The story follows (Divyenndu), a Punjabi man who moves to a Delhi neighborhood known as "Badnaam Gali". He becomes intrigued by his neighbor Noyonika (Patralekhaa), an unmarried pregnant woman who is constantly judged and gossiped about by the local community. As Randeep gets to know her, he discovers she is a surrogate mother, and he eventually stands by her to challenge the society's narrow-minded perceptions. ⭐ Review Highlights
Badnaam Gali (2019) is a light-hearted social drama directed by Ashwin Shetty that explores the stigma of surrogacy in middle-class Indian society. Originally released as a ZEE5 Original film for Mother’s Day, it received generally positive responses for its performances and message, though some critics felt its execution was occasionally clichéd. 🎬 Core Plot
Critics from Indian Express praised Divyenndu for his convincing portrayal of a "self-righteous yet uninformed" boy and Patralekhaa for her "endearing artlessness".
Reviewers on Letterboxd noted the realistic "middle-class setting" and the spot-on depiction of typical Delhi gossip culture.