What Is the Story About?
Pankaj Bhatti, a business honcho based in Budapest, is murdered under mysterious circumstances. While alive, Bhatti was in a troubled marriage with Rajeshwari and was a father to a spoilt brat, Angad and a deaf-and-mute daughter, Shanti, a founder of an NGO. Purvak, the love interest of Shanti, is the prime suspect. Detective Sherdil, Natasha and his team are out to find answers.
Performances?
Diljit Dosanjh fits the role of a street-smart detective, blending charm with authority, though the film shows more of his swagger than skill. Boman Irani lends weight to his role as a bitter yet empathetic businessman. Diana Penty’s Natasha enters with flair but adds little to the plot; more insight into her past with Sherdil could’ve helped.
Analysis
A dysfunctional Indian family in the heart of Budapest; a contested will; the murder of a wealthy patriarch; and a rule-breaking, sharp-tongued Punjabi officer roped in to find the truth. Detective Sherdil, directed by Ravi Chhabriya, positions itself as a quirky, desi thriller with promise. Yet, what unfolds on screen is a middling affair; neither clever enough to be mysterious, nor funny enough to entertain.
The film begins on a playful note and appears to acknowledge its limitations, aiming for cheeky fun rather than a tight, suspenseful narrative. Sherdil’s introduction is stretched but colourful. He’s a maverick who doesn’t play by the book, oozes charm, and is supposedly great at what he does.
Natasha, a flamboyant colleague, recruits Sherdil onto the case. There are passing hints of romantic history between the two, teasing a subplot that never quite develops. The setup holds intrigue: Pankaj is murdered in no man’s land, with no witnesses, and the driver conveniently missing.
As Sherdil reaches the Bhatti household, the mystery unspools; each family member is shady in their way, everyone has a motive, and no one is truly innocent. The early promise of a sharp whodunit, however, dissolves into a predictable series of clichés. The film attempts to juggle humour, family drama, and mystery, but never strikes the right balance.
Its loses its sense of direction as the story leaps from one suspect to another with little finesse. Characters remain surface-level, defined more by quirks than substance. The romance between two deaf-and-mute characters adds a tender touch but feels underdeveloped, much like the rest of the subplot threads dangling in the background.
The narrative also adopts a frustratingly selective approach with its characters. Most arcs feel incomplete or undercooked. Outside of Sherdil, none of the officers display any real competence. Some performances, like Chunky Panday’s overly exaggerated Bodhi Mama, are designed to mislead rather than organically build suspense.
The film does find some momentum in its final act, with Sherdil piecing the mystery together in a brisk, engaging fashion. It’s in these moments that the film briefly fulfils its potential; clever, light on its feet, and somewhat satisfying. Unfortunately, these sparks come too late to salvage the broader mediocrity. Detective Sherdil is easy to watch but hardly memorable.
Music and Other Departments?
Joel Crasto’s music certainly has the enthusiasm to drive a quirky thriller forward, even if it does nothing spectacular. Despite the focus on a dead man and a potentially grim situation, Marcin Laskawiec’s cinematography builds an elegant, peppy backdrop, helped by the classy production design and costumes. On a writing level, the film struggles to build momentum initially, trying too hard to be funny and generally inconsistent in keeping a viewer glued to the proceedings.
Other Artists?
Ratna Pathak Shah is spot-on as the snobbish, scheming wife, bringing elegance to the role. Banita Sandhu’s complex, deaf-and-mute character is promising but under-explored. Sumeet Vyas and Chunky Panday are functional at best. Arjun Tanwar impresses briefly, though his role lacks impact.
Highlights?
Funny at times
Decent second hour
Functional but effective premise
Drawbacks?
Lacks novelty, intelligence in treatment
No standout aspects (performances, writing, execution or technical values)
Did I Enjoy It?
Only in parts
Will You Recommend It?
Only if you’re desperate to satiate your thriller quota this weekend
Detective Sherdil Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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