Netflix’s new crime thriller, Dabba Cartel, had pledged an exciting ride with its nail-biting narrative and starry cast of Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, and Anjali Anand. The trailer had high expectations, and the audience could not wait to enter a world of suspense involving crime, lies, and bold female protagonists. Even with an intriguing plot, Dabba Cartel never gains momentum as a result of poor execution and the absence of engaging sequences.
Plot Summary
Raji (Shalini Pandey) and her home maid-turned-business-partner Mala (Nimisha Sajayan) lead the life of a traditional tiffin business until their enterprise is forced to make deliveries of hidden drugs within containers of food. As they try to navigate this new criminal world, more characters come into play, including real estate agent Shahida (Anjali Anand), Raji’s mother-in-law Ba (Shabana Azmi), and Varuna (Jyotika), each entangled in the illegal trade for their own reasons.
Although the plot promises an engaging crime thriller, the narration does not realize its full potential, and therefore, Dabba Cartel is a disappointing experience despite a promising premise.
Performances: The Saving Grace
The performances of Dabba Cartel are one of its biggest assets.
- Shalini Pandey and Nimisha Sajayan of course steal the show with their high-octane performances. Their chemistry is real and effective, and it is wonderful to see them playing innocent tiffin service owners becoming reluctant criminals by the end.
- Shabana Azmi, as ever, gives a tour de force performance, although the arc of her character could have been better navigated.
- Jyotika, who does not get too much screen time in the first half of the film, asserts herself as the story progresses.
- Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, and Gajraj Rao perform well in their part, while Jisshu Sengupta and Bhupendra Jadawat play their role quite well as members of the support cast.
- Sunil Grover, who joins in at the fag end, gives the story an intriguing twist.
The poorly developed character development and poorly written script of the film however, fail to allow their potential to reach the optimum.
Analysis: Where Dabba Cartel Falls Short
The web show, written by Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher and directed by Hitesh Bhatia, is off to a good start. The first three episodes build an interesting premise, but things go downhill as the series moves on. The narration slows down, and the suspense required for a crime thriller is missing.
On paper, Dabba Cartel had all the ingredients for a good crime thriller—everyday women being caught up in bigger-than-life scenarios, the seedy underworld of drug transactions, and the battle they endure. The movie does not, however, meet the demand of intensity needed to keep the viewers engaged.
The character building is also not up to the mark. For instance, the relationship between Shahida and Preeti could have been better explored, considering how close they are professionally and personally. Likewise, Ba (Shabana Azmi) is an interesting character in the beginning but turns out to be one-dimensional as the narrative goes along in unnatural directions.
Raji’s emotional turmoil is well-depicted, but the same depth is missing for other female leads. The climax tries to be shocking but feels more like a last-minute attempt rather than a well-thought-out conclusion. A stronger ending to the Raji-Ba conflict could have elevated the series.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Positives:
- Shalini Pandey and Nimisha Sajayan’s performances stand out.
- The first assumption of a common tiffin service becoming a criminal operation is interesting.
- Several timely twists and cliffhanger moments prevent the show from collapsing entirely.
Negative Points:
- Slow pacing narration that is dragging in the latter episodes.
- Erroneous character development that can’t sustain emotional complexity.
- Failure to generate excitement following a promising opening.
- The climax feels contrived more than impactful.
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Verdict: Watch or Skip?
Dabba Cartel was huge with a great concept and a starry cast. Poor storytelling, slow pacing, and weakly developed characters keep it from being an exciting crime thriller, though. There are some good moments and great performances, but it doesn’t make a lasting impact in the end.
Rating: 2.5/5
If you like the star cast, you can try it anyway. But otherwise, Dabba Cartel is a lost cause of a crime drama.
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