Darlings

In the cramped, noisy world of a Mumbai chawl, Badru lives a life that feels both suffocating and absurd. Married to Hamza, a man whose drinking and volatile temper have turned everyday moments into fragile negotiations, she moves through a routine of quiet dread and relentless endurance. The narrow corridors and bustling community serve as a backdrop where laughter is often a mask for deeper pain, and the ordinary becomes a stage for a grimly comic survival.

Badru’s mother, Shamshu, is a fierce presence whose own history with domestic turmoil fuels a protective, if unconventional, counsel. Their bond forms a small island of solidarity amid a sea of uncertainty, each offering the other a lifeline and a whispered promise of change. Around them, neighbors like Zulfi—a jack‑of‑all‑trades who watches the household dynamics with a mix of empathy and curiosity—add texture to the tight‑knit environment, hinting at hidden alliances and quiet resistance.

The film’s tone balances sharp, dark humor with an unflinching look at the claustrophobia of abuse. It teeters between moments of bleak realism and absurdity, using the cramped chawl setting to amplify both the humor and the horror of Badru’s situation. As patience thins, she begins to contemplate a drastic course of action, a plan that feels both terrifyingly plausible and perversely hopeful.

With the support of her mother and the murmurs of the community, Badru’s resolve sets the stage for a narrative that pushes the boundaries of retribution and redemption. The story promises a tangled web of consequences, inviting viewers to wonder how far one will go when the walls close in and the only exit seems to lie through a darkly comic, yet uncertain, path.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 21:22