Film Review: Raat Akeli Hai

The Indian Netflix original film Raat Akeli Hai is a whodunit style murder mystery that follows Inspector Jatil Yadav (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), who is called in to investigate the murder of an old, rich aristocrat on the night of his wedding. He was shot, and his head bashed in by the butt of the rifle that fired at him. Yet, no one in the family seems to be aware of what happened, and who is responsible. Though, some members are quick to throw the young bride, Radha (Radhika Apte), under the bus. As the investigation goes on, Jatil learns more details that reveal the case to be much more complicated than initially assumed.

The film is written by Smita Singh, who has previously written on the Netflix series Sacred Games, and directed by Honey Trehan, who is making his directorial debut here after having already made a name for himself in Bollywood as a casting director. As a directorial debut, Raat Akeli Hai is strong, confident work. One that manages to indulge in the familiar tropes of a classic whodunit in a way that is assured in its approach, so as to not feel as derivative as it could have been.

It hits all the beats you might be familiar with. A passionate detective, a dysfunctional family, contrasting class dynamics, and at the center of everything, a murder that could theoretically be tied to anyone in a pool of suspects, with implications that could prove to spread the case beyond being just one household squabble. The mystery itself may not be the most groundbreaking or unique, especially compared to others in the genre, but it’s pulled together quite well, and it keeps you guessing until its big reveal in the final act.

As usual with stories like this, it’s the characters where the film works the strongest. Jatil is a compelling lead, and not just because he’s portrayed by someone with a commanding and natural presence as Nawazuddin Siddiqui. I like how the film provides a contrast between his lifestyle and that of the family he’s investigating. He lives in a small home with his mother, who is constantly pestering him about the fact that he has yet to get married, and they are clearly only making enough to scrap by. Meanwhile, the family is immensely wealthy; with power that stretches into local police officials and politicians.

Most of the other actors make do with a few character beats and traits, but Radhika Apte ends up taking center stage as someone whose allegiance and culpability for the murder remains in question for a good chunk of the film. Apte has done well playing characters who are often forced to make harsh and morally grey choices, and this performance fits in nicely in a strong filmography. Other players like Aditya Srivastav, Padmavati Rao, Nishant Dahiya, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Shreedhar Dubey, Riya Shukla, and Shweta Tripathi each get plenty of moments to shine as well. Particularly Rao, who plays the family matriarch who may know more than she lets on.

At around two-and-a-half hours, Raat Akeli Hai sometimes risk of overstaying its welcome, but thankfully, the film’s mystery, the film’s characters, and the craftsmanship behind it makes it a very riveting experience that knows how to keep you invested, bringing up more questions for every answer it gives. It’s dark, but not oppressively bleak, violent, but not gratuitously so. It’s great entertainment for adult audiences that makes a great use of its talented cast, and at the same time, marks a strong debut for Honey Trehan as a filmmaker. The way it explores class disparity and experiences of trauma rooted in the patriarchy is smartly woven into the narrative, pushing it from basic genre exercise into something more thoughtful and interesting. I try my best to shine a spotlight on Indian films that I think western audiences might find compelling and accessible as often as I can, and this is easily one of the better ones I’ve seen this year, so if you’re in the mood for a whodunit while you wait until Death On The Nile, this might scratch that itch for you.

Raat Akeli Hai is now available on Netflix.