Kartavya Review: In Netflix’s newest Hindi crime drama film, a man’s duty and morals are tested when he has to decide whether or not to stand up against the system or put his and his family’s safety first. The film is a gritty cop drama, starring Saif Ali Khan, that attempts to balance the emotional turmoil of its central character with the building tension of lawlessness around them.
The film, taking place in a small town, gets under your skin thanks to the grounded performances and atmosphere.
-
Kartavya Netflix Cast
Saif Ali Khan, Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra, Saurabh Dwivedi, Zakir Hussain, Manish Chaudhari, Yudhvir Ahlawat
-
Kartavya Movie Writer & Director
Pulkit
The film has a runtime of around 108 minutes.
Kartavya Review
A Story Rooted in Duty and Fear
Kartavya‘s story captures the fear and helplessness rooted in small towns where lawlessness reigns supreme, and people are still attached to their superstitious beliefs. Following Pawan Malik, a grounder and forward-thinking police officer who tries to do the right thing, he is thrust into a huge scandal in which he not only has to save a manipulated young boy, but also his own brother from falling victim to rigid, nonsensical customs. With corruption eating everything in its wake, it’s one man’s fight against the entire village.
The screenplay keeps things personal in this Netflix drama and gets under your skin. The narrative is almost always surrounding the psychological burden of responsibility, as there’s not a lot of action-heavy spectacle in the film. Pawan’s moral dilemmas are believable, since we still live in a world where the caste system exists and godmen are considered above suspicion. Moments where he has to choose between institutional loyalty and survival, and the betrayals that come from different spheres, feel like a personal attack for viewers because the world is so immersive and moving.
Saif Ali Khan Delivers One of His Better OTT Performances
The performances in the film are one of its best aspects, and Saif Ali Khan delivers one of his career best OTT performances. Gritty, no-nonsense and believable, Khan brings a vulnerability to Pawan that makes you want to root for him. His understated and mature demeanour avoids unnecessary heroism, leaving the larger-than-life persona behind. He’s a tired man crumbling under pressure, and it’s clear in every scene. You sympathise with Pawan and his decisions because he simply doesn’t have a choice.
The supporting cast, including Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra and Zakir Hussain, is fantastic, but that’s expected from seasoned actors of their calibre. Lastly, Yudhvir Ahlawat as Harpal leaves an impression as the young boy in the middle of it all, making you sympathise with him and his situation in this unfair and disturbing situation he has found himself in.
Themes and Tone
Kartavya aims to highlight the systemic corruption and caste violence that are prevalent in rural India, where marrying outside the caste becomes a death sentence. Exploring themes of duty, sacrifice and the emotional cost of doing the right thing in these circumstances, it brings forth a relatable story that is hard to ignore. In a surprising detour, the film doesn’t get into extreme gore but, rather, leans into the simmering tension and moral exhaustion that comes out in those who go against an unfair system.
Pawan’s fight is not only against men like Anand Shri, who takes advantage of people’s vulnerabilities, and his superior Keshav, who is fine with looking the other way as long as he doesn’t have to get into trouble, but also against his own father, whose antiquated thoughts and decisions destroy his own moral fibre. It’s difficult watching him battling these demons and trying to find a solution that works for all, but, unfortunately, it’s an uphill and relentless battle for him.
The tone remains gritty throughout, and the muted cinematography gets under your skin and helps elevate the film’s terrifying storyline. It successfully holds on to the tension simmering just under the surface, threatening to burst at any moment.
Where the Film Struggles
Kartavya‘s biggest issue is that there are no surprises. From first to last, viewers will be able to figure out who will backstab whom and where the story will go after that. From Anand Shri’s role to Pawan’s final decision, everything is obvious from a mile away, and despite the fantastic world-building, the shock doesn’t translate onscreen that much.
Moreover, this isn’t a fast-paced film and most of the action is concentrated in the latter half of the show. It feels jarring when the film showcases not a lot of progress and only discusses the problems around Pawan, and then we suddenly see a bunch of consequences for the situations around him. Despite the terrifying circumstances, the execution lacks a lot of punch and nuance. We see Pawan breaking down, but the ending doesn’t deliver the consequence one would think.
Final Thoughts
In the end, Kartavya feels half-baked despite the topic that it handles. The themes are tone are on-point, as are the performances, but overall, the narrative lacks punch, with most of the runtime not having much going on other than exposition. It’s tense and emotionally grounded, but the screenplay falters to a point where audiences will fail to understand the point of it all. Overall, this one’s good enough for a one-time watch, but leaves you wanting more.
What are your thoughts on Kartavya on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read: