French film La Femme Nikita and its English remake, Point of No Return are the reference points for Mahesh Bhatt's Kartoos/Cartridge (1999).
The storyline is typical and predictable, and such was Bhatt's disinterest that producer Feroz Nadiadwala shot large parts of the film himself, with Ishq Vishk director Ken Ghosh directing the Teri Yaad number. The project took 30 months to make and the continuity jerks are evident.
That said, what works wonderfully well for the film is its start cast and the stylish manner in which it is shot.
Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff both look great, come of with bravura performances and share amazing camaraderie, packing a punch. Bhatt is one of the few directors that has always succeeded in getting the best out of Dutt, and Kartoos is no exception. There are many emotional scenes where Dutt shines. Long before Aamir and Shah Rukh marketed their well-toned eight pack abs in one or two there was Dutt, who displayed his chiseled body and eight packs without showing off.
Jackie has underplayed his character well. Manisha is miscast as a Punjaban but she looks a million bucks, and that more than makes up in a male-centric movie.
Nusrat Saab's Ishq da Rutba and Bally Sagoo's O Rabba pack a punch as regards the music but the much hyped Teri Yaad is a disappointment - quite clueless what Ghosh wanted to show in the sing. The special effects in the song are tacky like in most Bollywood movies.
The action sequences are well shot and the locales of South Africa is a major plus.
Add to that the fact that the movie is not very long makes this stylish offering a good watch.
