Sexual harassment in the workplace is a topic that society often wants to limit to closed-door discussions. Director Anubhuti Kashyap, who presented the inconsistencies of the medical world in a light-hearted manner in her first film ‘Doctor Ji’, has brought out a very serious and bitter truth this time through ‘Doshi’. Premiering on Netflix on February 27, the film claims to expose society’s double standards, but does its story have an edge that can move the viewer?
The film Doshi, directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, was released on 27 February on Netflix. On the other hand, whenever a veteran actress like Konkana Sensharma and an emerging talent like Pratibha Raanta come together on screen, the expectations skyrocket. Directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, the film ‘Doshi’ tries to reveal the complex layers of a sensitive issue like sexual harassment with the help of these two shoulders.
Accused: Background of the story
The story of Dr. revolves around Geetika Sen (Konkana Sensharma), who works in a famous London hospital. Geetika is a famous Gynecologist. He married Dr. Happened to Meera (Pratibha Ranta), a pediatrician. The couple is living an ideal and happy life and planning to adopt a child soon. Everything in their lives seems to be as they wanted it to be, but one morning, an anonymous email received by the hospital’s HR department changes everything.
Dr. Geetika is accused of sexual harassment in the email. It claims that the sender is a victim of their actions. Overnight, Geetika, who was known for saving lives and earning respect, begins to be seen as a criminal. As the investigation begins, more complaints begin to surface, and the case moves beyond the walls of the hospital and into personal relationships.
Guilty: A heavy theme, but a light treatment
The biggest problem of the accused is his treatment. The film tackles a subject that had a lot of scope for depth, but it seems to retreat rather than move forward. When you make a film on an issue as heavy as sexual harassment, audiences expect a deeper exploration of psychological pressure and social stigma. However, the story here remains superficial.
Despite the London setting and the backdrop of a high-profile hospital, the story fails to create the urgency or tension needed in a thriller drama. There are several moments in the film that could have been very dramatic and impactful, but they are not fully developed. It seems like the director has chosen a safe route instead of showing difficult human behavior.
Guilty: A mystery that loses its edge
In the second half, when ex-journalist Jaideep Bhargava (Mashur Amrohi) takes charge of the investigation, the film turns to a mystery. It is from here that the melody begins to fade. When Meera hires a private investigator to find out the truth about his wife, the screenplay begins to feel scattered rather than suspenseful.
The pace is quite slow, with many scenes not moving the story forward. Also, the decision to show the main character as gay seems forward, but on a screenplay level, it doesn’t add much value to the story. Even if it were a traditional husband-wife story, the blame and direction of investigation would remain the same. This aspect feels more like a setting than the main conflict.
Accused: performance
If Accused is watchable, the main reason is the performance of its lead actors. Konkana Sen Sharma has once again proved why she is considered one of the best actresses. As Dr. Geetika Sen, she plays a woman who is falling apart on the inside while trying to remain calm on the outside. Their expressions and silence are often more effective than words.
Along with Konkana, Pratibha Ranta also maintains her position. She plays the role of a wife caught between trust and doubt very finely. Small changes in her expression clearly show the conflict in her character.
Blame: direction and technical shortcomings
Anubhuti Kashyap’s vision is clear, but the lack of coherence in the screenplay weakens the film. The tone is very low, which prevents the audience from forming an emotional connection with the characters. Emotional scenes come and go and leave no particular impression.
The climax and the reveal of the real culprit also seem average. The method of solving the mystery feels forced and routine. A film that was expected to take a sharp look at the oppression of women ends up being a simplistic and weak detective story.
Guilty: Final decision
There was no lack of capacity among the accused. With a strong cast, a serious subject and a platform like Netflix, it still fails to show its full potential. The film makes neither an interesting social drama nor an interesting mystery.
Why Watch: If you appreciate the performances of Konkana Sen Sharma and Pratibha Ranta, this is worth a watch for them.
Why Skip: If you’re expecting a deeply emotional or fast-paced thriller, this film may disappoint you.
Overall, Guilty gets off to a promising start but ultimately falls apart leaving an incomplete experience.