Brave choice of weaving a comedy around a grave concern and sparkling performances notwithstanding, Netflix film Darlings falters as it moves towards an unsatisfying climax

Nonika Singh

Domestic violence, we all know and understand, is a grave matter and to weave a dark comedy around it requires some craft as well as deftness. So, on the count of brave choices, Jasmine K Reen can certainly be lauded.

Darlings

Cast: Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, Vijay Varma, Roshan Mathew, Rajesh Sharma, Vijay Maurya and Santosh Juvekar

Director: Jasmeen K Reen

Rating: ***

As the film unfolds, taking us into the lives of a young Muslim couple, the abusive husband Hamza Shaikh (Vijay Varma) does make us smart and wince. The wife Badrunissa (Badru), played by the spunky and sprightly Alia Bhatt, oscillates between hope and despair, love and hate, hoping as most battered wives do — that my husband will change with time and love. Does he? Well, we know the answer. So what are her options…File a complaint, dump him or as her mother Shamshunissa Ansari (Shefali Shah) tells her — serve him rat poison.

Thus, a macabre element is introduced early on…Getting rid of a remorseless husband too is a possibility! But Badru has more empathetic plans and tries to entice him with a fresh start and a baby… Only men like Hamza, who often blame their abominable behaviour on bouts of alcoholism, are incorrigible.

So, after a tragic twist, both mother and daughter decide to take matters in their own hands and mete out a rough treatment to their bête noire, Hamza. And, just by the way, it is flashes of the scenes depicting how they rough him up that had certain sections of the social media up in storm. For all those trollers who participated in #boycottAlia, let it be said the film does not justify violence against men. Or women. It is only an unorthodox way of treating a malaise deep rooted in our society. And don’t miss the pun around the title.

Darlings, a word of endearment, takes its own spin and we learn how darlings can be daring too. The narrative packs a few mirthful moments as women turn the tables and decide to hold Hamza captive. Their partners in crime are men too. One is out in the open, Zulfi (Roshan Mathew), an aspiring writer, who sells stolen goods to the mother-daughter. Reference to Kasim (Rajesh Sharma) is veiled, but what he may have done back in time to support Shamshu is rather obvious.

Certainly the territory these two women are treading is dangerous and not quite legal. How they get out of the mess of their making is kinda hilarious. But if they get trapped in a dilemma, the predicament of the director and writers stilts the narrative. How do you make a film relatable or touching without letting go of the moral stance is the conundrum the director appears to be facing.

Thus, as the lead characters plot and scheme, we as viewers can see the writing on the wall and lose interest. The actors, especially Shefali Shah, sparkle. Her wide eyes speak and mirror a world of emotions. She sure is a darling! The scene where she does a volte face when she learns who Zulfi is truly interested in is a winner all the way. Alia is winsome too and once again portrays the many shades of her part with consummate ease. Vijay Varma as the intractable bad husband too scores well. Not all men are monsters and Roshan Mathew’s Zulfi stands as an emblem of kindness.

But in the final countdown, the film, which otherwise feels real and believable, does not play up the Muslim card, relies on too many conjectures and leaves you wanting more. Yes, we get it the karmic justice or taking control of your karma…The choice can be tricky. But the poetic justice Darlings finally serves does not gladden your hearts fully.

(Streaming on Netflix.)