AN UNINSPIRED COP-DRAMA

N Indian Police Force, Rohit Shetty makes references to some great films. The second episode begins with cop Kabir Malik (Sidharth Malhotra) having a conversation with his ailing wife (played by Isha Talwar) about the Hrishikesh Mukherjee film Anand (1971). Kabir says that he hates the film, much to the disappointment of his wife.

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Later, in one of the episodes, a bad guy, after he is beaten up, makes an offer to one of the protagonists. A clear homage to The Godfather (1972). In a flashback, some characters go to watch Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995).

However, the effect of Shetty's cop-drama is hardly close to the films he referenced. All the films mentioned manage to express their emotions to the audience. In Indian Police Force, however, emotions are caged in the overtly loud and uninspired filmmaking.

The series opens with the aftermath of a bomb blast and we see wounded and disfigured bodies. After lingering on this ghastly scene for a few moments, we are introduced to Kabir as he walks out from the smoke, in 'slow motion', with an elevated background score.

Right in the opening minutes of the show, something feels off. Having the protagonist enter a gloomy scene heroically takes the rhythm away. It is clear that empathising with the victims of the explosion was never the motive.