Halfway into the latest installment of Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe, ‘Indian Police Force’ ejects its viewers into the midst of a feverish battle within the confines of a Goan warehouse. The protagonists, Sidharth Malhotra and Shilpa Shetty, who embody the valiant spirit of Indian police officers, unleash a flurry of high-octane kicks and punches on a notorious gang. Despite the adroitly choreographed pandemonium that mirrors the raw energy of independent action films, with the camera zealously capturing the melee in its frantic movements, the sequence risks drowning in its own relentlessness, running the risk of becoming unremarkable.
Beyond the ruckus in confined spaces, the spectacle soon departs to the open seas, with a boat chase intensifying the drama. Yet, rather than an escalation of excitement, this prolonged action induces a longing for a dash of the whimsical charm seen in director Shetty’s earlier, more bombastic films—perhaps even a charismatic cameo from the likes of Ranveer Singh. But no such levity comes to disrupt the gritty demeanor of the show.
Rohit Shetty, often ribbed for his extravagant style where automobiles notoriously explode and his penchant for slapstick, dives into Indian Police Force with a surprising departure from his trademark. Here, alongside co-director Sushwanth Prakash, Shetty crafts a series that strips away his usual dramatic flair to cater to an audience that has shown a predilection for narratives grounded in realism—those who relished ‘Special OPS’ and ‘Khakee: The Bihar Chapter’. Prime Video streams this endeavor, revealing Shetty’s acknowledgment of shifting viewer sensibilities. This underlying utilitarianism, void of excess, becomes both its distinguishing trait and its most dulling ingredient.
The narrative pivots around a series of terrorist bombings disrupting the Indian heartland, all linked to the notorious Indian Mujahideen. The plot takes a personal turn when the group orchestrates an explosion on the Delhi Police’s Raising Day, sending a challenge that reverberates across the nation. Two exemplary officers from the special cell unit, Kabir (Malhotra) and his superior Vikram (Vivek Oberoi), take on the mantle to dismantle the terrorist network. Both men are dedicated custodians of law and order—Kabir a recent widower and Vikram a family man, though his domestic life is but a faint sketch in the vast backdrop of his duty.
These protagonists, joined by Tara (Shilpa Shetty), a formidable officer from the Gujarat ATS, chase after a shadowy figure orchestrating the chaos—an adversary brought to life with compelling subtlety by Mayank Tandon. Kabir’s character stands as a notable first for the Shetty Cop Universe—the series’ premier Muslim protagonist. Yet, his religion is not a token for superficial diversity but a narrative tool meant to counterpoint the terror wrought by misguided youth fixated on skewed ideals. Kabir’s faith is invoked only to reprimand those betraying its essence; his personal beliefs remain obscured, deemed irrelevant to his patriotic mission.
As the series progresses towards its culmination, it dabbles briefly with the motivations that seduce young minds towards radicalism, but it deliberately veers away from deeper, politically charged undercurrents that often spark extremism.
Shetty’s knack for championing India’s police forces shines through in this latest project, providing a counter-narrative to the more prevalent military glorifications in the current filmic landscape. Whether set amid the languid beaches of Goa, the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, Delhi’s corridors of power, or rural Darbhanga, his cops operate with a hive-like unity, unencumbered by trivialities such as jurisdiction or hierarchy—a stance that seems undeterred even by the tarnished image of the Delhi Police following the 2020 riots, which goes conspicuously unaddressed in this offering.
Much like in his prior renditions as a patriotic soldier and spy, Siddharth Malhotra portrays Kabir with a commendable sense of honesty, bringing a refreshing sincerity to the assertive world of Rohit Shetty’s protagonists. Vivek Oberoi and Shilpa Shetty imbue their roles with memorable presence. And for those remembering Mukesh Rishi’s tenure in ‘Sarfarosh’, his continued portrayal as Inspector Salim does not fail to evoke a sense of seasoned commitment to the craft.
‘Indian Police Force’ is currently available for streaming on Prime Video, enriching the expansive portfolio of Hindi cinema and television with a new chapter in what has become a celebrated cop saga from one of the industry’s most resilient filmmakers.
