Detective Sherdil, a film by AAZ Films, Offside Entertainment, and Maurya Entertainment, streaming now on Zee5 follows a detective as he investigates a murder.
Story
Detectuve Sherdil tells the story of a sharp officer who is tasked with unraveling a complex case. Sherdil (played by Diljit Dosanjh) is a detective based in Budapest, Hungary, and he is handed the assignment of investigating the murder of billionaire Pankaj Bhatti (Boman Irani). Pankaj was assassinated on an isolated highway, where the killer shot him in the head before setting his car on fire.
The prime suspects in this case are Pankaj’s family: his wife Rajeshwari (Ratna Pathak Shah), son Angad (Sumeet Vyas), foreign daughter-in-law Elizabeth (Sarah Barlondo), and his deaf-mute daughter Shanti (Banita Sandhu). Adding to the intrigue is Shanti’s boyfriend Purvak (Arjun Tanwar), who is also deaf-mute and on the run, making him the primary suspect due to Pankaj’s will, which bequeaths 80% of his fortune to Purvak. The remaining 20% is designated for a dog named Rabbit and Rajeshwari’s brother Bodhi (Chunky Panday). Additionally, Pankaj’s driver Jaipal (Mukesh Bhatt) has also vanished. The unfolding events that follow this setup form the crux of the film.
Performances
The film boasts an ensemble cast, with Diljit Dosanjh standing out as a highlight. His performance, coupled with his subtle comedic timing, keeps the viewer engaged throughout. Diana Penty portrays the no-nonsense cop impressively. Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Sumeet Vyas fit their roles well. Banita Sandhu makes a strong impression, while Arjun Tanwar makes a confident debut. Chunky Panday performs adequately but is hindered by weak writing. Mikhail (Detective Danny) and Kashmira Irani Saxena (Falak) also contribute positively to the film. The performances of Mukesh Bhatt, Mike Capozzola, Sarah Barlondo, and Olivia Stewart (Detective Olivia) are satisfactory as well.
Behind the scenes
The narrative, crafted by Ravi Chhabriya and Ali Abbas Zafar, has the potential to be an engaging murder mystery. While the screenplay by Sagar Bajaj and Ali Abbas Zafar shows promise in certain areas, it often suffers from significant plot holes that remain insufficiently addressed. Dialogues written by Sagar Bajaj and Ali Abbas Zafar, along with voiceovers by Suraj Gianani, are quirky but occasionally fail to deliver the intended impact.
Detective Sherdil is devoid of original songs, featuring only a forgettable track during the end credits. Joel Crasto’s background score is catchy, particularly the mouth organ theme. Marcin Laskawiec’s cinematography is on-point, while Malvika Bajaj’s costumes add a touch of glamour. The production design by Amit Sharma, Tejas Amit Korgaonkar, and Ankita Dhar is lavish, though Ravi Chhabriya’s editing is weak in the early scenes but improves and becomes stylish later.
Final Analysis
Ravi Chhabriya’s direction is competent, effectively managing the film’s numerous characters and non-linear storytelling without allowing the plot to become confusing. He successfully utilizes the Budapest backdrop and develops Sherdil’s character well. A few humorous moments, such as Natasha (Diana Penty) speaking in Diljit’s voice and the mention of Pankaj’s pen as being from 3 Idiots (2009), add charm. The conclusion keeps the audience guessing until the end.
However, the film’s initial five minutes are disjointed and poorly edited. Although Pankaj is presented as one of Europe’s most successful businessmen, the handling of his murder investigation contradicts this portrayal. The detectives appear to work without any urgency, taking their time to identify the killer. When the absence of Bodhi is noted, the police should have promptly tracked him down instead of waiting for him to show up at his convenience.
Moreover, it seems there was no post-mortem conducted; had there been one, it would have clarified crucial details about the bullet used. The part where Purvak changes his residence every 21 days and the way Sherdil discovers this information seems implausible and even ridiculous.
In summary, Detective Sherdil struggles to captivate the audience due to a flawed execution and implausible plot developments. Nevertheless, Diljit Dosanjh’s performance and several amusing moments make the film moderately enjoyable.
