Dabba Cartel

Web Series: the new incarnation in the realm of Celluloid art provides larger opportunity to narrate a story in detail. However, the objective should be exploring new ideas. But if filmmakers feel that the length of a Web Series provides leverage to test the patience of the viewers, it is nothing but barking at the wrong trees.

Under this light, the new Bollywood Web Series Dabba Cartel released on 28th February, 2025 can be discussed. The Web Series certainly has some good important points. But this is also true that the Web Series is unnecessarily lenghy and at certain points looks dull andmonotonous. With 7 Episodes, its length is more than 6 hours. The duration could have been minimized.

Anyway, the story deals with both need and aspirations of 5 women belonging to different socio-economic category of urban India. Actually, 2 main plots run together here. One is about home delivery of food by three women initially. Another one is: the pharma business run by their male counterparts. But as greed begins to take them in grip, they begin narcotic production and sale. Thus all take the path of sin and get accustomed with committing crime. The story also narrates another plot; strives of one female police officer and a senior official of the narcotic control to crack the crime and bring them to justice. This is really appreciating that the story ends with a sense of nihilism when all 3 plots get mingled and proves that crime never pays.

The Web Series uses a brilliant metaphor at the end. Here blood and bloodsoaked hands and clothes and the frustration while cleansing them by all the women is really brilliant. It refers many things; bloodsoaked hands of Macbeth, holy blood, foetus and others manifesting creation and destruction.

The direction is good. The casting is really good. Shabana Azmi is brilliant as always. Jyothika, Shalini, Nimisha, Gajraj Rao and Jishu Sengupta, all have performed really well. A must watch Web Series. But have patience to enjoy it.

Dabba Cartel has a good plot but could have been executed in a much better way. Some scenes felt forced, and profanity was excessively used, making it seem unnecessary. The background score was a major letdown, why turn it into a rap when a more intense, gripping score could have elevated the tension?

That said, the series isn't all bad. The performances are top-notch, with Jyotika and Gajraj Rao delivering compelling acts.

The narrative focused more on the personal lives of five women rather than the pharmaceutical company, which, while unexpected, was the only element that kept me hooked. The show had potential but missed the mark in execution.

From a Western woman's perspective, and as an American who spent time in India 20 years ago, I REALLY enjoyed this series. It reminded me of Breaking Bad, but not quite of course. I thought the acting was excellent and the story-line shocking and compelling. I loved the female cast. Highly recommend. I can't wait for season 2!

I think this series presents a window into Indian life and culture that Westerners will find intriguing. I especially enjoyed the mother-in-law's character. Although there is some violence and sexual innuendo, it is not as much as seen in Western shows which I really appreciate.

Intersting and intense story and acting. But the end is very illogical and incomplete. There are examples of good ending on one series with offering continuity ... It seems series is relies without completing with end episode due to some issues in production. Acting is very good by everyone. Build up of story episode by episode in very good so one keep continuing watching episode by episode but feels cheated with incomplete series end which is frustrating that why have I watched it till end .... Just like bus dropped you before your destination stop and asking to wait for next bus without schedule , no information when and where to get next bus ....

Anwar Says: Dabba Cartel,Crime centred around women, an intriguing subject , and of course with manipulative partners. Here you'll watch desperation and frustration and hardly any violence. Web-series is good in parts and at some stages looks unnecessarily dragged .

All the women characters have given stellar performances and Shabana Azmi is the coolest. Gajrao Rao as honest Government Officer is excellent, Sunil Grover is visible in the last episode. Technically, the series is solid , particularly the cinematography. Creators Shibani Akhtar and Gaurav Kapur have been able to run two parallel stories together and making them meet as and when needed.

Another story has been built up for a second season and hope it would be more gripping.

Watch this season for Shabana and Gajraj Rao.

#Netflix #anwarsays #womenoriented #CriminalWomen #ShabanaAzmi #GajrajRao #ShibaniAkhtar #mithai #Drugtrafficking #dabbawala.