Detective Sherdil review explores the flashy but shallow murder mystery starring Diljit Dosanjh, now streaming on ZEE5 Global
Detective Sherdil opens with swagger—a rap number introduces Diljit Dosanjh’s quirky detective, who fancies himself as a cross between a pop star and Sherlock Holmes. The protagonist breaks into the crime scene with a camera in tow, prioritising social media highlights over forensic details. That’s the tone this ZEE5 Global film sets from the start: stylish, irreverent, and tonally confused.
This Detective Sherdil review points to the film’s biggest let-down—it looks smarter than it actually is. While the visuals and cast (including Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, Banita Sandhu and Diana Penty) channel the Knives Out template with flair, the mystery fails to engage. A telecom tycoon dies in a highway blast; Sherdil skips protocol, places the entire family under house arrest, and starts theorising without much credibility.
The family, of course, is a classic whodunit cocktail: jealous heirs, secret lovers, loyal drivers, and the ever-suspicious brother-in-law (Chunky Panday). With every twist, the film borrows cues—from CID, Karamchand, and even Pink Panther. But despite name-dropping, it never carves out a unique tone of its own.
Writer-director Ravi Chahabariya keeps the pace brisk, aided by zippy edits and pop visuals. Yet beneath the surface flair lies a hollow centre. Sherdil’s deductions are unimpressive, and the plot turns increasingly convoluted in the second half. There’s no real payoff, just red herrings and stylistic gimmicks.
Among the performances, Boman Irani is reliable as the dead patriarch in flashbacks. Ratna Pathak Shah brings a sharp edge to the manipulative matriarch. Diana Penty deserves credit for holding her own in confrontational scenes. Dosanjh, though charismatic, is let down by shallow writing.
In conclusion, Detective Sherdil is a visually polished, fast-paced film that lacks narrative depth and detective intelligence. It entertains in bursts but leaves viewers craving a mystery with more bite than banter.
