The remarkable ensemble cast, led by Alia Bhatt, Vijay Varma, Shefali Shah, and Roshan Mathew, lives up to the promise made in the trailer in Jasmeet K Reen’s directorial debut. Alia Bhatt-Vijay Varma starrer is a unique observation of domestic violence that has something different to offer. Bollywood has added a new recipe to its boring menu.
Darlings is a quirky take on domestic violence. The premise is grave, but the execution is playful. With such a profound and vital issue, the audience wondered how the movie would add the flavor of dark comedy. But to my surprise, the blend of dark comedy and the important message was actually delivered. With the hard-hitting dialogues, screenplay, background score, acting, and direction, Darlings is easily one of the best movies one has witnessed in 2022.
The plot revolves around Badru (Alia Bhatt), who hopes her volatile husband Hamza (Vijay Varma) will change if he stops drinking. But when his rage takes a different turn, she and her mother (Shefali Shah) boldly, yet clumsily, seek revenge on him.
The people living in the area symbolize the society that turns a blind eye to domestic violence victims. The owner of a beauty parlor comments, “Kal Biryani main patthar aa gaya tha,” in front of her customers and casually shrugs every time she hears Badru’s stifled screams.
Hamza is born with the notion that men should practice control over women. He enjoys beating Badru for any reason and emotionally manipulates her to feel better. This gives him a sense of superiority in the house. He lashes Badru and takes out his frustration and anger at his job on her repeatedly.
Hamza confesses that he is flawed and beats Badu because of his love for her. He also admits that she tolerates him because she has feelings for him. He promises her that he will give up alcohol and be a changed man, only for her to discover that he made up the promises in order to get out of jail. This scene accurately depicts Hamza’s character and belief that emotionally manipulating his wife is his right.
Shamshu, Badru’s mother, has her own story to share. She knows that her daughter is harassed by her husband. She is not a typical mother who asks Badru to adjust or compromise; instead, she tells her to leave Hamza. The film beautifully captures her transformation. She did something in her past with zero regrets but now realizes how it has impacted her life after she sees her daughter in the same plight.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of this film is its ensemble cast. Alia Bhatt is quicksilver and shines as quirky, submissive, vulnerable, and later fearless Badru. She is in top form and transports you to Badru’s world. In some scenes, she resembles Safeena from Gully Boy, but comparing the two characters would be unfair to both the actor and the story, as they are from different universes.
Shefali Shah as Alia’s mother is equally mercurial. She delivers a phenomenal performance far more understated than her recent appearances in Humans and Jalsa. Darlings’ strongest USP is the camaraderie between Bhatt and Shah. From the director’s chair, it was wise to keep the mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the film rather than moving on to keep the couple at the center of the film.
Roshan Mathew as Zulfi, has little to offer but does full justice to the role. The relationship between him and Shah’s character should have been explored further.
Unironically, Hamza is the show-stealer of the Darlings. Vijay Varma is truly a genius at work, he makes you hate Hamza with such ease and conviction. His red flags hit on point. His character is written with a realistic perspective. Varma has an on-screen charm that can effortlessly make you hate his grey characters (She, Gully Boy, and Pink, to name a few).
The songs composed by Vishal Bhardwaj and penned by Gulzar compliments the nature of the film. The background score adds quirkiness to the movie. A special mention of the color scheme used in the film. The usage of red color signifies both freedom and grief. It also works as a metaphor of taking charge of one’s life and freedom. The pink and blue color combination, particularly inside the house, creates a visual narrative.
When great actors come together, sometimes you overlook the film’s flaws. One of the film’s flaws was that the audience already knew what to expect from this thriller show due to the shoddy trailer. The trailer revealed what the film should have revealed. The climax is predictable, but it does include a small twist. I appreciated the climax twist, but the episode preceding the finale reminded me of Gehraiyaan, which needed more attention.
Whether Badru’s revenge was justified or not is another debate. Darlings is an enjoyable watch and easily one of the best Hindi movies to release this year. It successfully blends the ingredients of dark comedy, sobering social realities, and standout performances.
