Raat Akeli Hai

Director – After Mukesh Chhabra, casting director Honey Trehan is making his directional debut with Raat Akeli Hai.

Genre – Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Starring – Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Shweta Tripathi, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Aditya Srivastava, Nishant Dahiya

Story – Uttar Pradesh Senior Inspector Jatil Yadav (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) gets involved in a high profile case. A Thakur in a small town is killed during his second marriage with a girl half his age. Thakur’s young wife is suspected by the family but everything is not what meets the eyes. As the story progresses, the needle of suspicion moves from one character to another and as four more murder takes place, the plot thickens further.

PRO

Acting – It was a refreshing sight to see Nawazuddin as Inspector Jatil Yadav who is fearless but conscious about his looks and relationship status(which is forever single). His chemistry with his witty mother, effortlessly played by Ila Arun, showcase a simple Indian middle-class life. Radhika Apte shines again playing the recently widowed girl who is in the target of every family member as she stands to inherit the property of the dead Thakur. Honey has utilized his experience as the casting director to choose the line up of fine actors including Tigmanshu Dhulia, Shweta Tripathi, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Nishant Dahiya, Ila Arun, Swanand Kirkire, Aditya Srivastava. It was a treat to see such talent coming together and also, played their roles with complete honesty.

Story – The Raat Akeli Hai script by Smita Singh manages to hold your attention despite the complexity of the plot. The story of the movie gives off the feeling of those classic Agatha Christie novels. The rich and problematic patriarch dead, and a houseful or rich or poor suspects who all had a motive; the detective gathering all the suspects and dramatically explaining and declaring the killer’s identity. However in this case we have Jatil Yadav investigating the case instead of Poirot. Concepts of Child assault within traditional families, the age-old practice of families of servants working for the haveli, corrupt police officers, and political figures have been incorporated.

Guess the Bollywood Adaptation

Direction – The film is shot brilliantly with exceptional skills behind the lens and lighting by cinematographer Pankaj Kumar. Each frame is composed of precise purpose, serving to underline or regulate the moment and its defining mood. Bollywood has set the bar very low when it comes to the whodunnit thriller genre. The story along with the fresh direction and tone of this movie helps in cementing its own unique identity in Bollywood Thriller Genre.

CON

Length/Pacing/Editing – Raat Akeli Hai runs for 150 minutes which is 50 minutes too long for a thrilling thriller. Though there are only 2 songs, they could have been easily avoided. The pacing in the middle of the movie will lead you to check your watch. The movie would have gained an extra couple of points if it maintained the starting pace throughout the movie. Snappy and sharp editing would have trimmed the fats and may have helped it reach the level of a classic like Andhadhun.

How Much Time Left

VERDICT – Watch it. If you are an ardent Bollywood fan, this movie will be like a breath of fresh air in terms of storytelling, visuals, and treatment of the genre. Though the pacing slack in between and you may get distracted in the middle, the movie manages to get back in track to keep you engaged till the end. Do not expect action or comedy, expect a slow burn movie and you will enjoy it.

WHEN TO WATCH IT – Alone in the night with ample time in hand.