 "Netflix’s Do Patti Movie Review: Kajol & Kriti Sanon’s brilliant performances will keep you immersed to the screen")
Language: Hindi
Director: Shashanka Chaturvedi
Cast: Kajol, Kriti Sanon, Shaheer Sheikh, Tanvi Azmi, Vivek Mushran and Brijendra Kala
Sibling rivalry, domestic violence, childhood trauma, jealousy, Netflix’s Do Patti has it all. Do Patti is a thriller with an emotional connect made very intelligently by filmmaker Shashanka Chaturvedi. Immersive to the core by the brilliant performance of Kriti Sanon who does the perfect flip from one character to another in the most convincing way.
Do Patti marks Kriti’s debut as a producer along with Kanika Dhillon. Being a woman producer, the movie has two very bright craftsmen as leads and that is the magic of the film. Thanks to OTT, where women are no more ornaments in movies. And it is really amazing to watch Kriti’s grow as an actor and come to the point of acquiring a National award. I felt it is Kriti’s dual roles as Saumy Sood and as Shelly was most challenging. The film revolves around twin sisters and this is Kriti’s first ever dual role which she has done to perfection.
Twin sisters having absolutely opposite characters and Kriti perfectly gets into the skin of the roles with ease. This Netflix’s movie is so engaging that you will be surprised to see the rivalry between the two sisters. The extent to which Shelly ( Kriti Sanon ) can be competitive, conniving and shrewd will make you wonder whether they are really sisters or not. The other sister Saumya Sood (Kriti Sanon) is the docile one who always gets the raw end of the stick. But she is at fault too. Why does she allow people to walk over her all the time?
Saumya Sood (Kriti Sanon) becomes a victim of domestic violence and there is an unhealthy competition from Shelly (Kriti Sanon) too who tries to entice her sister’s rich boyfriend. She is obsessed with the love and affection that Saumya gets from all corners and can’t stand her for many reasons.
As usual it is always a delight to watch Kajol on screen and she plays the role of a cop for the first time. She has nailed the role of no-nonsense police inspector, Vidya Jyoti who doesn’t even think twice to put her own brother behind bars. She is a lawyer too and that comes of great help at the end of the film. Though you will notice a lot of similarities of Raveena Tandon’s character in Aranyak with hers. The plot is simple, but the powerful performances of the two lead actors make it immersive and I am sure you will feel like drowning yourself deep into the complexities of the characters.
Do Patti is not as simple as it looks, there is a back story in the lives of the twins too and they indeed had a harsh and bumpy childhood and that is the main crux of this Netflix movie. And how this particular incident in their lives becomes a reason for them coming together at the end of the film. We should remember that a majority of domestic violence incidents not only in India, but globally go unreported. Mostly, the victims are in denial or too ashamed of coming out and writing a police complaint. It’s time to realise that it’s not the victim, but the person causing the violence whether it is physical, mental or sexual needs to be punished.
Shaheer Sheikh who plays the love interest of the twin sisters is also a complex character who is struggling with anger issues. Not a nice man who can’t keep his libido under control plays with the emotion of both the sisters. Dhruv (Shaheer Sheikh) marries the simple one and continues to flirt and have a good time with the bold sister, Shelly. At the beginning of the film, not even in your wildest dream will you realise how a monstrous man Dhruv (Shaheer Sheikh) is.
The movie has a message too, that if you have to say a lie for the bigger good of the society then that makes more sense than saying the truth. And yet again, Netflix’s Do Patti has shown women are not ornaments neither is real life nor is reel life. Every character has an important role to play whether it is Shaheer Sheikh, Tanvi Azmi, Vivek Mushran or Brijendra Kala. But could Do Patti be written better? Oh yes! and most importantly because it is written by Kanika Dhillon. The writing lacked the true Kanika Dhillon punch. Dhillon has a brilliant way of entering the head of the characters and playing with it, but here in this Netflix’s film we don’t see the ‘Kanika Dhillon spunk’.
Rating: 3 and half out of 5
Watch the trailer of Netflix’s Do Patti here:
Lachmi Deb Roy is the entertainment editor of Firtspost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes huge interest in world cinema. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until its a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.