00:00Badru's unconditional love for her husband, Hamza, makes her overlook all the red flags in their relationship.
00:07Her mother's constant warnings go unnoticed as well.
00:10Coming from a modest background, the young wife continues to hope for a better tomorrow until things get a bit too far.
00:18If you can go to a restaurant or cinema alone, you can do anything in life.
00:23Women, however, are conditioned to believe that they would rather be in a volatile, toxic relationship than be the object of society's prying eyes.
00:32Strangely, being in an abusive marriage is still more respectable than being in none.
00:38Debutant director Jasmeet K. Reen, who has co-written this film along with Parvez Sheikh, takes a closer look at patriarchy and domestic violence amid the social-psychological milieu of the lower middle class.
00:50Set in Mumbai, where the rich and not-so-privileged coexist and resilience rides high, two women, mother and daughter, find their own heaven in hell.
01:02They find ways to bring their own sunshine even as dark clouds hover around them.
01:06They laugh in the face of adversity and make merry with whatever little they have.
01:12Even as Hamza habitually beats up Badru black and blue in a drunken state or driven by uncalled-for rage, she devotedly makes an omelette for him the next morning.
01:23He apologizes to his darlings and she happily forgives him.
01:27The cycle continues.
01:29She reminds herself that theirs is a love marriage after all and these arguments and such abuse must be common across.
01:36However, a tragic incident forces her to recalibrate her life decisions and her views on her manipulative husband.
01:44Violence begets violence.
01:46But can revenge set you free?
01:49Who's the real victim here?
01:50The one who fights back using questionable methods or the one who normalizes abuse in the name of love?
01:56Contrary to the trailer, Darlings isn't quite a dark comedy or a twisted, suspenseful thriller.
02:04Told in a linear, simplistic fashion, the film is about an abuser exploiting his partner over a man-versus-woman battle.
02:12While the subject at hand and observations are powerful, the storytelling and editing needed some work.
02:18Shot in a confined space throughout, a rather spacious chawl room, the film keeps going in circles, making it more of a monotonous drama
02:26than a gripping domestic noir.
02:29The climax feels morally conflicted and leaves room for thought.
02:33The irony of a beauty parlour lady drawing a mehendi on a blushing bride while being privy to an abusive marriage next door
02:40or a handcuffed Hamza being asked to peel veggies by a suddenly hardened wife and more such nuances are finally captured.
02:48Darlings makes a compelling case study on domestic violence.
02:52But it wouldn't be what it is if it wasn't for Shefali and Alia.
02:57Both actresses speak through their eyes and make up for the dreary pace at times with their outstanding performances in chemistry.
03:04The camaraderie between the mother and daughter sets the tone of this film.
03:08Whether it's heart-wrenching, emotional scenes or tougher scenes made light with subtle humour,
03:14they slip into the skin of their character effortlessly, feed off each other's energy as actors and take you along with their story.
03:22Despite being let down by the men in their lives, they choose not to look at themselves as victims.
03:27And that is the highlight of this daring domestic drama that sheds light on the male privilege, physical-emotional abuse and intimidation.
03:35There are several reasons to watch this film, but Shefali and Alia's brilliant performances top the list.
03:42Darlings follows Badru Nisa, Badru Sheik, a young woman in a Mumbai chawl who endures escalating physical and emotional abuse from her charming but volatile husband, Hamza.
03:53Her mother, Shamsun Nisa, witnesses the cycle of violence with growing frustration.
03:58The film explores Badru's journey from hopeful endurance to a desperate quest for freedom,
04:03taking a sharp turn into dark comedy and revenge thriller.
04:07Badru, also known as Alia, delivers a powerful and nuanced performance,
04:12perfectly capturing Badru's initial vulnerability, simmering rage and eventual transformation.
04:18Her portrayal makes the character's journey believable and compelling.
04:22Shefali Shah, Shamsu, is phenomenal as the fierce, pragmatic and darkly humorous mother.
04:28She provides the film's comedic edge while conveying deep maternal pain and resilience.
04:33Her chemistry with Bhat is electric.
04:35Vijay Verma as Hamza, excellently portrays the charming yet terrifying duality of an abusive husband.
04:42He avoids caricature, making Hamza chillingly real and unpredictable.
04:47The film bravely tackles a serious pervasive issue of domestic violence but does so through an unconventional lens,
04:53dark comedy and revenge fantasy.
04:55This unique blend makes the difficult subject matter more approachable and engaging for a wider audience.
05:02Strong directorial debut, Jasmeet K. Reen confidently handles the tonal shifts,
05:07balancing moments of intense drama, bleak humor and suspense.
05:11The pacing is generally tight, especially in the first half.
05:15While centred on one story, the film implicitly critiques societal structures that enable abuse,
05:21victim-blaming, ineffective policing and the cycle of violence.
05:25The ending subtly shifts focus from individual revenge to the systemic failures that allow abuse to flourish.
05:32The Mumbai Chawl setting feels lived in and authentic.
05:36Rosh and Matthew provide solid support as Zulfi, a neighbor entangled in their plans.
05:41Darlings is a confident, provocative and well-acted film that successfully uses dark comedy to shed light on the grim reality of domestic violence.
05:51Its greatest strength lies in the powerhouse performances of Bhat, Shah and Verma, who elevate the material immensely.
05:58While the tonal blend won't resonate perfectly with everyone, and the second half requires some suspension of belief,
06:05the film remains engaging and thought-provoking.
06:08It's more than just a revenge fantasy.
06:10It's a commentary on trauma, resilience, societal complicity and the complex paths to liberation.
06:17You appreciate bold film-making, stellar performances, dark comedies or films tackling social issues in an unconventional way.
06:24Fans of Aliyabhatt, Shefali Shaw or Vijay Verma won't be disappointed.
06:29It deals explicitly with domestic violence, although not excessively graphic,
06:34and the dark humor might not land for all sensitive to the subject matter.
06:38You prefer straightforward genre films, find dark comedy about serious topics inherently off-putting,
06:44or demand strict realism throughout.
06:46A powerful, performance-driven dark comedy drama that tackles domestic abuse with a
06:52unique and often effective blend of grit and humor, despite some unevenness in its second half.
06:58Rating likely in the range of 3.5 to 4.5 stars, based on critical consensus and audience reception,
07:05primarily carried by the exceptional acting.
Comments