This world is wrought with conflicting emotions.
Do Patti melds sisterhood with a generational and harrowing tale of domestic violence.
In her production debut, Kriti Sanon stars in a dual role. She plays twin sisters named Saumya Sood and Shailee Pundir.
Much like in Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), both siblings are of contrasting personalities.
Shailee is outgoing, extroverted, and brash, while Saumya is reserved, quiet, and non-confrontational.
However, both sisters have a complicated relationship filled with tangled emotions and underlying issues.
The film also stars Kajol as the unrelenting and determined police officer, Vidya ‘VJ’ Jyothi Kanwar.
It is directed by Shashanka Chaturvedi, written by Kanika Dhillon, and was released on Netflix on October 25, 2024.
In its amalgamation of sisterhood and domestic abuse, the movie is a rousing and heart-wrenching watch.
DESIblitz is here to help you decide whether to watch Do Patti or not.
A Gripping Story
After their mother dies in their childhood, the lookalike twins Saumya and Shailee drift apart.
Saumya is given more attention and love from the family, especially from the nanny, Maaji (Tanvi Azmi).
This makes Shailee difficult and abrasive, and she is packed off to boarding school.
As they grow, Saumya is introverted and obedient. She wears conservative clothing and does not speak too loudly.
Meanwhile, Shailee returns from school a bubbly and energetic young woman.
She resents Saumya for being preferred by her family, and she returns to take everything away from her sister, including her new friend Dhruv Sood (Shaheer Sheikh).
Dhruv and Shailee begin a relationship, much to the heartbreak of Saumya.
However, circumstances push Dhruv away from Shailee and closer to Saumya. But a subsequent marriage pushes Saumya into the dark world of domestic abuse.
When things get too much during a paragliding incident, it is up to VJ to save Saumya from Dhruv’s violence.
However, more than that, will the two warring sisters ever reunite and rediscover the love they once shared?
These layers infuse Do Patti with a gripping and captivating story that enthrals the audience.
Performances & Characters
Discussing her dual role in Do Patti, Kriti Sanon says:
‘The dual role was also tough because I had 70% of the scenes with another ‘me’ in it.
“Every time, you are marking both of the characters. The emotional scenes got tricky because I was not actually reacting to anyone.”
Despite this difficulty, Kriti triumphs in the film.
She nails the contrast of Saumya and Shailee. She is bold and daring as the latter, but at the same time, she finds Saumya’s tenderness and helplessness, too.
It is hard for the audience to look away whenever she is onscreen.
The characters are written so well that one can empathise with them and find oceans of sympathy as they navigate terrible circumstances.
The hatred that the sisters harbour for each other is so palpable that one wants them to unite.
However, the drama their feud brings is so essential to the storyline that viewers are drawn in even if their mind resists.
Do Patti discovers an anchor in Kajol. Famous for her celluloid intensity, Kajol is fierce and charming as VJ and the audience cheer for her when she dons that police uniform.
Kajol pulls off a blinder, but the senior actress is unafraid to let the professionally junior Kriti steal the limelight.
Therein lies the film’s key victory. Kajol does not bring a hint of vanity to her performance.
This story needs to focus on the sisters to succeed, and it does just that.
Shaheer Sheikh is menacing and hateful as the abusive husband, Dhruv. His depraved actions allow the film to thrive in its message.
Shaheer puts forth a memorable and gregarious act, while the veteran actress Tanvi Azmi proves that age is not an obstacle to creating genuine emotion and heartbreak.
The performances and characters of Do Patti are unique and sublime, creating a solid film that stands out from all the others that have tackled domestic abuse.
Screenplay
Although the performances and story are jewels of the film, one could argue the screenplay could be improved.
There are occasions when the film moves at a slightly rushed pace.
Although the focus of the movie is rightfully on Saumya and Shailee, a bit more detail about VJ could have strengthened the film.
We are told that VJ is an officer with a law degree who shopped her own brother out of her duty towards the law.
However, the impact of this on her is not explored majorly. VJ also followed her father’s path and became a strict follower of the law.
However, what led her to make that decision?
The film also moves into court a bit too quickly, and the judge’s decision seems to be made at an unbelievable pace with no deliberation.
The climax is also condensed into the final 40 minutes of the film, and some of the actions by Shailee seem tacked on.
This makes it appear like this portion of the film came down to screenplay issues rather than a place of genuine storytelling.
However, despite these minor issues, Do Patti succeeds as it gets its point across in an unforgettable manner: silence is as much a culprit in domestic abuse as the perpetrator.
Direction & Execution
Shashanka Chaturvedi creates a stimulating world in this film.
This world is wrought with conflicting emotions and a simmering love underneath hate.
The beautiful aerial shots when it comes to the paragliding scenes are a sight to behold.
Also, the close-up shots of Kriti and Kajol do an expert job of showing what the actresses are capable of.
The score by Anurag Saikia is a winner. Each character has their own theme, which enhances the trepidation of the film.
In this romantic thriller, Shashanka proves his mettle as a filmmaker.
Although it could be argued that Do Patti is just another one in the long line of takes on domestic abuse, it is the execution of the film that keeps you engrossed.
Do Patti is a mind-blowing film adorned with terrific performances and a well-woven script.
It is undeniable that Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, and Shaheer Sheikh are fantastic in their roles.
However, the real spellbinder is Kriti Sanon, who showcases her versatility and range to high degrees. This is a career-defining film for her.
Do Patti aims to present sisterhood in a setting of sibling rivalry and domestic violence.
The film succeeds in completing its objectives, and it does so in a mesmerising and hard-hitting way.
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