Inspector Zende

The legend of Charles Sobhraj has inspired countless screen retellings. Netflix’s Inspector Zende, directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, shifts the focus to the Bombay cop who finally arrested him. The film begins promisingly but as the story unfolds, it exposes its own limitations.

Based on true events, the film opens in 1986, as Carl Bhojraj, an obvious stand-in for Charles Sobhraj, escapes from Tihar Jail along with four other inmates. Inspector Madhukar Bapurao Zende (Manoj Bajpayee), who had captured the criminal fifteen years earlier, is once again entrusted by DGP Chandrakant Purandhare (Sachin Khedekar) with the task of bringing him back behind bars. Zende assembles his team and begins the chase. Along the way, he apprehends one of the escapees and learns that Bhojraj is plotting to flee India for America through Goa. Soon, Zende and his men head to Goa, embarking on the arduous pursuit that will test both their resilience and resourcefulness.

To its credit, Inspector Zende immediately establishes its world, its protagonist, and his mission. Yet the scenes are allowed to breathe, each given enough space to build atmosphere and detail. A brief voice-over sets the stage, drawing us into the milieu we are about to enter. From there, Zende’s pursuit proceeds with measured steadiness. Never exaggerated or rushed. The investigation moves step by step, showing how teamwork and collaboration become central to his success. It relies heavily on small details to evoke its era, and Mandlekar and his team show commendable attentiveness. Ambassador cars seen on the streets, Zende rides a Yezdi, and the costumes anchor us firmly into the mid-1980s. The result is a film with the texture of a procedural, where the journey matters as much as the destination.

A subject based on an individual whose murders have shaken various nations, and the hunt to bring him back to jail, is the perfect recipe for a crime drama. The courage to infuse humour and comic timing into this narrative is commendable. Some moments deliver genuine laughs without forcing the comedy. The scenes between Zende and his wife Vijaya (Girija Oak) are among the most tender, layered with warmth and affection. The film offers captivating moments, sharp dialogues, and little touches that bring a smile.

But as the chase progresses, Mandlekar, who has also written the screenplay, seems to run out of steam. The comic and humorous moments unravel like a ball of wool that fails to be woven into a coherent fabric. This becomes especially evident in the long sequence stretching from Sobraj’s arrest at the O Coqueiro restaurant to the team’s crossing of the Goa–Mumbai border. The humour that begins with an inventive edge eventually collapses into slapstick, throwing the narrative off balance. Moreover, the authenticity falters in places. The film opens with Zende queuing for milk under a board that reads ‘Mumbai’, a name the city did not officially adopt until 1995. Even a rave party in Goa feels far too contemporary, raising doubts about its accuracy. These may be defended as poetic liberties, but they undermine the credibility the film so carefully tries to build.

Manoj Bajpayee slips into the role of Zende with effortless ease. His portrayal of a committed cop is nuanced and relatable, lifting the film up a notch or two. At the other end, Jim Sarbh looks athe part but never quite radiates the chilling vibes that Siddhant Gupta conveyed in the web series Black Warrant. Sachin Khedekar lends gravitas as DGP Purandhare, while Girija Oak brings a gentle warmth in her limited screen time as Vijaya. Bhalchandra Kadam makes for an effective colleague in Patil, and the supporting cast overall serves the film well.

Vishal Sinha’s cinematography grounds the film in its locations, capturing Goa as a character without succumbing to postcard tourism. Meghna Manchanda Sen’s editing gives the narrative a breezy, unforced flow, complementing the smooth rhythm. Ketan Sodha’s background score and Anirban Sengupta’s sound design add texture without overwhelming the storytelling, enhancing mood rather than dictating it.

Overall, Inspector Zende never feels wholly satisfying. Yet Manoj Bajpayee’s performance and the steady narrative flow keep it engaging. But if one really wants to go deeper into Zende’s file, one might seek out Akshay Shah’s documentary, Zende, which provides a sharper look at the man behind the myth.

Hindi, Thriller, Drama, Humor, Color