Detective Sherdil Review: Charm, Chaos, and a Case Half-Solved
So, I just watched Detective Sherdil on Zee5, and let me tell you—it’s got all the ingredients of a whodunit, but not all of them were cooked right. If you’re in the mood for something light and quirky, this might be worth your time. But if you’re looking for a sharp, edge-of-your-seat murder mystery, this one wobbles a bit more than it stabs.
The story kicks off in Budapest—yes, oddly enough, everyone from this Indian billionaire family and half the support staff are just chilling in Europe. The murder of business tycoon Pankaj Bhatti (played stylishly by Boman Irani) sparks the plot. Soon, we meet our titular detective, Sherdil, played by the ever-charming Diljit Dosanjh. He walks in with a harmonica, a twinkle in his eye, and enough self-confidence to declare himself a mix of Sherlock Holmes, Byomkesh Bakshi, and Karamchand. Honestly, you want to believe him—until the harmonica doesn’t stop, and the mystery refuses to bite.
That said, the cast does a fine job carrying the story through its many tonal shifts. Ratna Pathak Shah is a standout. Her role as the grieving—yet commanding—widow is nuanced and magnetic. If you remember Maya Sarabhai, this version is sharper and more layered. Diana Penty plays it cool and composed as a fellow officer, while Banita Sandhu impresses again despite a non-verbal role—she plays a deaf and mute character with a quiet dignity that sticks with you.
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Knives Out but edited for a midweek afternoon audience. The twists are there, and they do make a point—especially about strained relationships and emotional disconnect—but they’re overshadowed by background score overkill and inconsistent pacing.
Let’s give credit where it’s due: the twist isn’t a throwaway. It’s smart enough to tie the film’s emotional subtext with the mystery at hand. But it arrives a bit too late and after a few too many unnecessary distractions. Director Ravi Chhabriya, along with writers Ali Abbas Zafar and Sagar Bajaj, try to balance the thrills and laughs, but the balance wobbles. After the intense Jogi , it’s clear Zafar and Dosanjh were going for something lighter here, maybe even a bit tongue-in-cheek. Just wish the execution was tighter.
In the end, Detective Sherdil is a mildly entertaining ride, with moments of sparkle but lacking the gripping tension of a good mystery. Watch it for the performances—especially Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Banita Sandhu—but don’t expect it to leave you breathless. And please… someone hide that harmonica.
It’s fun in parts, forgettable in others, but definitely a decent pick if you're in the mood for a Bollywood-flavored, not-too-serious whodunit.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
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