Premiering on February 28, 2025, Dabba Cartel bursts onto Netflix with a tantalizing premise: five women from Thane, Maharashtra, transform a humble tiffin service into a clandestine drug empire. Directed by Hitesh Bhatia and co-created by Shibani Akhtar, Gaurav Kapur, and others, this seven-episode Hindi-language crime drama promises a desi twist on Breaking Bad meets Narcos. With a powerhouse cast led by Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, and Nimisha Sajayan, it’s a dish that’s equal parts spicy and uneven—but one you’ll likely finish despite its flaws.

The story kicks off with Raji (Shalini Pandey), a chef running a dabba delivery with her maid Mala (Nimisha Sajayan), who secretly slips “herbal Viagra” into the meals. When a pharma scandal at VivaLife—where Raji’s husband Hari (Bhupendra Jadawat) works—rocks their community, the duo’s side hustle spirals into a full-blown MDMA operation. Enter Sheila (Shabana Azmi), Raji’s steely mother-in-law with a criminal past, Varuna (Jyotika), a former CFO with a crumbling marriage, and Shahida (Anjali Anand), a broker with grit. Together, they navigate turf wars, cops, and betrayal, all while juggling domestic facades.

The cast is the show’s crown jewel. Shabana Azmi is magnetic as Sheila, channeling a Godmother-esque gravitas with icy stares and quiet menace—her presence alone elevates every scene. Nimisha Sajayan’s Mala is a fiery standout, her raw desperation and defiance cutting through the screen. Jyotika brings depth to Varuna’s simmering resentment, though her arc feels underdeveloped. Shalini Pandey holds her own as Raji, though she’s occasionally outshone by her co-stars, while Anjali Anand adds charm to Shahida, despite a half-baked LGBTQ+ subplot with Sai Tamhankar’s cop Preeti that feels tacked on. Gajraj Rao, as a dogged narcotics officer, delivers dry wit and tenacity, anchoring the law-enforcement angle.

Visually, Dabba Cartel is a treat—Eeshit Narain’s cinematography paints Thane with vibrant chaos, from rain-soaked alleys to bustling markets, grounding the absurdity in a palpable sense of place. Gaurav Raina and Tarana Marwah’s funky score keeps the energy up, though it occasionally overpowers quieter moments. The writing, however, is where the series stumbles. It starts strong, with a clever setup that flips societal norms—housewives as drug lords!—but loses steam midseason. Subplots like Hari’s pharma woes and Shahida’s romance feel disjointed, and the pacing drags as twists grow predictable. The finale, though, lands a solid cliffhanger, teasing a bolder Season 2.

What works best is the show’s refusal to glamorize its antiheroes. It’s less about empowerment and more about survival, a gritty lens that avoids preachiness. Yet, for all its potential, Dabba Cartel struggles to balance its ambitions—wanting to be both a sharp character study and a pulpy thriller, it fully commits to neither. The result is a bingeable but inconsistent ride that’s more flavorful in parts than as a whole. Still, its stellar performances and unique flavor make it a worthy watch for crime-drama fans craving something fresh from India’s OTT scene.

Ratings:
Storyline: 3/5 – A promising concept that wavers with uneven execution and predictable turns.
Performances: 4.5/5 – Azmi, Sajayan, and Rao shine; the ensemble is a knockout despite some undercooked arcs.
Direction: 3.5/5 – Bhatia crafts a vivid world but can’t always steer the sprawling narrative.
Cinematography & Music: 4/5 – Striking visuals and a lively score bolster the mood.
Overall: 3.5/5 – A tasty, if imperfect, crime concoction that leaves you curious for seconds.

Dabba Cartel is streaming now on Netflix—a flawed but flavorful dish worth sampling.