Okay, so… we have a problem. What was supposed to be an underrated laugh riot has tripped over its own ambition. Detective Sherdil, Zee5’s new film, had the ingredients to cook up something fun, but the early reactions? Not too kind.
Ironically, Zee5 might’ve been right not to market this one heavily, because the final product doesn’t really hold up.
Let’s be fair: the film does try. The audience follows the case not as omnipresent watchers but more like the detective’s ears and eyes, an interesting approach, on paper. But that excitement fizzles out early. The cast, led by the ever-charming Diljit Dosanjh, does what they can, but even their efforts can’t save a script that feels far too clumsy for a genre that demands precision.
One recurring complaint? The background score. Loud and intrusive, especially during interrogation scenes. And in a whodunit where every line matters, when dialogues get drowned out by noise, the audience loses the very thread they’re supposed to be untangling.
Visually and atmospherically, the film isn’t entirely flat. There’s effort in crafting the world. But effort alone doesn’t make a good movie. With a bit more polish, Detective Sherdil could have been something memorable. Instead, it settles for “almost.”
Diljit carries the film on his shoulders, no doubt. But with the rest of the cast delivering half-hearted energy and the writing failing to land, this ends up being a missed opportunity.
On a week where content is scarce, it might still be a watch. But be prepared, it’s a journey that constantly reminds you just how good it could have been.