Predicated on the foundational cinematic trope of a relentless manhunt, Inspector Zende situates its central conflict within a meticulously recreated 1970s and 80s Mumbai. The narrative is propelled by the brazen escape of the infamous “Swimsuit Killer” from Tihar Jail, an event that triggers an elaborate, cross-country pursuit forming the film’s structural backbone. Yet, this is no grim procedural. The film deliberately positions itself as a quirky crime-comedy, a generic hybrid that filters a dark, historical episode through a stylized lens of nostalgia and levity. This calculated narrative strategy renders the period’s grit aesthetically consumable, transforming the winding gullies and retro-infused atmosphere of a bygone Mumbai from a site of authentic peril into a vibrant stage for an elaborate cat-and-mouse chase. It is a self-aware salute to an era of old-school policing, a celebration of the resourceful, instinct-driven justice—the art of jugaadu—that thrived long before the advent of modern technological forensics.
The Protagonist and The Antagonist: A Duality of Performance
The film’s narrative engine is the dialectical tension between its two leads, whose performances function as a study in contrasting archetypes. Manoj Bajpayee, an actor whose career is defined by seminal roles in the crime genre (Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur), portrays the titular Inspector Madhukar Zende not as a cinematic supercop but as an unassuming public servant. His Zende is an unlikely hero whose primary weapons are gut instinct and an unyielding determination. Bajpayee imbues the character with a familiar gravitas, grounding him in the blue-collar realities of his profession—a man of quiet cunning, unconcerned with glory, focused solely on the task. The performance resonates with echoes of his celebrated work in The Family Man, blending professional tenacity with a distinct Mumbai flavour and a dry, understated humour. In stark opposition stands Jim Sarbh as Carl Bhojraj, a fictionalized iteration of the serial killer Charles Sobhraj. The character is a study in duality: a charming, sophisticated trickster and a ruthless murderer. Sarbh, who has cultivated a formidable reputation playing complex antagonists (Neerja, Padmaavat), masterfully leverages his hypnotic on-screen charisma. He embodies the historical Sobhraj’s manipulative allure, presenting a villain who is as intellectually seductive as he is menacing. The resulting “electric face-off” transcends a simple hero-villain clash, becoming a confrontation between two distinct performance methodologies and the social worlds they signify. Bajpayee’s grounded, vernacular realism is pitted against Sarbh’s theatrical, cosmopolitan polish, staging a metaphorical duel that elevates the film beyond a conventional crime story into a nuanced commentary on dueling identities in a transforming nation.
A Marathi Auteur’s Hindi Debut
The film marks the Hindi directorial debut of Chinmay D. Mandlekar, a graduate of the National School of Drama who also penned the script. Mandlekar is a prolific and respected figure in the Marathi entertainment industry, primarily known for his extensive work as an actor, writer, and stage director within the historical drama genre, with acclaimed films like Farzand and Pawankhind to his credit. His transition to a Hindi-language production for a global streaming platform is emblematic of a significant trend in contemporary Indian cinema, where Over-the-Top (OTT) services act as a conduit between robust regional industries and the national mainstream. This allows a filmmaker with a deep, vernacular understanding of a specific cultural milieu—in this case, Maharashtra—to transpose a “grounded sense of place and perspective” onto a larger canvas. The project is produced by Om Raut and Jay Shewakramani under the Northern Lights Films banner. For Raut, himself a director with roots in Marathi historicals like Lokmanya: Ek Yug Purush, the film fulfills his father’s long-held wish to see the story of the real-life Inspector Zende dramatized. This investment in a local, “Marathi superhero” aligns with Netflix’s strategy of championing “heartland heroes”—culturally specific stories woven into the fabric of Indian history, yet packaged with nationally recognized stars for pan-Indian appeal.
Crafting a Retro Criminal World
The film’s aesthetic coherence is crucial in balancing its tonal complexities, a task largely shouldered by its cinematography and musical score. Cinematographer Vishal Sinha, whose oeuvre spans from the raw realism of Bhoot to the stylized romanticism of Raanjhanaa, creates a visual language that accommodates both the grim underpinnings of the crime story and the quirky levity of its comedic interludes. Sinha’s adeptness with low-light photography, particularly his use of the Sony VENICE camera system, allows him to capture the authentic character of the city at night, using naturalistic sources to evoke the period’s atmosphere without sacrificing visual clarity. This technical precision grounds the film in a tangible reality, lending texture to its nostalgic recreation of Mumbai. The musical score, by composer Sanket Sane, navigates a similar duality. Sane, known primarily for his work in the Marathi music industry with a foundation in folk and devotional melodies, provides a soundscape that must pivot between the tension of the chase and the humorous banter of Zende’s team. The selection of a composer with roots in traditional musical forms appears to be a deliberate choice to enhance the film’s local flavour. Together, the cinematography and score achieve a coherent mise-en-scène, creating a world where the dialectic of grit and quirk feels organic, preventing the film from fracturing under its own generic ambitions.
The Serpent Reimagined
While inspired by true events, Inspector Zende engages in significant historical reframing. The factual basis is the decades-long pursuit of Charles Sobhraj by Mumbai Police officer Madhukar Zende. Sobhraj, known as “The Serpent,” was a French serial killer who preyed on Western tourists along the “hippie trail” in the 1970s. Zende, a highly decorated officer, first arrested Sobhraj in 1971 in connection with a planned heist, though Sobhraj later escaped. The more famous capture, which forms the film’s climax, occurred in 1986 after Sobhraj orchestrated an infamous escape from Tihar Jail by drugging the guards. Astutely deducing his target’s habits, Zende successfully apprehended the fugitive in Goa. The film fictionalizes names—Sobhraj becomes Carl Bhojraj—to allow for narrative license, but its most significant departure is its comedic tone. This choice distinguishes it from more somber portrayals, such as the BBC/Netflix series The Serpent. By centering the narrative on the inspector, the film engages in a form of hero-centric revisionism. The story is effectively reclaimed from the globally infamous criminal and reframed as a triumphant tale of local Indian ingenuity. The quirky comedy serves to domesticate the horror of the real crimes, transforming an international story of terror into a celebratory national narrative about a “heartland hero” whose resourcefulness outmatched a world-renowned master of deception.
The Cat-and-Mouse Game as Social Commentary
Ultimately, Inspector Zende employs the familiar structure of a cat-and-mouse thriller to explore enduring themes of justice and heroism. The genre, with its inherent focus on pursuit, evasion, and psychological games, provides a compelling framework for the contest between Zende’s street-smart instincts and Bhojraj’s manipulative intellect. The film finds its place in the evolution of the Indian crime-comedy, a genre that has moved from the overt social satire of classics like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro to the darker, edgier sensibilities of contemporary films like Andhadhun. Inspector Zende carves its own niche, using its comedic elements not for biting satire but to underscore the unabashed determination of its characters. The film’s thematic core is the triumph of an ordinary man who delivers an extraordinary form of justice, a narrative that resonates deeply within a cinematic tradition in India that often celebrates heroes who operate with a moral clarity that transcends a flawed system. By focusing on the real-life officer who twice bested one of the world’s most elusive criminals, the film crafts a narrative that is at once a piece of nostalgic entertainment, a compelling character study, and a testament to the timeless appeal of the underdog.
The film premiered on the streaming platform Netflix on September 5, 2025.
