Akshay Shah’s directorial debut ‘Zende’ is a cinematic tour de force without any parallels. The world of cinema has seen many cop stories but Zende comes across as a breath of fresh air. In a world of celluloid ‘Singhams,’ Madhukar Zende is as real a supercop as it can get, in flesh and blood.
Everything about Madhukar Zende (who recently turned 85) is so simple yet fascinating. Revered even by the most dreaded criminals Mumbai ever saw, Zende’s biggest triumph was nabbing the serial killer Charles Sobhraj in Goa in 1986. However, the film’s choice to depict his humanitarian side to go along with his tough supercop aura allows the viewers to understand Zende not just as an extraordinary officer but also as an extraordinary human being who dared to care about the people around him, whether dropping kids to school in his police Jeep, helping ailing people reach the hospital in the middle of the night or defusing communal tension amidst the chaos of the Bombay Riots.
Akshay Shah’s ‘Zende’ transcends the boundaries of conventional filmmaking. It’s one of the first Indian feature documentaries to tap into the power of artificial intelligence technology, recreating and regenerating iconic locations and moments from Mumbai’s history. This unique approach promises an immersive cinematic experience that’s both visually stunning and emotionally resonant.
‘Zende’ offers a perspective-altering journey. Director Akshay Shah explains, “I really believed in Zende Sahab. I have never seen a police officer as lively as him. I wanted to know more about him, and that’s what the documentary is. The only difficulty I had was to convince others that I was making a documentary on Zende Sahab. People would often comment, ‘So, you are trying to make another Singham!’ But I enjoyed the journey very much, and whenever I used to feel low, I would think of Zende Sahab and play one of his dialogues from the footage we had shot with him. That alone would cheer me up.”
The film isn’t just a tribute to Zende; it’s also a love letter to the city of Mumbai, chronicling the extraordinary life of a true hero without a holster. In the words of Tushar Haware, co-producer, “Zende is more than a story; it’s a tribute to a super-cop, a true hero without a holster, marching from the city of Bombay to Mumbai. We hope Mumbaikars join us on this riveting journey, where the past comes alive, and one man’s unwavering spirit transforms not just a city, but also the hearts and minds of its people.”
Jitin Hingorani, head of programming at the NFDC Film Bazaar, has played played a significant role as an Associate Producer. His association with the project began with a chance encounter. Shah reveals, “Jitin Hingorani saw one of our short films with Raghubir Yadav, which was featured at Cannes. Actually, we had sent it to his festival in the US. So that’s how we started conversing, and we also told him about our upcoming project, ‘Zende.’ So it started off with smaller discussions, and he started helping us with minor things. And once the film got ready, we decided to bring him on board in a larger capacity.”
‘Zende’ isn’t just a film; it’s an epic chronicle of Madhukar Zende’s extraordinary journey. His audacious pursuit of justice, his unorthodox methods, and his profound compassion have left an indelible mark on the city he served. It’s a story that breaks the shackles of stereotypes and transcends the boundaries of conventional cinema, inviting audiences to reevaluate the essence of storytelling.
‘Zende’ is brilliantly edited by Shachi Singh who closely worked with Akshay for the entirety of three years to bring the film to life. Also, the playful score by Sneha Khanwalkar breathes life into the film’s refreshing narrative. ‘Zende’ challenges preconceived notions and offers a compelling narrative that’s as entertaining as any feature film, with an enduring message of humanity and change. The film’s world premiere at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival proved to be an experience that goes beyond the screen, offering a glimpse into the life of a true superhero in the heart of Mumbai’s underworld.