Dabba Cartel Series Review: Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, and Nimisha Sajayan’s Star Power Can’t Save a Bland Story.Filmygod

Review of Dabba Cartel: A Strong Concept Let Down by Lackluster Execution

What if a group of seemingly ‘ordinary’ women from the suburban city of Thane in Mumbai decided to turn their small tiffin service business into an illicit drug-peddling operation? The concept alone promises an intriguing narrative that explores themes of empowerment, vulnerability, and moral complexity, all while taking a sharp turn into uncharted waters. With such an interesting premise and a stellar cast, featuring Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, and Shalini Pandey, it seems like Dabba Cartel should have all the ingredients for a hit. However, while the potential is undeniably there, the show fails to deliver on its promises, leaving behind a bland and unfulfilling experience.

The Promise of an Engaging Storyline

The premise of Dabba Cartel seems enticing at first: a group of middle-class women, each with her own struggles and ambitions, who break out of the conventional domestic roles to enter the dangerous world of drug manufacturing. The show revolves around these women—Sheilaben (Shabana Azmi), Varuna (Jyotika), Mala (Nimisha Sajayan), and Raji (Shalini Pandey)—who run a small tiffin service. The twist comes when they decide to use their cooking skills to manufacture drugs, with the promise of high stakes, intrigue, and drama. On top of this, the series also features an honest drug authority officer, Ajit Pathak (Gajraj Rao), investigating the rise of a pharmaceutical company, VivaLife, which is under scrutiny for manufacturing illegal drugs.

There’s a lot to unpack in this setup: middle-class women entering a predominantly male space, the shift from domestic life to crime, and the risks and rewards of their choices. Unfortunately, while these elements seem ripe for exploration, Dabba Cartel doesn’t quite live up to its potential. Instead of a gripping tale of crime, ambition, and moral dilemmas, the series falters under the weight of its own clichés and pacing issues.

Underwhelming Execution: A Missed Opportunity

While the concept is fresh and intriguing, Dabba Cartel struggles to deliver on the promises made by its premise. The show unfolds in a series of disconnected narratives that never quite find their rhythm. We are introduced to each of the main characters, but instead of focusing on one or two key arcs to build depth, the series tries to juggle too many storylines at once. We see Raji’s husband, Hari, trying to impress his boss and secure a job abroad; Varuna’s financial struggles to pay the rent for her store; Mala’s entanglement with her boyfriend, who blackmails her with private videos; and the blossoming relationship between the rookie cop, Preeti (Sai Tamhankar), and the broker Shahida (Anjali Anand). All of this happens within the first few episodes, but there’s no room to let any one narrative breathe or develop, making the story feel disjointed and superficial.

The central theme of the women entering the drug business also gets lost in the shuffle. What should have been a compelling transformation—ordinary women cooking up dangerous products for a profit—feels rushed. The entire process of them turning to drugs happens too quickly, with little exploration into their motivations or the risks they face. By the time the women are involved in the drug trade, the audience barely has time to understand how or why they’ve taken this drastic step. Without this emotional buildup, the stakes feel low, and the payoff falls flat.

Lackluster Visuals and Direction

One of the major disappointments of Dabba Cartel is its lackluster direction and uninspired visuals. For a show that deals with crime, corruption, and morally gray characters, the lack of edge in the filmmaking is noticeable. The series feels almost too safe in its execution. The tone never quite matches the dangerous territory the characters are navigating, and the visuals, while serviceable, are far from striking. The editing feels lazy, and there’s no sense of urgency or suspense in the narrative. The initial intrigue that the premise builds quickly fades away as the show drifts into generic territory.

Even the moments that should feel tense or thrilling fall flat. For example, a scene where Mala and Shahida taste a new batch of drugs starts off promising, with the characters getting visibly high, their eyes turning red, and their laughter turning hysterical. While this scene does provide a brief burst of energy, it feels more like an isolated moment rather than a tone the show can sustain. The rest of the series lacks this kind of fun or tension, leaving it to feel like a missed opportunity.

Strong Performances, But Limited Character Depth

The saving grace of Dabba Cartel is undoubtedly its powerhouse cast. Each actor brings something unique to the table, elevating scenes that might have otherwise fallen flat. Shabana Azmi, with her stern demeanor and mysterious presence, plays Sheilaben, but her character feels underwritten. Despite Azmi’s commanding performance, Sheilaben’s backstory and motivations are glossed over, and there is no real emotional payoff for her character. Azmi’s performance feels wasted in a role that doesn’t allow her to fully flex her acting muscles.

Jyotika, playing the role of Varuna, delivers a compelling performance, especially during the emotional moments of the series. She brings depth to her character, and her struggles with her clothing store’s financial troubles are portrayed convincingly. However, even her character’s potential is undercut by the show’s pacing issues, which don’t allow for any meaningful exploration of her arc.

Nimisha Sajayan as Mala is perhaps the most dynamic of the group. With her energetic Mumbaiyya accent and manic charm, Sajayan injects a much-needed dose of life into the series. When the story starts to feel stale, Sajayan’s performance brings the energy back, especially when her character gets caught up in the absurdity of the drug business. However, like the others, Mala’s character is also underdeveloped, and by the later episodes, she becomes more of a laughing stock than a character worth investing in.

Shalini Pandey, as Raji, plays the innocent housewife turned drug manufacturer. While she does well in the role, Raji’s journey feels rushed and lacks the emotional complexity that could have made her transformation more impactful.

The supporting cast, including Gajraj Rao as the FDSCO officer Ajit Pathak and Sai Tamhankar as the rookie cop Preeti, are good in their respective roles. However, their characters also feel like clichés—Ajit the honest officer, and Preeti the eager cop trying to prove herself—without much room for growth.

Final Thoughts: Bland and Uninspired

Dabba Cartel had all the right ingredients: a fresh and promising premise, a stellar cast, and a genre filled with potential. However, the show’s inability to fully capitalize on these elements leaves it feeling bland and underwhelming. The lack of character development, rushed pacing, and uninspired direction make it hard to invest in the narrative. While the performances—particularly from Azmi, Jyotika, and Sajayan—do lift certain scenes, they can’t entirely make up for the show’s overall lack of depth and excitement.

Ultimately, Dabba Cartel feels like a missed opportunity. It doesn’t explore its premise with the sharpness or intensity it deserves, and while it shows moments of potential, they are too few and far between. The show seems content with being generic and safe, failing to rise to the level of gripping crime dramas like Narcos or Breaking Bad. If you’re hoping for a thrilling, morally complex series, Dabba Cartel might leave you disappointed, much like a bland meal that looks appetizing at first but leaves you wanting more.