'Do Patti’ review: Does it deliver mystery vibes? no spoilers!
The latest release in the Indian thriller space is director Shashanka Chaturvedi’s ‘Do Patti’ starring Kajol and Kriti Sanon in the leading roles. Premiered on Netflix on Friday, ‘Do Patti’ is the maiden production venture of Kriti, under her banner Blue Butterfly Films. She has co-produced the film with Kanika Dhillon, who is also the writer of ‘Do Patti’.
What is the story about?
In ‘Do Patti,’ Vidya Jyoti Kanwar (Kajol), a sharp police inspector and lawyer by degree, responds to a domestic abuse distress call. She meets Saumya (Kriti), a battered woman who initially denies her husband Dhruv's (Shaheer Sheikh) abuse, fearing repercussions for her identical twin Shailee.
As Inspector Kanwar digs deeper, she uncovers the complex, toxic dynamic between the twins. Saumya, the traditional homemaker, and Shailee, the free-spirited adventurer, share a troubled bond. Both women once loved Dhruv, but his marriage to Saumya fuels Shailee's vengeance.
Dhruv's brutality escalates, nearly killing Saumya during parasailing. Will Inspector Kanwar bring justice, protecting Saumya from her abusive husband? The twists and turns unfold in "Do Patti."
Kriti is the crowning jewel of ‘Do Patti’
The makers brought together a strong ensemble of actors comprising Kajol, Kriti, Shaheer, Tanvi, Brinjendra Kala, and Vivek Mushran
Speaking of the cast and their performances, Kajol, who was last seen in ‘The Trail’ in 2023, has yet again delivered an intense performance as VJ. She showed various aspects of a woman police officer—one who is compassionate, passionate, strong-willed, honest, and strong. The only misfit in her performance was the Garwali accent that just didn’t hit right.
Moving ahead, Kriti, who has mostly played bubbly and lively characters, has done a film that seems like the real test of her acting skills. In a dual role, Kriti has nailed both her characters—Saumya and Shailee. Her act as the two characters is undoubtedly the highlight of the film.
It also wouldn’t be wrong to say that Kriti has delivered her best act so far. She truly deserves roles that are beyond dance numbers and playing the repetitive character shades.
Shaheer, who is best known for playing Arjuna’s character in the television serial ‘Mahabharat,’ has also made his film debut with ‘Do Patti’. His character also has many shades to display. You’ll love Dhruv’s caring friendship with Saumya, but also hate him for being the typical brat—a minister’s son—who has no fear of the law because, “Tu janta nahi hai mera baap kaun hai?” In all, prepare to be captivated and repelled by Shaheer's compelling performance.
Weak writing mar the narrative
When Kanika is penning a thriller, you expect nothing short of brillance from her. Having given us thrillers like ‘Hasseen Dillruba’ and ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’, the expectations with ‘Do Patti’ were really high. Unfortunately, this is the space where the film has disappointed the most. The suspenseful buildup is compelling, yet the climax is marred by an unconvincing emotional turn.
In addition, the film is also bogged down by the underutilisation of two acclaimed actors. Tanvi and Brijindra are the perfect addition to the cast, but unfortunately, they are underutilised, especially Brijindra. With a seasoned actor like him, you would want to see more of his act. Unfortunately, he comes and goes, bringing no special element to the film. Similarly, even though Tanvi has an important role to play, her presence is also limited, barely making any impact.
Rating
2.5 stars out of 5 (half a star extra for Kriti for delivering her best performance by far)