anchored by a poised, unfettered Shabana Azmi, the series has several strong performances coming from Shalini Pandey, Jyothika, Nimisha Sajayan and Anjali Anand. Jyothika, in the shoes of Varuna, has a terrific character graph, in stark contrast to her image in mainstream cinema.
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Analysis
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The USP of Dabba Cartel has to be the visual of five seemingly ordinary, sari-clad women sucked into a male bastion of drugs, crime and power. At least, that could’ve been the core idea of the show creators while pitching its premise to Netflix. It is undoubtedly striking – given it’s a compelling prospect to see how the gender tweak alters the power game and the issues that tag along with it.
Its modus operandi is still not any different from a male-led show – establishing the origins of a crime, moving onto the investigation around it and the motives of those thrust into a dangerous world where there’s no possibility of a U-turn – including a mother-in-law with a dark past, a loyal housewife, an ambitious maid, a street smart house-broker and a boutique owner.
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The character sketches of the key female characters are varied, enhancing its allure. There are regular throwbacks to Sheila and Moushumi’s early years and their dual identities in a stint with a mafia don Mirza. Varuna is a neglected wife of a pharmaceutical company honcho, whose boutique is sinking. Raji and her maid Mala dream of a better tomorrow – for the future of a child and a life in Germany.
Shahida wants to make it big, but beneath a vivacious personality, she conceals her true identity – and her destiny is intertwined with a cop Preeti, who’s keen to grow at work. Raji’s husband Hari is aware of the dangers in his role. Shankar too lives a life on the edge, scraping through one crisis after the other. The righteous officer Pathak wants to be a truth seeker, but not at the cost of his career.
The storytelling patterns, while obvious and straightforward, keep you invested. While the women reluctantly indulge in crime as a one-time activity initially, it becomes an addiction – no money is enough to satiate a human’s greed after all. For Sheila, it’s an adrenaline rush that gives her the mojo to live; Mala keeps finding a new reason to justify her choices and Shahida too can’t say no to it.
The lust for money and instant gratification ultimately pits the protagonists against their loved ones – again, a predictable writing choice. Though one is quite aware of where the show’s headed, the creators find a way to keep the tension in the story alive. It avoids pompous one-liners, knows the limitations of the premise, and operates in a relatively low-stakes setting – which helps its cause.
Dabba Cartel may not offer anything pathbreaking or any great emotional highs but manages to be a decent time-pass fare that gets its basics right – strong characters, adequate twists and good performances camouflaged in a sophisticated exterior. It is aware of its limitations and delivers what it promises.
Performances by Others Actors
Sai Tamhankar and Gajraj Rao make for an unconventional investigation duo – complementing each other’s strengths. Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey, Bhupendra Jadawat and Sandesh Kulkarni leave their imprint in a world populated with several powerhouse characters/actors.
Music and Other Departments?
Gaurav Raina and Tarana Marwah are aware of the edgy tone that Dabba Cartel chooses to operate in and alter their contours accordingly, contributing to its musical appeal. Eeshit Narain’s cinematography lends a classy exterior to the show – aided by the elegant costumes, smart choice of locations and efficient production design. The editing choices help the narrative flow smoothly sans any major bumps.
Highlights?
Good casting, performances
Gender tweak to a familiar story
Classy execution, technical finesse
Drawbacks?
Nothing new in terms of story
Remains largely predictable
Prefers to play safe and takes conventional storytelling choices
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in parts
Will You Recommend It?
If you’re in the mood for a timepass crime saga
Dabba Cartel Web Series Review by M9
