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Movie Review: Kartoos (Hindi)

 

MOVIE REVIEW: Kartoos (Hindi)
by Meena Yeggina

*ing: Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Manisha Koirala
Director: Mahesh Bhat
Music: Nursat Fateh Ali Khan, Anu Malik

This movie is not Mahesh Bhat's home production. Like Gentleman he directed it for the producer Nadiadwala. So, it has all the ingredients of a commercial cinema and lack the intensity of a "Zakhm" or a "Naam.

In line with the general trend, this movie is a love story, but with a violent twist. Also, through the movie it appears as though Sanjay Dutt is saying "sorry" to the public and asking them his forgiveness. "I've changed, I don't want to shoot any more nor do I want to be violent. I just like being in love and settle down," he screams throughout the film.

Jackie Shroff, a police officer (whose status is vague but seems to be making all kinds of high level decisions) with computer knowledge and access to high generation computers, decides to select a dangerous criminal, Sanjay Dutt, on a suicide mission. A la-Stallone-style, Sanjay Dutt, who's awaiting a death sentence, is selected, groomed and sent to London to catch and kill Gulshan Grover, a terrorist creating hate waves in the Indian sub-continent. J. Shroff keeps track of Sanjay Dutt by implanting a micro chip in his body. It's secretly understood that once Sanjay Dutt completes his mission, he would be killed too. Sanjay Dutt, however, on his way to London meets and falls in love with Manisha Koirala. To diverge a little, I'd like to say that it's very touching to see how Hindi film industry is trying it's utmost to bring unity among Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus. In a live-and-let-live philosophy, the Mumbai producers and directors have come up with many films that exhibit harmonious living among these communities. This film goes a step further by showing a Hindu/Sikh love story and consequent marriage.

Coming back to the main theme, Sanjay Dutt's love for Manisha turns him non-violent. He wishes to complete his mission and settle down. But Jackie Shroff has different plans for him. The movie is far fetched from reality (So, what's new, you say?). It's amazing that in a for eign country one doesn't come across a single foreign soul. The violence keeps breaking in all places Hilton Hotel, dock yard, park yet not a single cop or onlooker comes into the picture. The actors keep shooting, killing and shouting at each other at all kinds of public places in a foreign country and nobody else comes into the picture! Even for an Indian movie, it's very strange.

Also, Mahesh Bhat's black humor is enraging. In a song sequence, he projects a dark complexioned girl in place of Manisha in an attempt to effuse humor. That's rude and way too low in taste. Mahesh Bhat, who projects himself as a supporter or rather sympathiser of criminals, failures, losers and terrorists (in one scene Manisha asks Sanjay, "Don't criminals have hearts too?" If they do, why do they indulge in criminal activities, I wonder) seems a lot insensitive to other aspects of life.

Overall the movie, for Mahesh Bhat's calibre, is very disappointing.

Sanjay Dutt seems well in shape and like Salman Khan reveals a lot of his body. He even has a bare-chested-song loaded with computerised special affects. The songs are okay.

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