Kartoos
Kartoos is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Mahesh Bhatt and starring Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, and Manisha Koirala in lead roles.[1] The story centers on a determined police officer who recruits a death row inmate to infiltrate and assassinate a ruthless underworld don blamed for the deaths of many children in bomb blasts, only for the mission to be complicated by the inmate's unexpected romance.[2] Produced by Firoz A. Nadiadwala under the Base Industries Group banner, the film runs for approximately 140 minutes and blends elements of drama and romance alongside its core action sequences.[3] The narrative unfolds in Mumbai, beginning with a devastating bomb explosion in a public park that kills over 150 people, prompting ACP Jay Suryavanshi (played by Jackie Shroff) to target the perpetrator, Jagat Jogia (Gulshan Grover).[4] Suryavanshi enlists the help of Jeet Balraj (Sanjay Dutt), a skilled convict facing execution, training him for the high-stakes operation while Jeet encounters and falls for Manpreet Kaur (Manisha Koirala), a woman connected to the criminal world.[5] Supporting cast includes notable actors like Jaspal Bhatti, contributing to the film's ensemble dynamic.[5] In terms of production, Kartoos marked Mahesh Bhatt's direction in a fast-paced thriller format, loosely based on the 1990 French film La Femme Nikita, with screenplay by Robin Bhatt and cinematography by Bhushan Patel.[5] The film's soundtrack, featuring six songs, was composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Anu Malik, and Bally Sagoo, with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri; standout tracks include qawwali-infused numbers sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan himself, marking a notable Bollywood collaboration with the renowned Sufi musician shortly before his death in 1997.[6] Released on 7 May 1999, the music album was distributed by Saregama and received attention for its fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds.[6] Upon release, Kartoos garnered mixed critical reception, praised for the performances of its lead actors—particularly Dutt's intense portrayal and Shroff's authoritative presence—but critiqued for a predictable storyline and uneven screenplay.[7] It holds an average rating of 5.1 out of 10 on IMDb based on user votes.[7] Commercially, the film was declared a flop at the box office, collecting a nett gross of approximately ₹7.59 crore in India against a worldwide gross of approximately ₹11 crore.[8][9] Despite its underwhelming performance, Kartoos remains a cult favorite among fans of 1990s Bollywood action thrillers for its high-octane sequences and emotional undercurrents.[7]Synopsis and cast
Plot summary
The film begins with a devastating bomb explosion in Gangaram Park, Bombay, on May 1, 1993, which claims the lives of over 150 people, predominantly children.[10] ACP Jay Suryavanshi is tasked with investigating the attack and quickly identifies the culprit as the London-based underworld don and terrorist Jagat Jogia, who claims responsibility but evades capture due to his international location.[4] Unable to apprehend Jagat through conventional means, Jay devises a clandestine operation by recruiting Raja, a convicted killer awaiting execution on death row, offering him a chance at freedom in exchange for assassinating the don.[7] To ensure control over the mission, Jay shoots Raja in the leg during an escape attempt and performs surgery to implant a tracking transmitter, allowing constant monitoring of his movements.[11] Raja undergoes rigorous training to transform into a skilled assassin, proficient in combat and infiltration techniques, before being dispatched to London with a new identity and resources to infiltrate Jagat's criminal network.[12] There, Raja encounters Mini, a woman with whom he develops a deep romantic relationship, which introduces emotional vulnerabilities and begins to jeopardize his focus on the assignment.[7] As Raja closes in on Jagat, his growing attachment to Mini leads to key plot twists, including near-failures of the mission due to hesitation and distractions from his personal life.[10] In the climax, Raja successfully assassinates Jagat, but he soon uncovers betrayal from Jay, who intends to eliminate him as a loose end to cover up the operation.[13] Facing threats from both his handler and the don's remaining associates, Raja outmaneuvers the dangers, removes the tracking device, and ultimately secures his freedom to start a new life with Mini.[11] The story draws narrative parallels from the French film La Femme Nikita.[7]Characters and casting
The central character, Raja (also known as Jeet Balraj), is portrayed by Sanjay Dutt as a reformed criminal and convict on death row who is coerced into becoming an undercover assassin to ensure his survival, later motivated by his growing love for Mini that humanizes his violent past. Dutt's casting drew on his established action-hero and anti-hero persona, solidified by his acclaimed portrayal of a criminal in the 1993 film Khalnayak, allowing him to convincingly depict Raja's internal conflict and transformation from a merciless killer to a man seeking redemption.[14][15] ACP Jay Suryavanshi, played by Jackie Shroff, serves as the determined police officer who orchestrates the high-stakes mission against the terrorists, embodying a cold and manipulative authority figure willing to exploit Raja for the greater good. Shroff's selection highlights his evolution from conventional heroic leads in the 1980s to more authoritative mentor roles, enhancing the tense mentor-protégé dynamic central to the film's interpersonal conflicts.[14][16] Manisha Koirala enacts the role of Mini (Manpreet Kaur), the innocent and naive love interest who unknowingly enters Raja's life, providing emotional grounding and catalyzing his shift toward humanity amid the chaos. Koirala was chosen for her proven emotional depth in romantic roles, as seen in films like Bombay (1995), which lent authenticity to Mini's portrayal as a trusting figure who accepts Raja despite his hidden burdens.[14][17] The antagonist Jagat Jogia is depicted by Gulshan Grover as the ruthless terrorist don behind a devastating park bombing that claims numerous lives, operating with elusive menace from abroad. Grover's casting capitalized on his iconic villainous archetype as Bollywood's "Bad Man," known for commanding screen presence in negative roles across 300 films, which amplified the threat level and moral stakes in the narrative.[7][18] Supporting characters include jail wardens and secondary terrorists, such as those played by Govardhan Asrani and Razak Khan, who add layers to the institutional and criminal underworld settings without overshadowing the leads.[5]Production
Development
Kartoos marked Mahesh Bhatt's final directorial effort before he stepped away from directing for 21 years, returning only with Sadak 2 in 2020.[19] The project was produced by Firoz Nadiadwala under the banner of Base Industries Group, with a reported budget of ₹8.75 crore.[8] The screenplay, penned by Robin Bhatt with dialogues by Anand Vardhan, drew loose inspiration from Luc Besson's 1990 French thriller La Femme Nikita, adapting the core premise of a state-trained assassin while shifting the protagonist from a female to a male character.[7] This transformation allowed Bhatt to explore a narrative centered on a criminal's recruitment by law enforcement to combat organized crime, emphasizing moral ambiguity in vigilante justice. Pre-production gained momentum in early 1999, as Bhatt collaborated closely with lead actor Sanjay Dutt, whom he praised for their longstanding professional rapport forged in earlier films like Naam (1986) and Sadak (1991).[20] Casting announcements highlighted Sanjay Dutt in the central role of the reformed criminal, Jackie Shroff as the determined police officer, and Manisha Koirala as the female lead, forming a trio that brought star power to the action-thriller genre.[5] Bhatt's vision underscored themes of personal redemption through enforced duty, reflecting broader concerns with systemic corruption and extralegal measures against underworld threats.Filming
Principal photography for Kartoos began in early 1999, with the majority of the film shot in Mumbai studios and outdoor locations, including Film City for the action sequences.[21] The production encountered significant challenges in coordinating the high-octane action scenes, such as the recreation of the park bombing and the assassination climax, with stunt coordination handled by Abbas Ali Moghul.[22] Due to the technological limitations of 1999, the film relied on practical effects for explosions and fight scenes rather than heavy CGI.[7] Co-directed by Mahesh Bhatt and Ken Ghosh (for the segment "Teri Yaad"), the film was completed under tight scheduling.[5] In post-production, editing was overseen by Waman Bhonsle, and sound mixing was completed by April 1999 to prepare for the May release.[3] The runtime was finalized at approximately 140 minutes after minor reshoots to refine the romantic subplot.[7] A portion of the film's overall budget of ₹8.75 crore was devoted to the action elements during filming.Music
Soundtrack composition
The soundtrack for Kartoos was collaboratively composed by Anu Malik, Bally Sagoo, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, marking one of the latter's posthumous contributions to Bollywood following his death in 1997.[23][24] Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan provided qawwali elements as a tribute, drawing from his signature devotional style to infuse spiritual depth into select tracks.[24] Anu Malik focused on romantic compositions, while Bally Sagoo incorporated fusion elements blending traditional Indian sounds with contemporary Western influences.[25] The overall composition style merged 1990s Bollywood pop melodies with Sufi qawwali influences and upbeat fusion rhythms, alongside action-oriented beats designed to heighten the thriller's suspenseful tone.[26][25] This eclectic approach reflected the era's trend toward hybrid soundscapes in Indian cinema, balancing emotional intimacy with high-energy sequences. The romantic tracks, in particular, underscored the film's subplot of love amid conflict.[26] The album comprises 6 tracks and was released by Saregama in February 1999 on audio cassette and CD formats, preceding the film's theatrical debut.[27]Track listing
The soundtrack album of Kartoos features six songs composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Anu Malik, and Bally Sagoo, with all lyrics penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri.[28][29]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Composer | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ishq Da Rutba | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | 5:51 |
| 2 | Wallah Yeh Ladki | Udit Narayan, Abhijeet | Anu Malik | 7:11 |
| 3 | Teri Yaad | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Udit Narayan | Anu Malik | 4:49 |
| 4 | Gham Hai Ya Khushi | Alka Yagnik | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | 5:26 |
| 5 | O Rabba | Jayshree Shivram | Bally Sagoo | 5:15 |
| 6 | Baha Na Aansoo | Udit Narayan | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | 5:56 |