‘Do Patti’ Movie Review: Kajol and Kriti Sanon Can’t Escape the Trappings of This Abysmal Thriller (LatestLY Exclusive)

Do Patti Movie Review: It’s rare for a Hindi film these days to respect a writer’s contribution enough to spotlight it boldly; never mind, in the case of Do Patti, the writer also happens to be the producer. It’s commendable that Kanika Dhillon has carved out a brand of her own, yet it’s frustrating to see her scripts continue to underwhelm. With Do Patti, the bar dips so low that even the Haseen Dillruba movies start to seem... well, if not masterpieces, then at least substantial. Directed by Shashanka Chaturvedi, Do Patti is less engaging than it is exasperating, which is almost criminal for a film attempting to address a sensitive issue like domestic abuse. ‘Do Patti’ Movie Review: Netizens Not Impressed With Kriti Sanon and Kajol’s Netflix Film, Call It ‘Flat and Predictable’.

Inspector Vidya Jyothi Kumar, or VJ (Kajol), is transferred to the hill station of Devipur, where she finds herself caught in the strange case of identical twins and the abusive husband of one of the sisters. Saumya and Shailee (both played by Kriti Sanon) are as different as chalk and Swiss cheese. Saumya is subdued and suffers from depression (though this rarely comes across), while Shailee is rebellious and outgoing. They can’t stand each other, as Shailee feels Saumya receives preferential treatment (a sentiment it’s hard not to sympathise with).

Saumya becomes infatuated with a wealthy playboy, Dhruv Sood (Shaheer Sheikh), only for Shailee to seduce him into a torrid affair. But when Dhruv’s disapproving father insists he settle down with a ‘homely’ girl, he proposes to Saumya. Despite knowing about his relationship with her sister, Saumya accepts immediately, leaving me wondering why I should care about any of these characters. Yet, I persisted.

Watch the Trailer of 'Do Patti':

The film then meanders through Shailee's interference in the marriage and Dhruv’s descent into an abusive spouse. Do Patti seems to want to channel both the pulpy sultriness of Sheesha (I do not regret remembering this erotic thriller starring Neha Dhupia and Sonu Sood) and the finesse of Darlings, yet it achieves neither. Both the plotlines feel tacked on against each other, as if one was a last-minute addition, though it’s hard to tell which.

Adding to the film’s disjointed narrative is Kajol’s character, who starts out receiving a lengthy exposition dump from Tanvi Azmi’s character before struggling to remain relevant. VJ’s importance to the story fluctuates, much like Kajol’s wobbly Haryanvi (or is it?) accent. The film tries so hard to anchor her character to the plot that she even doubles as a lawyer in the courtroom scenes, while Shaheer Sheikh decides to channel the spirit of Angad Bedi from PINK in these portions.

Do Patti shows glimmers of promise in exploring the sexual politics between Kriti Sanon’s dual roles and Shaheer Sheikh’s brash playboy. But this dynamic, too, loses steam as the film pivots to a preachy, melodramatic take on domestic violence, dampening the subject’s impact. Even the film’s most harrowing scene—where Saumya is brutally beaten by her husband—is undermined by the backdrop of a Punjabi folk song, as if the visuals alone couldn’t convey the gravity of her ordeal. Even the feminism aspect of the movie is dealt with the subtlety of someone slapping the back of your head, like a lawyer screaming 'ye aurat log ko dekh lenge' after losing a case, or Dhruv camping for men's rights to a judge, whose gender mention also gets a groan from another male character.

Do Patti’s attempts at being a twist-filled Haseen Dillruba knockoff fall flat, with predictable and often silly turns. Just as you think the story is wrapping up with a ‘happy’ ending, Do Patti drags you back into its messy plot, breaking down its twist in laborious detail, as if explaining to a five-year-old. Before you can catch your breath, you’re thrust into another courtroom scene—the pinnacle of the film’s kitsch, bad writing, and excess. Towards the end, I wished the judge could have heavily fined Kajol's character for not only wasting the court's time, but also ours. ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ Movie Review: Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey and Sunny Kaushal’s Netflix Thriller Is Not As Smart or Pulpy As It Thinks!

Occasionally, the performances manage to redeem Do Patti. Kriti Sanon stands out, convincingly portraying the contrasting personalities of the twin sisters, particularly excelling as the seductive Shailee. However, the stark contrast between the characters seems like an opportunity to showcase her range more than a narrative necessity. Shaheer Sheikh is impressive as the handsome yet loathsome antagonist.

Kajol’s performance, unfortunately, disappoints; she feels out of place in several scenes, not helped by the bafflingly written role.

'Do Patti' Movie Review -  Final Thoughts

Do Patti is a frustrating watch—more frustrating still because it had all the makings of something worthwhile, if only it had the focus and subtlety to pull it off. The movie is streaming on Netflix.

(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 28, 2024 11:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).