On paper, a woman as a sexual predator sounds rather exciting as a theme. And when that part of a woman accused of sexual transgression is being played by Konkona Sensharma, a gifted actor with chameleon-like malleability, the interest touches another level.In the first few scenes, her abilities as a skilled gynaecologist Dr Geetika are established and her acting chops are on ample display too. The focus shifts to her home where her married partner is a woman, Meera, also a doctor. The beautiful Pratibha Rannta of ‘Laapataa Ladies’ is back and stuns as much in this modern avatar.Yes, we know, same-sex marriages are not allowed in India. The setting here, by the way, is London, where this couple lives and works and is planning to adopt a child.The happily-ever-after tale is sadly disrupted by allegations against Geetika, who otherwise is in line for promotion to become the youngest head of the department, so we are told later.The accuser is an anonymous patient. One random email can’t possibly bring down a doctor of such immense calibre — so she and her management at Chapelstone Hospital believe. But soon, accusations escalate and even acquire a face. As long as the narrative plays on ‘is she guilty, not guilty’, what with a couple of ex-girlfriends in tow, excitement builds up. But damn our obsession with virtuousness, the denouement is rather predictable and conventional.Director Anubhuti Kashyap, who gave us another drama around a male gynaecologist in Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer ‘Doctor G’, has flipped the gender roles with greater effect earlier too. And she can certainly be credited with bringing out tensions in the same-sex relationship, no different from routine marriages.There are similar conflicts and the same societal judgment on the obvious age gap between them. The trolls, too, are no different and can be as vicious and damaging, whatever their nationality might be. And the same power dynamics which ail a typical man-woman relationship define the Geetika-Meera marriage as well.Meera’s insecurities have the same shades as any wife whose career takes a backseat for the sake of a more ambitious and a better entrenched partner.In one key moment, the private investigator (Sukant Goel), who Meera hires to spy on Geetika, quizzes her: “What do you want to know, is Geetika cheating or is she guilty of misconduct?” The niggling query makes us privy to frayed edges of a crumbling relationship, queer or not.Most films on the LGBTQIA+ community tend to over-sensationalise the physical angle. Mercifully, here there is no shock/sleaze treatment. But for a fleeting kiss instead of playing up the physical intimacy, it’s the emotional bond and inherent frictions which are amplified. Yet, despite taking an unusual detour with such fine lead actors, the proceedings turn tepid.The supporting cast, including Aditya Nanda as Meera’s workplace friend Angad, remains peripheral, at best entrusted with manufactured distractions, in what is quintessentially a two-person drama.A Dharmatic Entertainment creation, ‘Accused’ shuns its usual gloss and glitter and there is nothing to complain as far as the production values go. Camerawork by Linesh Desai is decent too. And the runtime of less than two hours makes the fare an easy, tolerable watch. But despite the initial promise of a layered and complex narrative, the film meanders off to hackneyed and easy conclusions.The last bit when Geetika gives some gyan on the power-play in workplaces and how women in powerful positions tend to be viewed with a gendered lens is more pedantic than anything else. Even Konkona’s brilliant act, now confident now brash now vulnerable, can’t lift ‘Accused’ out of the humdrum of mediocrity.Pratibha, as the gentler partner in the equation, impresses. Alas, the film, despite the novelty of concept, falls way short of making any deep impression.“A good surgeon’s hand never shakes”, but the ground on which this doctor-centric thriller plays out is rather shaky.