Dolly Kitty aur woh chamakte sitari - Konkana sen's brilliance doesn't save this mess !

Actually its refreshing to see that the guys who gave us regressive stuff on TV like Nagin, Vish Kanya 

are the same guys who are backing women directors to tell modern day realistic stories about women. but noble intentions aside agar aapki film aachi nahin hai, toh bolna toh padega

Balaji telefilms choices on TV vs their choices of films deserves a separate blog in itself... 

My video Review of Dolly Kitty aur woh chamakte sitare

Anyway, back to Dolly and Kitty which released on NETFLIX.

Dolly Kitty are 2 women who seek the simple pleasures of life - but in their own ways

Dolly like many women out there has mastered the art of faking

Faking Happiness - 

in a joyless, sexless and loveless marraige 

Faking Indifference - 

towards her mother who abandoned her as a child for living a life of love

Faking Ignorance - 

as she sees her son who clearly likes to dressing up as a girl and loves playing with dolls 

So it comes as no surprise when she fakes laughs and brushes aside Kitty's remarks about her husband making advances on her.

Dolly's defense mechanism is denial and she is really good at it.

Her happiness revolves around passing off restaurant ordered food as self cooked to her guest, installing a new AC, making tea for her colleagues or buying a new house.

Kitty on the other hand isn't that complex, perhaps maybe coz she is young and ambitious, A firebrand who isn't afraid to push the boundaries or give a piece of her mind when it matters. ek ada thappad bhi laga deegi agar zaroorat pade toh..

she joins a call center that ... well lets just say, its a call center that provides female companionship on phone. 

Kitty finds love in Pradeep amidst her seeking 5 star rating from her callers. 

While Dolly finds companionship in Ossman a delivery boy admist him seeking 5 star rating from his customers.

Hence the reference Chamakte Sitare.

Now, there is no denying that Director Alankrita Shrivastava has a knack for constructing full-rounded female characters as well as a knack of deconstructing the whole notion about female sexuality. 

Her previous work Lipstick Under My Burka is a glowing tribute to that skill and vision. 

But here she takes up more than what she can chew, she tackles or shall i say tries to tackle topics like 1. Love 

2. Marriage 

3. Sexual inequality 

4.Coming of Age 

5. Women empowerment 

6. Sisterhood 

7. Agency 

8.Misogyny 

9. Patriarchy 

10. Urban Migration

 heck she even throws in Religious intolerance and Lawless UP wala angel as well.... 

Bundling all these topics into a single narrative is a recipe for disaster and that is what the movie ends being. 

It makes for a disjointed, bumpy ride. The writing is always catching up to tell the story because it keeps getting dragged into making one of the above mentioned points. 

As a viewer you can't help but say 

I understand the idea is to make us feel uncomfortable, by showing the gruesome reality of life, relationship and societal imbalance that women have to endure day in and day out and how the world is so completely optimized for men. I also understand that sexual liberation for women is a taboo subject and needs a voice.

I get that.

but you are making a movie, and not giving a ted talk.

It is also equally important to weave these topics into a compelling coherent narrative for the audience to enjoy your movie at the same time and also get the point you are making. 

that last part is what was lacking here.

My fav part of the film was watching Konkana Sen in a lead role after such a long time. She is such a delight to watch. 

The best aspect of the film is her relationship with her youngest son. It is is through him that dolly realizes its okay to be who you are, its ok to want. Its ok not to be guilty. You can say that her youngest son liberates her.

I wish more of the movie was like that.

All in All Dolly Kitty was a disappointing watch. It has its moments, but fails to tell a compelling story.

on the binge meter - below average