Rediff: by Sharmila Taliculam

Here's yet another last film from Mahesh Bhatt. The encore to his swan-song may never end. After Zakhm, we have Kartoos, the cartridge. In truth, however, it must be said that Zakhm was the last film signed on, and it just so happened that Kartoos was released later. 
Jeet Balraj (Sanjay Dutt) is the eponymous kartoos and the man firing him is policeman Jai Sooryavanshi (Jackie Shroff). 
The film tells the story of Jeet, who is on death row for various murders, and Sooryavanshi, the policeman who wants this convict to kill just once more, this time an international criminal that his department has been chasing for a long time. This dreaded gangster, Jagat Jogia (Gulshan Grover), is in hiding overseas but he continues spread terror at home. The police can't finish him off because they can't go trigger-happy in a foreign land.
Yet, Sooryavanshi wants Jogia killed, by hook or by crook. And the crook is Jeet. This time round, instead of the Mafiosi, the police makes Jeet an offer he cannot refuse. He is promised release if he can help kill Jogia. But there is a twist in this tale: In the end, Sooryavanshi has bigger plans for Jeet. 
Jackie Shroff, as the tough, heartless cop is very convincing. The camera lets him play the ruthless policeman through his eyes alone. But Sanjay Dutt, clearly, lends character to the film. His identification with the helpless man on death row, who is being blackmailed into killing yet again, is total. There are scenes where you pity him because he doesn't want to kill anymore and is forced to only because his life is on the line. There is no love lost between the convict and the policeman and they keep sparring all through. The sole irritant is Manisha Koirala who looks beautiful but refuses to act. Besides, she looks silly playing a Punjabi girl who is visiting London to get hitched. But the crowning glory of all, is her miserable attempt to speak with a Punjabi accent. Apart from that, there is no weakness in her role. She is the girl who makes a hardened criminal fall in love and accepts him the way he is. 
As usually with Bhatt, emotions have been handled very well. There are several scenes where the victimisation and the helplessness of the killer stand out in contrast to the policeman's pleasure in deploying one killer to eliminate another. 
Jackie Shroff, who has played the policeman umpteen times, for once does full justice to the Hindi cinema cliché. Bereft of all theatrics, he convinces the audience of a Sooryavanshi who can argue with ethics if it will get the job done. He doesn't have a romantic angle in the film, and one doesn't miss it either. His well-balanced part is played with confident ease. Despite the snake-like, cold-eye character he plays, Jackie Shroff manages to retain the positiveness of an antihero. Once again, here's why it is possible to cast big actors without romance and songs. 
The film keeps a good pace throughout. It is a little dramatic at times but then, this is a Mahesh Bhatt film. The second half of the film is really engrossing. Especially after Jeet, the killer, completes his mission and slays the gangster. Now he only has the policeman to handle. The beautiful locales in London, South Africa and Sun City are well shot. Kartoos is through and through an action thriller, and thankfully very slick. Three music directors have worked on the film: Anu Malik, Bally Sagoo and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Khan has sung two songs, and as usual, excelled in both. 
The much-publicised Teri yaad number is difficult to comment on. Though the song is good and shot smartly, it does not seem to belong to the film. It begins abruptly and seems to be anchored to nothing in particular. It has some heavy-duty digital graphics, though. Ken Ghosh, the outstanding director of music videos has directed the filming of this song, and it shows. 
Sanjay Dutt is, once again, a criminal with a soft heart. But he has executed the role well enough to drain it of any tedium. He gets to do songs, dances and fights. He has a heroine to pair up with too. And still, his central character, of a killer, remains convincing. After all, this is a man who can be blackmailed into killing again. 
Fortunately, Mahesh Bhatt doesn't play the shrink and justify the actions of his characters by replaying their pasts for us. No flashbacks, mercifully! 
The transformation of the longhaired criminal into a suave gentleman might jar a little. But then, no flashbacks to bore us with reasons! 
There is a lot of violence here but it is not repulsive, perhaps because it is all really a part of the story. After all, we are talking about a policeman, a killer and a gangster.
Mahesh Bhatt's last action thriller Angaarey bombed, with both critics and audiences. But he has resiled with Kartoos, which packs in his vintage touch.

IndiaBollywood:

Base Industries Group’s Kartoos tells the story of a criminal who is hired by a police officer to nab a Mafia don and eliminate him in his hideout abroad. In return, the criminal is promised liberation from the four walls of the prison. He is, however, unaware that the police officer has plans to eliminate him once the mission is over. The criminal undergoes a change when he falls in love with a girl in the end, he decides to give up his activities to settles with his sweetheart. 
Originally inspired by the French film Nikita, Kartoos catches your attention from the very first frame. The taking is stylish, the making is lavish and the result is gripping. Care has been taken not to deviate from the main plot and that’s where the film succeeds in making an impact. 
Director Mahesh Bhatt and story screenplay writers Robin Bhatt and Akash Khurana seem to be in their element after a long time. The Mahesh Bhatt stamp is evident in a couple of scenes, mainly the ones between Jackie Shroff and Sanjay Dutt. Their confrontations, time and again, are a treat to watch. 
The script has no loopholes this time. It is to the point and doesn’t run into several tracks. The culmination of the drama into an emotional climax is thoroughly justified and although the computer chip angle should’ve been elaborated, since the concept is alien to a majority of Indian masses, it still registers a strong impact. If at all the film suffers in any department, it is in its music. Despite having three big names Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Anu Malik and Bally Sagoo the film does not boast of even a single hit number. However, in terms of melody, ‘Ishq Ka Rutba’ and ‘O Rabba Tu Hi Bacha’ stand out. The silver lining is that the songs are picturised lavishly and are truly eye watching. Picturisation-wise, ‘Teri Yaad’ (directed by Ken Ghosh ) is a breakthrough for Indian cinema. The song is stylishly choreographed and the effects are superb. This song should definitely catch on in a big way. ‘Ishq Ka Rutba’ is second on the list and the locations of Sun City are a visual treat. 
It is Jackie Shroff who steals the show with a performance that will win immense appreciation match the dialogue he delivers. The actor is in form after a long time and the impression he leaves in the confrontation scenes is worth applauding. Sanjay Dutt is like able and his get-up in the initial reels will be loved by the masses. His character, however, mellows in the second half, which is why he is not as impactful. Yet, his body language coupled with the sincerity in his performance will win him praise. Manisha Koirala irritates in portions requiring her to speak in English, but towards the second half, in the scenes with Jackie specially, she manages to hold the attention. Gulshan Grover has too brief a role to leave any impact. Jaspal Bhatti entertains yet again. Tina is efficient in a small but significant role. Razzak Khan and Kamal Chopra support well.
The background music (Surinder Sodhi) goes well with the mood of the film. Cinematography (Bhooshan Patel) is first-rate. The lavish production values and the scenic locales have been captured to perfection. Action (Tinu Verma) is, like always, of superior quality. In fact, the stunts compliment the undercurrent of tension throughout. Dialogue (Anand Vardhan) deserve special mention. They uplift the scenes, specially the intense ones, majority. Mixing and sound quality are upto the mark.

Channel Bollywood Review by Abhishek Sharma

The film Kartoos is about a mission where Asst. Commissioner of Police Jay Suryavanshi makes a plan to eliminate a terrorist called Jagatjogia and his outfit who has been behind creating terror in Bombay by exploding bombs in public places. This mission which is a secret has the code word - KARTOOS.
Jagatjogia (Gulshan Grover) carries out his destructive activities in India from London. The Indian Police does is unable to extradite Jagatjogia and book him behind the bars. ACP Jay Suryavanshi (Jackie Shroff) seeks confidence from his superior to use a criminal to get rid of Jagatjogia. The court has sentenced this criminal - to be hanged until death. For he is lethal killer and for him killing is fun, He is the Bad, Mad - Jeet Balraj (Sanjay Dutt). Jay has given Jeet a new life. Now he has to complete the mission or die, since he is already dead in eyes of the world. Jeet accepts the deal as he is promised a new life once the mission is accomplished. But the mission gets over only when Jeet kills Jay once Jagatjogia and his gang are exterminated.
Jay departs for London and meets Mini (Manisha Koirala) during the journey. Jeet gets closer to accomplishing his mission by eliminating associates of Jagatjogia. But he falls in love with Mini. Jay fearing Jeet will not complete the mission by becoming a Romeo reaches London. After lot of confrontations between Jay and Jeet, Jeet kills Jagatjogia. However Jeet comes to know about Jay's intentions to kill him. He tries to runaway with Mini but is unsuccessful.  After some fights, action and reasoning from Mini and Jay, Jeet finally calls up his superior at the Bombay Head Quarters - Kartoos finished, Mission over. Jay gets a new life in form of Mini.
The film is good in presentation. It has good special effects and action scenes. The sound of bullet firing makes you feel like watching a Hollywood flick. The film is excellent on face value but lacks depth. It has no substance in it. The script is fragile and very predictable. The background score is interesting but songs are drawback of the film. It seems like the three music directors could not build a synergy amongst them.
Action of the film is mind-blowing and this is what producer must be banking on. Firoze Nadiawala has spent lot on this film, which shows. Will he be able to recover the same remains to be seen. This probably is the last film directed by Mahesh Bhatt. One would have expected more engrossing stuff in the film from him. Acting wise both Jackie Shroff & Sanjay Dutt are remarkable in their roles. The confrontation between them is the highlight of the film. There is an underlying screen presence, which is reflected when they come on the screen. Manisha Koirala has done a decent job but her "You see" starts irritating the viewer. Jaspal Bhatti adds some comedy to the film but one cannot call it hilarious. One does feel this is a sequence to Khalnayak. But Subash Ghai had a USP in the song "Choli ke peeche" which is sorely missed in Kartoos. A person who wants to see good action and lot of bullets being fired than this is a film for him.