Kartavya, which has been released today on Netflix, is the story of a cop solving a shocking case while also dealing with turmoil in his personal life. Usually, in such films, the cop is depressed and an alcoholic and his marriage is on the rocks or has already ended tragically. This film contains no such trope. With a runtime of just 1 hour and 49 minutes, the narrative doesn’t drag needlessly. The start is gripping and one hopes for fireworks in the climax. Sadly, the finale is shockingly bad and even abrupt. It won’t be surprising if viewers would wait for a mid-credit scene once the credit start rolling, hoping for some closure. Sadly, no such scene is present. The climax is probably in sync with the film’s title, but it also feels too convenient. Saif Ali Khan rises above the weak script and delivers a fine performance as expected. Rasika Dugal leaves a huge mark in a supporting role. Sanjay Mishra is dependable, though he’s letdown by the writing. Yudhvir Ahlawat (Harpal) has a crucial role and delivers a splendid performance. Saurabh Dwivedi is weak as the Godman. Zakir Hussain (Harihar), Manish Chaudhari (Keshav), Saharsh Kumar Shukla (Nirmal) and Durgesh Kumar (Amar; Preeti’s relative) are fine. All in all, Kartavya fails to impress due to the climax.
My rating – ** out of 5!