The opening sequence of Raat Akeli Hai showcases an accident/murder, something that it gives you as a prerequisite in order to further enjoy the film. While the story is well-written and carried out, this initial piece of detail wasn’t enough to justifiably stretch out the story to 150 minutes. This dramatically climaxed film, offers all what it promises, but leaves you wondering if that could’ve been sufficed to a shorter length, given the inability to provide equally gripping narratives throughout.
Set in a small town of UP, Raat Akeli Hai tells the story of what follows when a rich landlord gets shot and murdered on his own wedding night. All his family members are suspects including his wife Radha (Radhika Apte) who is now inherited all his wealth. Inspector Jatil Yadav (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is assigned this case and is determined to unfold the truth, by hook or by crook. Filled with an ensemble of Ila Arun, Shweta Tripathi, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Aditya Srivastava among others, the casting doesn’t just seem fit because of them being fine actors but also because their presence justifies their character sketches to perfection.
Later in the film, Jatil and Radha develop feelings for each other, which seem unnecessary not because it is a crime thriller and typically love doesn’t really hold a place, but also because the inclusion of this angle isn’t nuanced enough to flow along with other elements of the story. With an already wide range of technicalities to be understood, there isn’t room for one to make sense of this love blooming between the officer assigned and the prime suspect.
Some things are a given barely when there’s news of such projects coming up, and expectedly so there are mentions of many social issues like obsession to fairness or racism, politics and how that effects crime and casual sexism in families that knows no bounds once ignorance seeps in. Director Honey Trehan should be commended for portraying all these elements without any one seeming tedious or out of place. He did a brilliant job on his debut directorial, and for most part managed to maintain inquisitiveness.
Having watched quite a number of murder mysteries and crime thrillers, I can say that the key doesn’t lie in trying to figure out the murderer because any way clues that hint toward the actual murderer are only dropped by the end of the film by which you’re already too invested in the ‘clues’ you picked up which are hard to look past.
Ila Arun as Jatil’s mother is a strong female character. The strength of any character is determined by all it is exposed to, and mothering a patriarchy-driven son (initially), her character should be lauded for outgrowing the stereotypes of her own age and surroundings and shining on. All the female characters in the film for that matter, are strong in their own sense. Some just couldn’t outgrow their obstacles.
For anyone who is watching Raat Akeli Hai just for the climax, you’re in for a good surprise that will make you think and also jump off your seats. After a series of problematic or delusional content, Netflix has finally delivered something worth being number one on Trending.
The F Word 