Nowadays many films released directly on OTT platforms are often seen as movies that may not work well in theatres. Kartavya may not be a perfect film either, but it still manages to hold your attention till the very end. It is dark, serious and realistic. The film does not try to entertain with loud action or emotional drama. Instead, it quietly tells its story and ends without giving the audience a typical Bollywood happy ending.
The film stars Saif Ali Khan as Pawan Malik, an honest police officer living in a village in Haryana. He is investigating the murder of a journalist whom he was supposed to protect. At the same time, he is also trying to keep his own family safe from dangerous people. The story mainly focuses on the difficult choice between duty and family responsibility. More than just a murder mystery, the film talks about corruption, power, caste issues and the struggle of staying honest in a broken system.
One of the best things about the film is that it avoids becoming a typical Bollywood cop drama. There are no unrealistic fights, over dramatic dialogues or superstar moments. Pawan Malik feels like a normal man who is mentally tired and stuck in a difficult situation. This realistic approach makes the film feel fresh and believable.
Saif Ali Khan is clearly the strongest part of the film. His acting is calm, natural and very convincing. He does not try too hard to impress the audience and that works in his favour. His use of the local dialect also adds authenticity to the character. This easily stands among his better performances in recent years.
Director Pulkit keeps the storytelling simple and grounded. The village setting and serious tone make the film feel raw and real. The story also touches important social issues like honour killings, fake godmen, corrupt police officers and village politics.
The supporting cast also performs well. Sanjay Mishra once again proves why he is one of the most dependable actors in the industry. Rasika Dugal gets limited screen time but fits naturally into her role. Zakir Hussain also adds depth to the dark atmosphere of the story.
The film does have some problems. Its slow pace may not work for everyone and some twists are easy to predict. Even though it raises many serious topics, it does not explore them deeply enough. At times, the film feels too controlled and misses a stronger emotional impact.
Still, Kartavya deserves appreciation for trying something different. It is not a loud commercial entertainer but a serious character driven drama that shows Saif Ali Khan in a strong and realistic role once again.
Movie: Kartavya
Directed by: Pulkit
Featuring: Saif Ali Khan, Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra, Saurabh Dwivedi, Zakir Hussain, Manish Chaudhari
Streaming on: Netflix
OTT Release date: 15 May 2026
Run Time: 1hr 48mins
Kartavya
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