Netflix’s Do Patti has everything a good mystery thriller needs — a scenic setting, twins, sibling rivalry, domestic abuse, a committed cop and drama. It even has a good cast to boast of. Unfortunately, it overdoes everything and ends up being completely unsatisfactory.
Do Patti, directed by Shashanka Chaturvedi, could be called a power women team up with Kriti Sanon turning producer along with her acting credits, Kanika Dhillon (Manmarziyaan, Haseen Dilruba) as writer and Kajol and Tanvi Azmi in the cast. As expected, it does well to address the issue of domestic violence, why it goes unreported, how it affects the family and what one needs to do when they witness it. But the writing fails to create much of an impact thanks to too many conveniences and loopholes.
The story opens with a paragliding mishap and Kriti Sanon as the twin Saumya accusing her husband Dhruv Sood (Shaheer Sheikh) of trying to kill her. Heading the investigation on the case is Kajol’s Vidya Jyoti aka VJ, a lawyer-cop who lives by the rule book. The audience is given a background to the main incident where Dhruv, a spoilt, rich brat of a businessman, with a minister as a father, woos both twins — Saumya, the meek, homely sister with mental health issues, and Shailee, the wild, rebellious (getting drunk, wearing short clothes, smoking and being sexy is what defines being rebellious) and competitive. He chooses to marry the docile twin because she is good for his image, but soon gets bored of her meekness and her mental health issues and starts resorting to violence when he is angry. He and Shailee strike up an affair even as he leaves Saumya almost half-dead.
A lot of the set up for Shailee as the “evil twin” is through the narrative of Tanvi Azmi’s character Maaji, who brought up the two sisters. And we are never sure if the whole story about Shailee was made up or if the woman who wanted to win over her sister at all cost, including by snatching her husband, had a convenient change of heart. It is never clarified. For the benefit of the film, we will assume it is all made up, makes more sense that way, even if it doesn’t quite add up.
It is strange how a man roughing up a female cop is not immediately put behind bars. It is also convenient that a look between the sisters is noticed by VJ and immediately alerts her to the fact that all is not what it is claimed to be. The film does touch upon the “rule of law” and “spirit of law” dichotomy but the courtroom scenes are so unimpressive that they fail to make an impact.
Do Patti is a great showcase for Kriti Sanon’s acting capabilities — as two women of completely different temperaments, but both are very overdone. Saumya is too meek and timid, Shailee too vamp-like to evoke any compassion or investment from the audience. In fact, Shailee feels like a faded carbon copy of Deepika Padukone’s character in Cocktail, and lacks originality. Kajol’s desi accent is a reminder of her character in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and gaalis roll off her tongue easily but she and her faithful assistant Katoch (Brijendra Kala) are sidelined to the role of spectators for most of the film. Even Azmi is under-utilised. Sheikh is the only one who makes an impression both as the charmer and the vile and violent man. While one will struggle to root for any of the other characters, it is easy to dislike Dhruv.
Though the film addresses a very serious and pertinent issue, it feels like a lost opportunity as a potential conversation-starter about a social issue like Pink or Thappad was. Neither does it sit right as an out-and-out mystery thriller. It is a film that entertains while you are watching it but will be hard to remember.
