Netflix movie Darlings has received much praise ever since its release on August 5. The film, starring Alia Bhatt, Vijay Varma and Shefali Shah, tells the story of a woman who takes revenge on her abusive husband.
Directed by debutante Jasmeet K Reen, it is a quirky take on how abuse against women and men is normalised. Nothing justifies the actions of either, but it’s interesting to see the story pan out in a way that it never really looks unsettling.
The movie takes a bitter sweet take on the prevalent issue of violence perpetrated by men against women in marriage. Darlings shows how a mother-daughter duo who is caught in their own circumstantial hang-ups, gradually discovers their inner strength to survive in a city like Mumbai, battling all odds.
The black comedy drama has been trending in the top 10 list in Netflix in 16 countries across the Americas, Africa and Asia. Darlings has also made a fantastic opening on the streaming platform, getting the highest opening for a non-English original Indian film with more than 10 million viewing hours.
“As soon as I read the script, I knew I wanted to be involved—not just as an actor, but also in a bigger way—in bringing these different stories to the audience, “said Alia in a statement. When being asked about the success of her film, Alia said that she is overjoyed by the overwhelmingly good response Darlings has received.
She also added, “It is incredible to see that the movie has done well with the global audience and the fact that it is trending in 16 countries in the opening week. I can’t wait to watch the marvels this movie will continue to perform.” Jasmeet, who is the director of this film, expressed in a statement that it was “heart-warming” to witness such a welcome when discussing about the love and appreciation Darlings has received.
Darlings also marks Alia Bhatt’s debut production under the banner of Eternal Sunshine Productions. The movie is also co-produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, which is a production company owned by Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan.
