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| Edited By: Aishwarya Vasudevan |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Sep 18, 2020, 05:12 PM IST
Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Bhumi Pednekar, Amol Parashar, Aamir Bashir, Kubbra Sait, Karan Kundrra, Vikrant Massey and others
Director: Alankrita Shrivastava
Duration: Two hours
Where to Watch: Netflix
Critics' Rating: 3/5
A disillusioned Delhi wife (Konkona Sensharma) and her new-in-town cousin (Bhumi Pednekar) navigate damning secrets, dreams and their thorny dynamic on their respective roads to freedom.
An unapologetic and unabashed girl gets the first whiff of freedom and realises it comes with a price. But she is ready to pay it because freedom is indeed expensive for many in this country. In one scene, Bhumi Pednekar's character Kajal says that she is from a small village and belongs to a backward class, thus knows what coming to a big city and living life on own terms means to her. But her family members including cousin Dolly (Konkona Sensharma) and her husband Amit (Aamir Bashir) think she is naive. But she is not!
Kaajal (Bhumi) knows her brother-in-law's not-so-good intentions with her and immediately speaks up to her sister about it. Her efforts go in vain and for the sake of her sister and her marriage, she moves out and finally gets to live in a women's only hostel. She lands up a job as a cyber-lover and takes time to get adjusted to it too. On the other hand, Dolly (Konkona) is a government employee who is leaving no stone unturned in earning sufficient money to buy a bigger flat for her family.
The sisters who love to hate each other always have each other's back in every possible situation. They have immense love but the harsh reality of the world make them at loggerheads with each other.
Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare seems to be Alankrita Shrivastava's subtle tribute to her own film Lipstick Under My Burkha. Backed by terrific actors be it the lead stars Konkana, Bhumi or Vikrant Massey and Amol Parashar, the film ceased to surprise me much.
However, there are certain scenes which are hard-hitting and stayed with me. Dolly's son goes through gender identity as he loves playing with dolls and wears a bra under his school uniform. She beats her son brutally and her husband ends up blaming her for it.
In several sequences, Kaajal is seen walking home alone and is chased by a bus conductor of an empty bus, a van full of men. The film at many points shows how a woman's freedom is something men worry about. There is also a protest about 'this is against Indian culture' during a scene nearing climax where several things get unfolded.
Coming to performances, Konkona shines throughout the film and Bhumi equally tries to match up with it. This is a new zone for Pednekar and she showed that she can blend into any role given to her.
Talking about Vikrant, filmmakers know how to juice out the best from him and Alankrita excelled in it once again after Lipstick Under My Burkha. Amol is surprisingly delightful to watch with his role as a delivery boy who is earning to study MBA and become a successful entrepreneur.
The actors' chemistry with each other should be only spoken about Konkona and Bhumi who know to try their level best in judging each other but deep down know they are not wrong in their desires. Overall, despite having a slow pace and many sequences seeming to be deja vu, Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare still deserve a weekend watch by movie lovers.
Alankrita Shrivastava once again asks 'Why should boys have all the fun?' with two disillusioned women surviving in an environment which makes them feel they don't belong here.
