Diljit Dosanjh's 'Detective Sherdil' movie review: Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, Banita Sandhu walk away with top honours in a semi-engaging murder mystery

Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Diana Penty, Boman Irani, Chunky Panday, Banita Sandhu, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sumeet Vyas

Director: Ravi Chhabriya 

Language: Hindi

Even before we meet the man who plays Detective Sherdil, in this year’s 786th whodunit, a word I shall be using 786 times more before the year ends, we are told how this man played by Diljit Dosanjh was named Sherdil. It’s understandable the makers want to combine crime and comedy and dumb the story down. The thought of the memories of Dosanjh’s Arjun Patiala coming back send a shiver down your spine. But to give credit, at least the aesthetics are in place as we are right away taken to Budapest where a billionaire Boman Irani is murdered on an empty street. What it also gets right is a solid introductory shot of Ratna Pathak Shah, who plays Irani’s wife. If Maya Sarabhai from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai had more attitude and authority, it could be this character. “A true boss lady” is how Diana Penty describes her.

Some cringe and coincidental moments follow soon as Banita Sandhu of October fame shows up as a deaf and mute daughter of the couple who’s called, errr Shanti. There’s the severely underinvested Mukesh Bhat (the inimitable actor of Rocket Singh and Gulaal), the driver who’s absconding since his master was brutally assassinated (Prem Ratan Dhan Payo anyone?). When all the crucial pieces of the puzzle are laid together, the eponymous character declares in his twang ‘This is a classic…. Whodunit.’ Okay then! But this very character never allows the film to be edge-of-the-seat as he keeps playing his harmonica and its perpetual tune hams its way to the background score that swells to a crescendo on multiple occasions. Let there be silence for some time dude.

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If this blend of two contrasting genres is unable to keep the curiosity alive despite some spurts of engagement, Chunky Panday’s typically filmy entry does perk up the proceedings from A to B. Had he smiled a little more, he could very well be the spiritual version of Aakhri Pasta called Aakhri Aastha as he did in Housefull 3.

Bollywood doesn’t do comical thrillers well as it gets too confused which box to tick first- To add murder mystery in a comedy or comedy in a murder mystery. That’s why the jokes and the jolts both feel ill-timed and misplaced. And that pretentious The End deceit that ruined Neeraj Pandey’s forgettable Sikandar Ka Muqaddar last year returns here too.

But the ensemble is too contagious- Diljit Dosanjh, Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sumeet Vyas, Banita Sandhu, and Diana Penty. The outfits that Irani flaunts are absolutely striking. He looks dapper and the effective baritone adds to his intimidating personality that’s all worn out and vulnerable inside. Penty brings a certain sense of gravitas to her performance with her no-nonsense attitude. She has been immensely selective about her choices of films after the impressive debut in Cocktail back in 2012. But that also shows how her repertoire is a cocktail of different genres, ranging from comedy to drama to now a whodunnit.

Sandhu added immense gravitas to her vegetative state in the meditative and heartfelt October. Here too, she’s handicapped by a disability but makes terrific use of it. And the refined Shah is always a delight to watch. She has a remarkably impressive command over her body language. And once again after Kapoor & Sons, she’s trapped in a crumbling marriage that ends with a surprising death.

The story is written by Ali Abbas Zafar along with Sagar Bajaj and Ravi Chhabriya who also directs the film. Post Sultan, Zafar has largely been out of depth except for Jogi, also starring Diljit Dosanjh. It’s understandable the two wanted to have fun after an exhausting and emotionally charged collaboration, but the bullet misses the plate. That’s not to say it’s a washout. Not at all. Whodunnits always turn out to be guilty pleasures.

And unlike Housefull 5 (A and B) and 36 China Town, the final twist doesn’t feel frivolous. It not only compliments the essence of the story but also exposes the fragility of dysfunctional relationships and dying emotional dynamics. It also makes up for the lost time of an ensemble of solid actors that needs to be seen more often in movies that judiciously explore its tenacity and talent. But without the harmonica next time please!

Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Detective Sherdil is now streaming on Zee5