Story
Set in Mumbai, Daldal follows newly promoted DCP rita Ferreira, a sharp but emotionally bruised police officer navigating a deeply patriarchal workplace while battling addiction and unresolved trauma. As a string of murders rattles the city, rita finds herself locked in professional conflict with colleagues who dismiss her instincts and undermine her authority. When her addiction is exposed, threatening both her career and credibility, the investigation becomes inseparable from her personal reckoning. To solve the case, rita must confront not only institutional resistance but also a deeply buried memory from her past that continues to shape her present.
Performances
Bhumi Pednekar shoulders the narrative almost entirely, playing rita as an emotionally muted, perpetually clenched figure. While the restraint is clearly intentional, it becomes a double-edged sword. Her performance is sincere but largely one-note, relying heavily on blankness to convey internalised trauma. Over time, the absence of variation in body language, vocal modulation, or physical cues makes rita feel emotionally inaccessible, even when the script demands vulnerability.
A similar limitation affects Samara Tijori, whose role unfolds mostly on autopilot despite a backstory meant to add layers. The justification exists on paper, but the portrayal lacks nuance and dynamism.
The series finds a stronger footing in its supporting cast. Aditya Rawal delivers a compelling performance marked by simmering ambiguity, effectively capturing a character who cannot fully articulate his rage or impulses. Geeta Agrawal stands out as Indu Mhatre, a rare source of warmth and emotional refuge. She embodies a quiet, nurturing presence — a symbolic blanket of sisterhood that shields rita when the system closes in. Chinmay Mandlekar is solid as Vikram, the insecure colleague whose resentment toward rita makes him instantly recognisable and easy to dislike.
Technicalities
Technically, Daldal is consistently assured. The background score by vishal Saroye understands the value of restraint, allowing scenes to breathe while subtly heightening tension. The muted colour palette is a predictable but effective choice, reinforcing the show’s grim psychological terrain. Cinematographer Rakesh Haridas does not reinvent visual grammar, but his frames are functional and tonally aligned with the narrative’s heaviness.
However, the issues emerge in editing and narrative rhythm. The show repeatedly revisits character motivations and emotional beats, unpacking even trivial details with excessive deliberation. What begins as a thoughtful exploration gradually turns redundant, draining momentum and testing patience.
Analysis
Created by Suresh Triveni and directed by Amrit raj Gupta, Daldal adopts a familiar framework: a female cop in a misogynistic system hunting a serial killer with a specific pattern. It is less interested in being a whodunit and more invested in becoming a whydunit, using crime as a gateway to psychological excavation.
rita is written as a perpetually abrasive officer — emotionally unavailable at home, harsh with her partner Aditya, and deeply cynical of her own promotion, which she views as a PR exercise rather than recognition of merit. Her workplace is filled with quiet antagonisms, particularly in Vikram, who cannot reconcile himself to her advancement. Emotional relief comes through Indu Mhatre, whose domestic life stands in stark contrast to Rita’s emotional isolation.
The murders expose a thematic parallel between rita and the antagonists: all are shaped by loveless, dysfunctional childhoods and are desperately seeking emotional safety. The show’s strength lies in how it frames this shared void — the craving for someone to say “it’s okay,” to offer warmth after a bruising day. This emotional core is handled with empathy and sensitivity, making the characters’ volatility feel rooted rather than gratuitous.
However, Daldal stumbles when it comes to genre payoff. For all its layered character work, the central mystery is too basic, its revelations too convenient. Once the truth is unveiled, behavioural patterns flatten, and the grimness that once felt earned begins to feel imposed. The critique of institutional sexism and systemic failure remains surface-level, gestured at rather than interrogated. The four-hour runtime magnifies these issues, as the series refuses to pause or condense, overexplaining emotional beats until they lose impact.
What Works
• A strong emotional core rooted in trauma, loneliness, and the need for validation
• Excellent supporting performances, especially from Geeta Agrawal and Aditya Rawal
• Sensitive handling of how past abuse bleeds into present behaviour
• Controlled music and competent visual language
• Empathetic character writing that avoids outright sensationalism
What Doesn’t
• An oversimplified, predictable central plot
• Excessive runtime that magnifies redundancy
• One-note central performance that limits emotional engagement
• Shallow exploration of workplace sexism and systemic critique
• Overindulgent detailing that slows narrative momentum
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
India Herald Percentage Meter 65%
Daldal is a series with a beating heart and capable hands behind it, but it forgets that in long-form storytelling, restraint is as important as depth. The icing is rich — but the cake underneath is disappointingly plain.
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