Kartavya Review {2.0/5} & Review Rating
Star Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra
Director: Pulkit
Kartavya Movie Review Synopsis:
KARTAVYA is the story of a man in a dilemma. Pawan (Saif Ali Khan) is an SHO at Jhamli Police Station and lives with his wife Varsha (Rasika Dugal), son Honey (Swastik Bhagat), brother Deepak (Saurabh Abrol) and father Harihar (Zakir Hussain). It’s his 40th birthday and he cuts a cake in the presence of his friend-cum-cop Ashok (Sanjay Mishra) and a few other colleagues. Pawan and his team have been assigned the duty of ensuring the safety of eminent journalist Reema Dutta (Radhika Chauhan), who has arrived in Jhamli from Delhi. Pawan is escorting her when suddenly, two helmet-wearing men attack the convoy. Ashok gets injured while Reema is killed. One of the attackers, riding pillion, is killed by Pawan while the other escapes. Pawan comes under fire as the news of the journalist’s murder is picked up by the national media. Pawan’s senior, Keshav (Manish Chaudhari), is about to suspend him, but Pawan promises to solve the case and find the culprits within seven days. Pawan learns that Reema had arrived in Jhamli to investigate allegations that underage boys are going missing from the ashram of godman Anand Shri (Saurabh Dwivedi). Anand Shri is too powerful and Pawan is warned against taking any action against him. Meanwhile, his personal life is on the rocks as his brother Deepak has eloped with Preeti (Suraksha Gaire), who belongs to a lower caste. The panchayat has decided to finish off the couple. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
Kartavya Movie Story Review:
Pulkit's story mirrors the realities of society. Pulkit's screenplay has its share of strengths and is concise and to the point. But the writing falters badly in the climax. Pulkit's dialogues are hard-hitting.
Pulkit’s direction is compelling up to a point. He establishes the setting and the characters in a neat, swift manner. Within the first 15 minutes, the viewer becomes acquainted with the key players, including the killer, and understands how Pawan is battling pressure on two fronts – solving the journalist’s murder case and dealing with turmoil in his personal life. Such portions often either take too much time to unfold or are rushed to the extent that they fail to create the desired impact. In KARTAVYA, however, Pulkit keeps the runtime in check while still giving out the necessary information. The panchayat angle is intriguing, but what truly works is the track of the young killer and the extent to which the honest cop goes to protect him.
On the flipside, the third act is a major letdown. After a strong build-up, viewers expect fireworks and a solid confrontation between the protagonist and a certain key character. Sadly, that moment never arrives and the film ends rather abruptly. In fact, once the credits start rolling, one is almost certain that a mid-credit scene will follow to offer some closure. However, no such scene is present. There is no doubt that the finale is dramatic and also in sync with the film’s title, but it also feels far too convenient. Pawan takes on some very powerful people within the system, and yet, after a point, their retaliation simply disappears from the narrative. This weakens the impact considerably. Moreover, the investigation angle in the initial portions is also not entirely convincing. Viewers are never clearly informed about the identity of the assailant killed by Pawan, or whether his identity helped the police in any meaningful way. As a result, the film, despite its strong premise, doesn’t land with the force it should have.
Kartavya | Official Trailer | Saif Ali Khan, Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra & Saurabh Dwivedi | Pulkit
Kartavya Movie Review Performances:
Saif Ali Khan rises above the weak script and delivers a performance that is subtle, realistic, yet entertaining. Rasika Dugal leaves a huge mark in a supporting role. Two scenes where she enhances the impact are one, where she assures Deepak and Preeti that all will be well and two, where she persuades Pawan to hand over a cup of tea to her father. Sanjay Mishra is dependable as always and he adds a lot to the character with his expressions and body language. Zakir Hussain and Manish Chaudhari lend able support. Yudhvir Ahlawat (Harpal) has a crucial role and delivers a splendid performance. Saurabh Dwivedi is okay as the Godman; his expressions could have been better in some places. Saharsh Kumar Shukla (Nirmal) and Durgesh Kumar (Amar; Preeti's relative) do very well. The same goes for Saurabh Abrol and Suraksha Gaire. Radhika Chauhan is fair in a cameo. Swastik Bhagat is memorable.
Kartavya movie music and other technical aspects:
KARTAVYA is a song-less film. Anurag Saikia's background score adds to the tension. Anil Mehta's cinematography is neat and praiseworthy. Prashant Bidkar's production design and Maria Tharakan and Kirti Kolwankar's costumes are straight out of life. Vikram Singh Dahiya and Harpal Singh's action is minimal and impactful. Zubin Sheikh's editing is sharp.
Kartavya Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, KARTAVYA starts off well and had the potential to be a hard-hitting social drama. However, the weak and abrupt climax dilutes the impact heavily.