Singham to Streaming

Rohit Shetty, renowned for his high-octane cinematic style, doesn’t tone down his signature crash-bang-no-thank-you-ma’am approach in his inaugural foray into the realm of OTT with ‘Indian Police Force.’ Collaborating with co-director Sushwanth Prakash across seven episodes, they pack the action typical of their blockbuster cop sagas into the series. From battling evil Muslim terrorists to showcasing valiant Muslim cops, the show embraces clunky plotlines that disrupt innocent lives and a spectacle of cars and jeeps somersaulting through the air. To fill the extensive runtime, romantic duets between the attractive male lead and his love interest are seamlessly woven in. In case there were any doubts, references to ‘Singham,’ ‘Sooryavanshi,’ and ‘Simmba’ quickly dispel them, confirming the unmistakable presence of Rohit Shetty’s universe, despite the purported Delhi setting. Familiar visual cues of the capital’s landmarks serve as shortcuts, with a bomb predictably under an India Gate bench and the terrorist gang’s hideout conveniently near the Jama Masjid—CGI embellishments notwithstanding. Given the absence of Akshay-Ranveer-Ajay, the show features Sidharth Malhotra, Vivek Oberoi, and Shilpa Shetty, all clad in sharp khaki uniforms with not an inch to spare around their impeccably toned midriffs and identical trademark sunglasses. A pressing question arises: how did they differentiate their RayBans? While Vivek Oberoi deserved more screen time, Sidharth Malhotra’s contrasting good-boy demeanor and the violence he unleashes on suspects create a curious dissonance. Shilpa Shetty, however, steals the spotlight, reveling in her badass character, complete with some intense action sequences where she takes on the antagonists with kicks and lashes. The show’s carefree spirit, indifference to details, and generous delivering what would typically require a cinema ticket, set the stage for a potential second season. Indian Police Force Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Vivek Oberoi, Shilpa Shetty, Mayyank Tandon, Vaidehi Parshurami, Isha Talwar, Shweta Tiwari, Shruti Panwar, Mrinal Kulkarni, Sharad Kelkar, Mukesh Rishi Indian Police Force Directors: Rohit Shetty and Sushwanth Prakash