Do Patti Critical Analysis: Kriti Sanon Is Brilliant, But Kanika Dhillon’s Film Politics Is Misleading – News18
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Do Patti Critical Analysis: The film’s abrupt inclusion of domestic violence as a secondary plot comes across as a calculated attempt to make a ‘social impact’.
Do Patti sees Kriti Sanon in a double role.
When the trailer for Do Patti dropped, Kriti Sanon’s double role as Shailee and Saumya promised a gripping thriller about sibling rivalry with Shaheer Sheikh positioned as the male lead caught between the sisters. But after watching Do Patti, the actual experience feels disappointing. While the film shines in moments, it missteps significantly in handling its themes, especially its portrayal of domestic violence, which feels misplaced and diminishes the intended impact.
Misleading Marketing and Hollow Politics
The trailer had audiences primed for a psychological thriller centered around sibling rivalry, yet Do Patti pivots unexpectedly toward domestic abuse. It’s a bold subject, but one that requires commitment and sensitivity from the outset. In a disorienting shift reminiscent of Blake Lively’s infamous interviews promoting It Ends With Us, where a heavy story on abuse was marketed as a rom-com, the film’s portrayal of abuse comes across as tone-deaf, undermining the gravity of the subject matter. Using domestic violence as a twist rather than as a central theme trivialises its impact and risks alienating viewers, especially those for whom such subjects are triggering.
Films like Darlings or Jaane Jaan integrate abuse as a core theme from the outset, positioning it unambiguously within the story, and this transparency invites the audience to engage with the subject in a meaningful way. By contrast, Do Patti reframes its narrative around domestic violence without laying any groundwork, leaving the viewer blindsided and the issue feeling secondary to its suspense-driven plot.
Missed Potential in Character and Story Development
Although the film tries to incorporate themes of jealousy, competition and betrayal into the sisters’ relationship, these dynamics feel underdeveloped as the plot quickly veers in a different direction. This shift ultimately dilutes the tension between the two characters, leaving their rivalry feeling less impactful than intended. Moreover, Shaheer Sheikh’s character, Dhruv, lacks the backstory needed to explain his sudden personality shifts. His volatile reactions to Saumya’s desire for a child feel baseless, making it hard to connect with his character.
Most importantly, Saumya’s decision to marry a man who had been involved with her sister, and the continued interactions between Dhruv and Shailee post-marriage, come across as contrived. If Shailee was meant to ultimately support Saumya, pitting the two sisters against each other from the beginning just for suspense or thrill factor feels unnecessary and defeats the purpose of the storyline altogether.
Ineffectual Social Commentary and Forced Pacing
The film’s abrupt inclusion of domestic violence as a secondary plot comes across as a calculated attempt to make a “social impact,” but it’s poorly executed. When films introduce serious topics, they need to be at the heart of the story, not an afterthought. Here, the message gets muddied, lost amid the erratic plot twists and lack of emotional buildup. Do Patti tries to juggle multiple narratives but ultimately leaves each one feeling incomplete, making the social commentary feel shallow and even exploitative.
Adding to these issues is Kajol’s underwhelming performance. Her character, a supposed pillar of support, often appears wooden, and her forced Haryanvi accent detracts from the authenticity of the film. Scenes meant to showcase her courtroom prowess fall flat, rendering her character ineffective and her presence forgettable.
Verdict: A Film in Search of Focus
Do Patti delivers some stylistic elements – its music is well-composed, though mismatched with the pacing of the first half. Kriti Sanon is a standout in an otherwise chaotic film, bringing depth to her dual roles that the script does not support. However, even her performance cannot salvage a plot that lacks coherence and thematic focus.
Overall, Do Patti fails to honour the weight of its themes or develop its characters sufficiently. Its mishandling of domestic violence as a secondary element rather than a central narrative point diminishes its effectiveness and sensitivity, leaving me more disappointed than moved. Rather than a tale of sisterly rivalry with impactful social commentary, Do Patti comes off as a missed opportunity where suspense overshadows substance, and the critical messages get lost in the shuffle.
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