Dabba Cartel is the latest Indian crime thriller series to hit Netflix, promising a gripping blend of drama, suspense, and female empowerment. Set in the 1960s Mumbai, the show revolves around five ordinary housewives who run a humble dabba (tiffin) business, only to find themselves embroiled in the dark world of drug cartels. As their side hustle transforms into a high-stakes game of crime and survival, these women must navigate a dangerous path filled with betrayal, power struggles, and unexpected twists.
Plot Overview: How a Simple Dabba Business Turns into a Cartel
The story of Dabba Cartel follows five middle-class women who are experts in cooking and run a successful tiffin service in Mumbai. However, their fortunes change when they unwittingly enter the illicit world of drug trafficking. What starts as an innocent act of survival soon turns into a full-fledged empire, with these housewives evolving into powerful crime bosses.
Despite their initial hesitations, the women soon discover their knack for strategy, deception, and dominance in the crime world. They outsmart rival gangs, dodge law enforcement, and even challenge the existing mafia structures, proving that power knows no gender.
Star Cast: A Powerhouse of Performances
Netflix’s Dabba Cartel boasts an impressive lineup of actors, bringing the characters to life with powerful performances.
- Shabana Azmi – A veteran actress who plays Sheila, the mastermind behind the cartel.
- Jyothika – Known for her strong screen presence, she plays one of the key members of the group.
- Nimisha Sajayan – An acclaimed Malayalam actress making her mark in Hindi crime drama.
- Shalini Pandey – Brings depth to the storyline with her intense performance.
- Anjali Anand – Plays a pivotal role, contributing to the group’s rise in the underworld.
Connection to Bollywood’s Underworld Saga
In an interesting twist, the series references the Bollywood crime thriller “Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai” (2010). Shabana Azmi’s character, Sheila, reveals in Episode 3 that she once worked for Sultan Mirza (played by Ajay Devgn in the movie). This clever connection adds a nostalgic and intriguing element for fans of Bollywood’s underworld dramas.
Production and Direction: A Netflix-Excel Entertainment Collaboration
Produced by Excel Entertainment, led by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, Dabba Cartel is a women-centric thriller that blends crime and empowerment seamlessly. The cinematography beautifully recreates 1960s Mumbai, immersing the audience in an era where women breaking into a male-dominated world was even more challenging.
Mixed Reviews: What Critics Are Saying
While Dabba Cartel has an engaging storyline and a stellar cast, it has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
- Positives: Strong performances, intriguing plot, unique take on women in crime.
- Negatives: Slow pacing, lack of high-stakes action, predictable twists.
Where to Watch Dabba Cartel?
The series is now streaming exclusively on Netflix, available in multiple languages with subtitles. For fans of crime dramas, female-led stories, and period pieces, Dabba Cartel offers a fresh take on the power struggle in the underworld.
Stay tuned for more updates on Dabba Cartel and other Netflix releases!
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