It’s not every day that you get a chance to watch the story of a real-life hero in a fun, interesting and engaging way. And, that too, a movie connected with Goa.
Zende—The Supercop, a documentary of roughly 70 minutes, directed by Akshay Shah, was screened last weekend at Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), Panjim, as part of The Cinephile Film Club and the MAMI (Mumbai International Film Festival) Year Round Program, where 15 diverse films, right from short films to documentaries, were showcased.
The event was held from April 11 to April 14.
THE GOA CONNECT
The closing film of this program was, Zende, which was about the police officer from Mumbai, Madhukar Zende, who arrested the wanted serial killer and conman, Charles Sobhraj, at O’Coqueiro, situated at Porvorim, 38 years ago.
The film is about the personality behind this police officer, who managed many feats during his service, and arresting Sobhraj was just one of them. Even in this documentary, Zende himself mentions that it was minor part of his life.
However, for the Goan audience, it was the major reason to be drawn to this documentary.
The director, Shah, was interested in telling the story of Zende right from his personal life – how he met his wife, under what circumstances they got married and some of the remarkable work he did as a police officer in a city like Mumbai, which is full of challenges.
The film showcases his service at Dharavi slum — considered Asia’s biggest slum — and also how he diffused tense situations during the 1992 communal riots in Mumbai.
Zende, who was present at the screening, mentioned that the success of any police officer is based on the public. He said, “Policemen’s life cannot be successful without the willingness and active support of the public he serves. That’s the basic principal.”
He shared interesting anecdotes such as when he arrested the gangster, Arun Gawli, he received a call from a ruling party MLA.
Zende told him that he was too small a person to speak to an MLA, and so it would be better if he could speak to his commissioner. The MLA then realised how cunning he was.
ARRESTING SOBHRAJ
Zende also spoke about Sobhraj’s arrest, for which he made a visit to Goa with his team on April 2, 1986. He arrested Sobhraj on April 6 at O’Coqueiro restaurant in Porvorim. This story is now the stuff of local legends in Goa.
During the interaction, at the ESG, when asked whether it was true that the police had no handcuffs while arresting Sobhraj, he admitted that it was true as they were not sure if they would get him.
But, when they did get him, they tied his hands with the ropes available and then, immediately travelled to Mumbai by road.
While in the car, Sobhraj was made to sleep on his stomach, with two constables sitting on him so that he would not be able to move till they reached Mumbai.
He said that they had to do that as Sobhraj had a black belt in karate, with a history of escaping.
This arrest made Zende famous overnight and there are movies, plays and even a comic book narrating this incident.
Zende also shared an anecdote that when the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was visiting Mumbai, few days after the Sobhraj’s arrest, he stopped his car when he recognised Zende who was standing on a road junction and was on duty.
This shows how popular he had become and his picture had made it to every national and international newspaper and magazine of the time.
One interesting fact that came to light during the documentary, and also during the interaction, was that Zende had arrested Sobhraj twice.
Prior to 1986, he had arrested him in Mumbai in 1971. Zende narrated the entire incident of how he managed to get all the details from a local thief, and arrested Sobhraj, and was successful in preventing a dacoity at the Air India office.
One interesting fact that came to light during the documentary, and also during the interaction, was that Zende had arrested Sobhraj twice.
When asked how he managed the communal riots situation, he said it was because of his image which he had built over a span of 30 years. He added that wherever he was posted, he made friends with the locals, learned their language, etc.
He said, “I had lot of confidence as I had developed strength, which is something that you can’t do overnight.”
Zende, now 86, is a jovial personality who has a very positive outlook towards life, and is quite fit considering he is an octogenarian.
When asked about his exercise regime, he shared that being a part of the Rashtra Seva Dal, he loves to help people, has a positive attitude, walks 10 km everyday, does yoga and has one meal a day.
