Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Insta) Click here for short audio version
Dressed in a cop’s uniform, with a woolen beanie covering her head, and a muffler wrapped around the neck, Kajol is introduced as a honest cop, who is so law abiding that it’s been jeopardizing her career. And yet, she rides a bike on a cold winter evening to check on a domestic abuse case without a helmet. Guess sometimes low tolerance for cold, and law abiding ethics take a backseat for screenplay aesthetics. In-fact, a lot of little things about Netflix thriller ‘Do Patti’ don’t line up.
Directed by Shashanka Chaturvedi and written by Kanika Dhillon, Netflix thriller Do Patti stars Kriti Sanon in a double role as twins Saumya and Shailee, while Kajol plays Vidya Jyothi, aka VJ, the cop trying to solve a case involving the twins, who are hiding more secrets than she can uncover. Shaheer Sheikh plays Dhruv Sood, a brash businessman both twins are in love with. However, he chooses to marry Saumya, the more “homely” one, despite having a passionate affair with Shailee. This choice stirs plenty of drama between the sisters, with sustained sexual tension between Shailee and Dhruv even after marriage. So, when Saumya accuses Dhruv of attempting to murder her in broad daylight—after repeatedly refusing to file a case against him for domestic violence in the past—it raises significant questions.
Also Read: Do Patti Movie Recapped & Ending Explained
Kriti Sanon is entertainingly good as the twins, but the clichéd portrayal of the sisters feels jarring. Saumya is the nervous, simple, modestly dressed sister, while Shailee is the hot, wild, adventurous go-getter. It’s the typical Seeta-Geeta personality clash, or, for a more Western comparison, think Rachel Weisz’s twin characters in Dead Ringers, the psychological thriller about twin gynecologists. However, despite growing up together, Shailee and Saumya aren’t close like most twins; instead, they act as competitive rivals. Kriti makes it easy to distinguish between the two, playing Saumya as a jittery wreck and Shailee as a sexy devil-child. Childhood flashbacks help explain why the two don’t get along, but unfortunately, the child actors are lifeless in their depiction of the feuding siblings.
The whole setup of two beautiful twins fighting over one bratty Haryanvi guy with anger issues feels outdated, and the story could have been built in a more intriguing way. For instance, Tanvi Azmi plays “Maaji,” the twins’ guardian, who, in one scene, offers Dhruv two drinks and asks, “Are you sure you’re picking the right one?” Though the subtext is evident—she’s referring to the sisters, treating them as commodities. Maaji’s loyalties clearly lie with one twin, but wouldn’t you advise someone to dump a man dividing siblings rather than encourage him to choose one over the other? Ugh.
Kajol, who previously shared screen with Tanvi Azmi in Tribhanga, never fully convinces as the stubborn, law-abiding cop VJ. Despite Do Patti’s posters prominently featuring her as if she might be a principal protagonist, she is relegated to a routine, supporting cop role that’s not meaty enough. Nimrat Kaur took on a similar cop role in the Netflix thriller Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video, where her character was more substantial, and the suspense held strong throughout. That said, it’s refreshing to see VJ’s dedication to helping DV victims by going out of her —though DV is the central theme, Do Patti struggles to address it with the same clarity and intent as a film like Thappad, which masterfully exposes patriarchal oppression.
The climax is emotional, if predictable, bringing the characters to morally gray crossroads and delivering an ending that “feels right.” Overall, Do Patti is a decent one-time watch with a talented cast that deserved a sharper script.
Rating: 5.5/10. Do Patti is now streaming on Netflix.
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