Humour, when wielded wisely, can be the sharpest tool in storytelling. Even in tales soaked in grit and bravery, where the hero wears a khaki uniform and walks the tightrope between justice and jeopardy, wit offers a way in. It disarms the viewer, allows breathing room, and reminds us that even the boldest lives are lived moment by moment—often absurd, sometimes ironic, and almost always unpredictable.
Inspector Zende, helmed by debutant Chinmay Mandlekar, clutches this certitude. It tells the anecdote of an unsung Mumbai supercop not with roaring hype but with a wink, a smirk, and the transparent swagger of someone who has nothing left to ascertain.
Manoj Bajpayee takes on the role of Madhukar Zende, a real-life police officer whose legacy has left an undying blow on Mumbai’s crime chronology. Bajpayee, forever the genius, fortifies Zende with a mix of patience and twisted humour, turning what could’ve been a dry procedural into a sharply delineated portrait of a man who let his work speak louder than his fame.
And then steps in, Carl Bhojraj (Jim Sarbh), a slick, cold-blooded criminal—a thinly veiled nod to the infamous Charles Sobhraj. Carl is suave, dangerous, and dripping with disdain for the very system that once managed to cage him. When he escapes from Tihar Jail and sets off across India in pursuit of anonymity, Zende steps in—not as a hero on a pedestal, but as a patient, calculating hunter who’s seen this game before and knows how it ends.
The film wins us with balanced tones. It never overcommits to its comic-book stylisation, yet never loses its playful edge. The chase sequences are painted with both absurdity and tension, often feeling like satirical takes on the cop classics of 70s and 80s Hindi cinema. Yet, amid the parody, there’s real heart—a sense that Mandlekar deeply respects his protagonist.
The supporting cast adds texture: Sachin Khedekar is commanding as Zende’s boss, Girija Oak lends emotional grounding as his wife. At the same time, Bhalchandra Kadam delivers solid comic relief without tipping into caricature. Jim Sarbh, though constrained by a thinly written villain, holds his own with icy indifference.
Inspector Zende is less about the criminal and more about the chase—the idea that resilience, integrity, and yes, humour, can still triumph in a world teetering on cynicism. In bringing Zende’s lesser-known tale to screen with levity and charm, the film reminds us that true heroism often comes with a punchline.
With that note, want to end it with a punchline takeaway—”gire hue ko uthana mat bhulna.”
IWMBuzz rates it 3.5/5 stars.
