‘Daldal’, now streaming on Prime Video, opens with grit, intensity, and the promise of a hard-hitting police procedural. Led by Bhumi Pednekar in a fiercely controlled performance, the series initially pulls viewers into a grim world of crimes, broken systems, and emotional scars. However, despite strong performances and a compelling central character, the show struggles to sustain its early momentum. Slow pacing and repetitive narrative beats ultimately prevent Daldal from fully realising its potential.
Directed by Amrit Raj Gupta, the series began streaming on January 30 and features an ensemble cast including Bhumi Pednekar, Samara Tijori, Aditya Rawal, Geeta Agrawal, Sandesh Kulkarni, and Ananth Narayan Mahadevan.
Gritty Roots, Familiar Territory
At its core, Daldal is a grounded crime drama that leans heavily into realism. The series joins a long list of police procedurals that have found a home on streaming platforms in recent years, yet it manages to carve a modest identity of its own.
The early episodes are absorbing. The world feels lived-in, the police station dynamics are believable, and the characters speak and behave with authenticity. The show’s unhurried pacing works initially, allowing the atmosphere to settle and tension to build organically.
However, after the first two episodes, the narrative begins to loop. The investigation starts moving in circles, and what initially felt methodical soon turns repetitive.
A Driven Cop and a Case That Spirals
The story centres on ACP Rita Ferreira (Bhumi Pednekar), a stern, emotionally guarded officer whose life revolves entirely around her work. Warmth is not her language — discipline is.
Rita’s personality is shaped by unresolved childhood trauma and a strict upbringing under a controlling mother. As she edges closer to a long-awaited promotion, institutional politics come into play. In a move driven more by optics than intent, the commissioner elevates four women officers to DCP rank, with Rita becoming one of the symbolic faces of progress.
The narrative intensifies when Manohar Swamy, an elderly man, is found brutally murdered on a beach while feeding stray dogs — his phone shoved into his mouth. Soon after, Edward Fernando, a caretaker at a juvenile home, is killed in a similarly disturbing manner.
As more bodies appear, the investigation becomes a race against time, placing Rita under mounting professional and psychological pressure.
Strong Start, Fading Momentum
Based on Vish Dhamija’s novel Bhendi Bazaar, Daldal opens on a powerful note. One of the earliest sequences — where Rita lays a trap to rescue young girls from a red-light area in Mumbai — is raw, unsettling, and effective. It immediately establishes the moral and emotional landscape of the series.
The early episodes also touch upon important themes such as:
- Gender bias within law enforcement
- Toxic masculinity
- Institutional hypocrisy
Rita is often used as a token of empowerment by her seniors, valued more for optics than authority. These ideas add depth to the character-driven portions of the show.
Unfortunately, once the murder investigation takes centre stage, the storytelling loses variation. The same investigative beats repeat across episodes, weakening the dramatic tension.
A Chase Without Real Suspense
Unlike traditional whodunits, Daldal reveals the killer’s identity relatively early. From that point, the series shifts focus from mystery to pursuit — a prolonged cat-and-mouse game between Rita and the perpetrator.
This creative choice could have worked, but the execution lacks emotional escalation. Instead of deepening the psychological stakes, the show stretches the chase without adding meaningful layers.
Key emotional threads remain underdeveloped, particularly the relationship between Anita Acharya and Sajid, the two killers. Their bond — crucial to understanding their motivations — is never fully explored. As a result, their actions often feel more functional than emotionally driven.
Anita’s character, in particular, suffers from inconsistency, which affects the believability of her arc.
Performances Keep It Afloat
Where Daldal consistently delivers is in its performances.
Bhumi Pednekar anchors the series with conviction. Her portrayal of Rita Ferreira is restrained, internalised, and physically demanding. She rarely gets moments of relief or vulnerability, yet she maintains control throughout.
Even when the writing falters, Bhumi’s commitment never does. She brings credibility to a role that demands authority, emotional suppression, and quiet rage.
The supporting cast offers steady performances, though several characters feel underwritten and could have benefited from sharper arcs.
Jay-Ho Insider
Daldal begins with grit, promise, and a compelling lead performance. It builds a convincing world and raises meaningful questions about power, gender, and morality within the system.
However, its slow pacing, repetitive structure, and underdeveloped emotional threads prevent it from achieving the impact it aims for. What could have been a sharp, tense crime drama instead becomes a watchable but uneven series.
Bhumi Pednekar’s performance remains the show’s strongest asset — powerful enough to keep viewers invested, even when the narrative starts to sink into familiar ground.
Verdict: A solid performance-driven crime drama that starts strong but struggles to sustain its intensity.
Streaming on: Prime Video
Genre: Crime / Police Procedural
Strengths: Performances, realism, atmosphere
Weaknesses: Slow pace, repetition, limited emotional payoff
