Detective Sherdil: A Comedic Thriller with a Twist

Overview of Detective Sherdil

Sherdil, a character who claims to be 'cursed with genius,' exudes such confidence that it’s hard not to take him at his word, even if the evidence sometimes suggests otherwise.

As the top investigator for the Budapest police, he is ready for a well-deserved break, humorously stating, 'my next case is a suitcase,' when a new case arises. Billionaire Pankaj Bhatti (played by Boman Irani) has been murdered, and both his driver Jaipal (Mukesh Bhhatt) and accountant Purvak (Arjun Tanwar) have vanished.

Sherdil (Diljit Dosanjh) engages in playful questioning of Pankaj’s family, including his wife Rajeshwari (Ratna Pathak Shah), son Angad (Sumeet Vyas), daughter Shanti (Banita Sandhu), brother-in-law Bodhi (Chunky Panday), and maid Falak (Kashmira Irani Saxena). He embodies a mix of Sherlock Holmes, Byomkesh Bakshy, and Karamchand, as he describes himself.

Endowed with extraordinary charm, keen insight, and almost supernatural deductive abilities, Sherdil discovers that the circumstances surrounding Pankaj’s death are far more complex than they initially seem.

Ravi Chhabriya’s film, Detective Sherdil, is inspired by a narrative crafted by Chhabriya and Ali Abbas Zafar, with a screenplay co-written by Zafar and Sagar Bajaj.

Released on ZEE5, this film is a thriller that seeks a compelling mystery. The ensemble cast, particularly Sumeet Vyas and Ratna Pathak Shah, appears eager for a Knives Out-like adventure. While Detective Sherdil is filled with warmth, it lacks the depth of detective work that even light-hearted crime films typically require.

Questions about the presence of numerous Indian staff in Budapest or the feasibility of a wealthy family being placed under house arrest during an investigation seem irrelevant. Similarly, characters played by Diana Penty and Mikhail, who are Sherdil’s colleagues, serve little purpose other than to showcase Sherdil’s brilliance.

Once the audience sets aside expectations for basic investigative rigor—something that becomes apparent early on—the 106-minute film transitions into a comedy where adults behave like cartoon characters, and Sherdil leaps from one revelation to another. Diljit Dosanjh shines throughout the film without overshadowing his co-stars.

His smooth performance prevents Sherdil from appearing as an unbearable know-it-all, while his likable nature allows other actors to shine as well. Dosanjh’s charisma is bright enough to illuminate any setting. However, charm alone, even when assertive, has its limits.