Inspector Zende review: Manoj Bajpayee anchors an uneven crime-comedy celebrating the real-life cop who nabbed Charles Sobhraj

Directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, Inspector Zende is an entertaining, albeit incohesive ride that relies on an impressive performance by the cast.

I love it when humor is relatable and is delivered through a straight face and a mainstream actor who has been nailing this art in recent years is Manoj Bajpayee. The actor we long associated with intense roles has been doing a brilliant job with his laid-back humor on-screen and his outings with Special 26, The Family Man and Killer Soup are the best examples of this. The actor too seems to be enjoying himself in such roles and I feel that’s particularly important in light hearted comedic ventures because his energy and vibes do transcend onscreen and have a say in the overall experience of the film. Bajpayee’s latest Inspector Zende on Netflix, despite being uneven at times, is one such film that you can watch for the actor’s hearty performance.  

A fictionalized account inspired by true events, Inspector Zendeis a quirky crime-comedy which celebrates the courage and quick wittedness of real-life cop Madhukar Zende, who famously captured the notorious serial killer and conman Charles Sobhraj twice. Set in 1986, the film opens up with commentary and montage explaining how Mumbai police cleared the city of underworld goons with Inspector Zende being one of the key officers to the cause. We are then introduced to Bajpayee’s Zende, a relatable police cop, living in a humble Mumbai setting, queuing up to buy milk for his family in the early hours of the morning, who quickly reports to duty when he hears the worrisome news of a wanted criminal’s escape from prison. The proceedings then take us 15 hours back to Delhi’s Tihar Jail where Jim Sarbh’s Carl Bhojraj (a stand-in for Charles Sobhraj) executes a perfect escape. An intel input suggests that the criminal is seeking to find refuge in Mumbai and Inspector Zende, who had nabbed him 15 years ago during a bank robbery, is assigned the task of apprehending him once again. Their cat-and-mouse chase through various cities and tricky situations entails the rest of the story. 

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The film is a quirky and refreshing take on a true crime story, no doubt, but my biggest problem is its uneven narration. Yes, Zende and Bhojraj are poles apart and stand no chance of having similarity in terms of their personality or their lifestyle, however, the transition while switching between their sequences, lacks cohesion and you feel you are watching two different films simultaneously. In simple terms, there’s no thread sewing the adventures or misadventures of these two characters together, and storytelling is rather scattered and lacks tight pacing. Having said that, the film promises to be a light-hearted experience and delivers exactly that without getting lost, at least in its intention. 

Comedy, despite feeling a tad unpolished and forced at times, manages to evoke a smile at most places. The audience will especially love Bhalchandra Kadam as the slow-witted colleague of Inspector Zende who undergoes a heart-winning character transformation. Bajpayee, like I mentioned before, shines as a human cop who doesn’t boast of a chiselled physique or have ‘chest thumpy’ dialogues but thrives on his raw courage, quiet determination, and a powerful sixth sense that Mumbai police is famous for possessing. Jim Sarbh as Bhojraj, the man who has committed 32 murders and fled five prisons across four countries, too does a fair job embodying the smooth criminal who is charming and cunning in equal parts. Girija Oak as Mrs. Zende gives the film some emotional grounding with her measured portrayal of a hands-on wife who is Inspector Zende’s strength and stay. 

The film successfully captures old-school Mumbai and Goa vibes and is sure to deliver a strong dose of nostalgia. Overall, Inspector Zende accounts for an entertaining and slightly uneven ride, with Manoj Bajpayee’s performance being the standout element. 

Inspector Zende is now streaming on Netflix