MUMBAI: Leading OTT platform ZEE5 has begun streaming its new web film titled Badnaam Gali. The film’s theme is surrogacy. 

A colony in Delhi is known as Badnaam Gali because of a surrogate mother living in it. It is also filled with middle-aged women who spend more time gossiping about the same unmarried pregnant woman, Nayan (Patralekhaa). Nayan is single, good looking, and does not really conform to societal rules. This leads to her being judged by the other residents.

When Randeep Singh Sodhi (Divyenndu Sharma) visits his aunt, he is warned to stay away from the ‘witch’. 

The twist in the tale comes about when Randeep and Nayan are faced with a situation they never anticipated. 

Although Badnaam Gali focuses on serious and important issues like surrogacy, patriarchy, and an unnecessarily judgmental society, it addresses these with humour.

Society has not been too kind towards single mothers. Badnaam Gali is a step in the right direction for us to change our perception of single moms, regardless of whether they are single parents because of adoption, surrogacy, or separation from their partners. 

Let us take a look at some brave single moms from the world of Indian television. 

Shweta Tiwari, who separated legally from her husband Raja due to his abusive behaviour, brought up her daughter Palak alone. Shweta shares a friendly relationship with her. 

Kamya Punjabi and Bunty Negi were blessed with little Aara in 2009. But the couple filed for divorce in 2013, after which the responsibility of bringing up Aara was on Kamya’s shoulders. Kamya’s world revolves around her daughter. 

A well-known name on television, Urvashi Dholakia has been a single mom since the age of 17. She is mother to twin boys, Kshitij and Sagar. Urvashi wholeheartedly embraced motherhood and raised her children without any external support. 

Single motherhood is definitely not a passing phenomenon. It is important to look past stereotypes and appreciate the struggle these women go through. And kudos to ZEE5 for trying to do just that through Badnaam Gali!

Tune into ZEE5 now to watch Badnaam Gali and more exciting content. Subscribe now!