A retro-styled, crime-comedy rooted in reality—Inspector Zende brings to life the story of the unassuming Mumbai cop who twice captured Charles Sobhraj (fictionalized here as Carl Bhojraj). Manoj Bajpayee leads with charm and understated wit. It’s a quirky, nostalgic chase—sometimes hitting the beat, other times dangling off it.
What’s Great
- Authentic, nostalgic setting: The recreation of 70s–80s Bombay is so vivid you can almost smell the rumble of old jeeps and see neon signs flickering. It rings with lived-in detail—not over-polished.
- Performance powerhouse:
- Manoj Bajpayee anchors the film with purely grounded, sharp, subtly quirky bravado—no chest-thumping, just old-school grit.
- Jim Sarbh brings suave menace to Carl Bhojraj—charming, layered, compelling—even if underwritten.
- Humor that’s soft, not slapstick: The comedy isn’t loud—it’s quirky, sometimes absurd, rooted in everyday mishaps. Think undercover aliases failing, awkward conversations, a dance-like fight in a club—it’s fun, largely organic.
- Genre-blend success: Crime, suspense, and humor meld together smoothly in parts making it family-friendly without losing emotional resonance.
What Kinda Misses
- Wobbly tone & pacing: The script sometimes drifts mid-film pacing slips, the humor feels inconsistent, and even emotive moments feel forced or tonally off.
- Underused villain: Carl Bhojraj is charming, but the script doesn’t dig deeper. It feels like a sketch of menace rather than fully realized
- Missed dramatic opportunities: Some key narratives like the gravity of capturing Sobhraj or the weight of rivalry—feel sidelined by an emphasis on quirky humor.
- Script setbacks: A few critics say the comedy borders on childish at times and the story lacks depth—relatable or inventive comedy, but nothing too bold.
Bottom Line
- Best For: Viewers who love character-driven, nostalgic cop thrillers with quirky humor and strong performances—especially Bajpayee’s classic understated cop act alongside Jim Sarbh’s sleight-of-hand villainy.
- Be Warned: If you want a tight procedural or a dark, gritty crime drama this might feel lightweight or inconsistent. It floats between genres and sometimes lets its humor undercut its own narrative weight.
In short: Inspector Zende is charming, often pleasantly surprising, and anchored by a terrific lead performance.
But it’s also patchy and occasionally weighed down by uneven pacing and tone.
