On The Trail With Inspector Zende!

"Inspector Zende" streaming on Netflix has been generally labelled as a comedy/thriller. The 112-minute long film features Manoj Bajpayee--a very intense actor who has played a cop many times during his remarkable career--in the titular role of inspector Madhukar Bapurao Zende of the Mumbai Police who had the rare distinction of catching the infamous serial killer, fraudster and thief Charles Sobhraj not once, but twice. Here Bajpayee appears in a lighthearted comic avatar. Jim Sarbh essays the role of Charles Sobhraj, who for some reason has been named Carl Bhojraj in the film.

The film opens with the news of Bhojraj's escape from Tihar Jail in 1986 after he treated the jail staff to kheer laced with sedative as a part of his birthday celebration. Zende had arrested him once earlier in 1971, so he gets assigned with the job of tracking Bhojraj.

As the hunt starts, visuals from Mumbai and Goa of the eighties do look delightful and refreshing. Zende, his teammates and their boss DGP Purandare (Sachin Khedekar), Zende's wife (Girija Oak), children and his mother, all of them look innocent straightforward people. It is endearing to see the policemen working without any modern security or surveillance equipment, and on a meagre budget. But the same cannot be said about Jim Sarbh's Bhojraj. He does not appear menacing enough to be an international serial killer. His long hair, moustache, and laboured accent reduce him to being a caricature, far from being the charmer that he was in real life. 

Chinmay Mandlekar, a well-known writer, director and actor mostly active in the Marathi entertainment industry has written and directed "Inspector Zende". Why he chose to make a film that focuses on the chase of a serial killer as a comedy is something beyond comprehension. The subject and its treatment do not match each other. 

While the film is mostly clean and suitable for family audiences, it is a pity to see an actor of Bajpayee's calibre being wasted in an average story and script. The jokes are weak, the direction is simplistic and the pace of the film is slow. This does not mean that Bajpayee is not suitable for comedy. It is just that a tame comedy is not enough to tap into his potential. 

To name a few instances from the film, police teams from Delhi, Goa and Mumbai clashing over claiming the capture of Bhojraj is mindless and childish. The fight sequence between Zende and Bhojraj in the middle of couples dancing in a hotel is funny, but it dilutes the importance of the moment and reduces it to a farce. Bhalchandra Kadam, a prominent comedian from Marathi industry playing one of Zende's teammates fails to make an impact. After watching the film, one is left with the impression that sometimes even when you have all the right ingredients, a tasty dish eludes you.

Cycle: A Delicate Balance!

A strikingly handsome yellow bicycle, a beautiful village set amidst coconut groves by the seaside in Konkan, and a handful of simple people oozing with goodness...these are the main ingredients of "Cycle" (2018), a Marathi film I watched on the telly recently.

Set in 1958, it starts off as a light entertainer, centred around the family of a modest astrologer Keshav--a kind-hearted man who is liked by everyone in and around his village. He is the proud owner of a stylish bicycle that he has inherited from his grandfather, who in turn had received it as a gift from a British officer. Keshav, an otherwise balanced man who is happy and content in his humble surroundings, has just one angularity: he is so possessive of his bicycle that he would not part with it for anything.

We are treated to magnificent shots of idyllic rural life in scenic Konkan all through the film, thanks to Amalendu Chaudhary's superb cinematography. The other dominant feature is the innocence that pervades the film through events, characters and visuals, making it a relatable period drama. In fact, if you don't relate to the innocence, and look at the morals, values and interpersonal relationships using today's yardsticks, you might end up raising questions here and there and losing out on relishing the sweetness of the film. Instead, go along with the spirit of "Cycle" and enjoy the ride!

When Keshav's beloved cycle gets stolen, he is devastated beyond belief. He sets off on a search for his prized possession, and finds himself on a path towards more profound discovery. Similarly, the two thieves who steal the bicycle, find new doors of realization opening for them. All this is shown through lively little incidents involving village folk and lead characters, and not in a drab, preachy way. This is what makes the film remarkable.

Life in the late fifties has been showcased tenderly, sprinkled with touches of gentle humour. It is heartwarming to see people share and give from what little they have. Their small joys and uncomplicated lives make us yearn for the same.

Hrishikesh Joshi as Keshav, and Priyadarshan Jadhav and Bhalchandra Kadam as the two thieves fit like a glove in their roles. Their characters undergo a change in their attitude towards life, and all the three actors have handled it very well. Deepti Lele as Keshav's wife, Maithili Patwardhan as their daughter, and rest of the supporting cast are all very good. Aditi Moghe and Prakash Kunte as the writer-director make a superb team.

It is indeed refreshing to see such films being made in Marathi. They show great promise in all the departments, cover diverse content, entertain and deliver a good message, all at the same time!