Daldal review: A show that pushes you into the unsettling swamp of crime and addiction.

Daldal review: A show that pushes you into the unsettling swamp of crime and addiction.

‘Daldal’ - Its Serial Killers galore - they are on the prowl on OTT this month! If the last week saw the Shobhita Dhulipala starrer Telugu thriller, ‘Cheekatlo’, where her protagonist chased a serial rapist, this week’s ‘Daldal’ sees Bhumi Satish Pednekar play Rita Ferreira in a vicious pursuit of a catch a serial killer committing grisly murders in the city.

Daldal web series plot

As the genre continues to dominate the streaming world, the plots are become more template-oriented – the protagonist, particularly women, battling the inner demons, the antagonist grappling with a tormented past and a harsh, unforgiving backdrop that fuels a gloomy narrative.

‘Daldal’ is no different. Adapted from Vish Dhamija’s best seller “Bhendi Bazaar”, ‘Daldal’ finds heft in Rita’s dispassionate demeanor and workaholism that constantly poses ghastly reminder to the ghosts of her fractured childhood. She is hardly pleased with her boss who recommends her for promotion and eventually becomes the youngest DCP in the city because she sees the dishonesty there – being made a mere PR prop.

A consistently stark and intricate gaze on the deeply damaged police machinery that not only harasses a suspect in the crimes, Sajid (a deeply affecting performance by Aditya Rawal) but also creates a by-product like Rita consumed by hate and angst, emboldens ‘Daldal’’s conflict. When one of her sting operations goes awry, she’s troubled by the media glare anchored by a devious journo, Anita Acharya (Samara Tijori, committed performance!).

Much like Rita, the killer also shares the same predicament while conjuring a commentary on child abuse, drug addiction, rehab and exploitation. Directed by Amrit Raj Gupta (Gullak fame) and created by Suresh Triveni (Tumhari Sulu fame) , the seven-episode show gets gory and gruesome with the graphical depiction of the premeditated crimes – wrists slitted and the victims asphyxiated with stuff like chicken shoved brutally into the mouth, akin to any Korean thriller.

Much like meaning of its title, the mood stays largely meditative and murky. ‘Daldal’ is a chilling excursion to the dingy alleys of a psychologically troubled minds, navigating timelines, and offers no respite but benefits from deeply examined nuances and milieu for the world-building. Smartly written characters, the Marathi lingo and actors proficient in this medium of expression do elevate the experience of investing in its layered storytelling.

You are also going to be impressed with Bhumi who switches her gears to play a woman of grit. As Rita, she straddles the flaws and frailties of her character with confidence and a stoic rigidity. “Eyes Open, Smile, Chin Up” her boss remarks when they are clicked for a pic together. Her clumsiness and lack of being expressive wag their ugly tails whenever she’s with her beau. Bhumi conveys complex emotions in her glaringly evident authority and unreasonable control over her subordinate, Mhatre, played by a terrific Geeta Agarwal.

The screenplay could have been tighter at places which deserved urgency and tension. But as a viewer, you won’t mind it because you have a talented ensemble, scouted by Mukesh Chhabra and Inc, to uplift the ordinary ramblings. From the supporting cast, Geeta Agarwal as ASI Indu Mhatre renders a supremely endearing performance while etching a character that doubles like a ghost to Rita’s darkness. Chinmay Mandlekar, as Vikram Sathe, cuts a terrific figure of professional jealousy and cynicism when he loggerheads Bhumi. Saurabh Goyal and Sandeep Kulkarni deliver pleasant performances. Vibhawari Deshpande, as Rita’s Mom, is brilliant in carving out an acidic woman in her cameo.