Patna Shuklla Review: Raveena Tandon Starrer Is A Run-Of-The-Mill Courtroom Drama

OTT has helped 90s Bollywood actresses find a firm footing in entertainment space once again. While some have become leing lies in interesting projects across genres, ors have carved a niche as character actors. Raveena Tandon, once star of popular comedies, has seen a career resurgence of sorts. Patna Shuklla is her latest offering where she attempts to prove her mettle. However, film, directed by Vivek Budakoti, is quite a middling courtroom drama and does not do justice to her hunger for meatier roles in this new phase of her career.  

Hot Take

Patna Shuklla is a legal drama which plays out in context of prevailing social inequality in Patna, Bihar. With her character Tanvi Shukla, Raveena also attempts to break free from shackles of patriarchal society that deems women worthy of chores within confines of household. However, while director takes up serious mes, he falters in manner in which y are depicted onscreen. Suffice to say that narrative lacks depth, appears tonally one-dimensional and flimsy. What is n left is sentimentality of Tanvi fighting against all odds in an attempt to try and evoke empathy from audience.

Does Patna Shuklla live up to hype?

storyline juggles between Tanvi's personal life and her nothing-to-show-for professional career as a lawyer in lower court. She comes across a case that pits her against upper echelons of society. Her struggle to find justice for Rinki (Anushka Kaushik) in a case of examination fraud opens pandora's box and lands her in midst of dirty power politics. Will Tanvi succumb or offer a ray of hope to likes of Rinki? We get to know through storyline.

Storyline has zero novelty

screenplay by Vivek Budakoti has nothing new to offer. Often, Patna Shuklla brings back memories of Jolly LLB, not in a way one would like. performances leave us utterly disappointed as director fails to build up tension inside courtroom. Tanvi's confrontation scenes are mundane and make it a sufferable watch.

Chandan Roy Sanyal makes for an unconvincing courtroom versary

It is a common me in underdog stories to have a formidable opponent so that redemption arc of down-and-out protagonist hits home harder. However, in Chandan Roy Sanyal's Neelkanth Mishra, Patna Shuklla finds an infirm villain. He struggles to find right tone for his character, leaving Raveena lurking without a proper stand-off.

Raveena gets too little to work around with

Tanvi's story has a beginning, middle and an end. However, trajectory of her character is banal and one that has been seen far too many times to feel fresh and compelling. With lack of a strong character on paper, Raveena's performance falls in flat zone. It's almost like her docile behaviour mirrors those who lack agency. But impact by end of runtime, which one expect to be forceful, gets buried under weight of a visionless script.

Stream it or skip it?

Interestingly, for a movie that deals with serious mes, Patna Shuklla's saving grace is mirth that late Satish Kaushik lends to film. If one wants ir time's worth, y are better off watching or, more compelling courtroom dramas. Pink, No One Killed Jessica, Jolly LLB, Mulk and OMG come to mind.

Bottomline

Raveena has done far better in OTT space. Aranyak and Karmma Calling gave her opportunity and storylines to explore her potential. Patna Shuklla leaves her wanting for more, much like audience.   

Rating: 1.5/5 stars