Review for RAAT AKELI HAI.
• Language: HINDI.
• Duration: 02 Hours 29 Minutes.
• Genre: SUSPENSE CRIME THRILLER.
• PREMIERED ON NETFLIX.
• REVIEW BY ARUNJYOTHI.R.VALIYAVEETIL.
•POSITIVES:
1: DIRECTION
2: STORY & SCREENPLAY.
3: PERFORMANCE OF ACTORS.
4: CINEMATOGRAPHY.
5: BACKGROUND SCORE.
•NEGATIVES:
1: UNWANTED SONGS.
2: SLOW PACED MAKING.
3: RESEMBLANCES TO THE HOLLYWOOD FILM KNIVES OUT.
•ONE WORD: A worth watch movie that offers an unpredictable ending.
The plot of Raat Akeli Hai revolves around the mystery of a high profile murder that happens in a remote town. The horrifying mysterious murder is followed on an investigation by the clever minded police officer called Jatil Yadav played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Through the investigation, he gets deep into the dark past and virulent system of the victims family which is further followed by numerous twist and turns.
The film is directed by the debutant Honey Trehan and produced by Abhishek Chaubey and Ronnie Screwvala which is now streaming online through Netflix. The direction of Honey Trehan was realistic and his whole making had ended up to a fine level. As suspense oriented crime film until the ending the movie offers enough component to make the viewers thrill and also to find out the ultimate suspense the whole film offers the right amount of curiosity and eagerness.
The story had got the best right elements in making both with the suspense and mystery so eventually, the screenplay written by Smita Singh had fairly worked out according to the plot to make the viewers engage within the film. But those who have watched the Hollywood film ’Knives Out’ will find some similarity to its screenplay. There are many characters in the film which have a crucial involvement with many important subplots and each of these subplots were written rightly and it seizes to the right path where the conclusive ending lies. The building of various connections between the different characters leading to the climax was also convincing without leaving any sort of confusions.
The first half was neat taking enough time to establish the story but the second part was slow in pace which may leave the viewers to take a break and something that can crack the ongoing. Also, the lengthy duration was bothering from the second half, felt too exhausted by the duration, the makers could have focused to trim. So by this lengthy duration and sort of over detailing viewers may get clumsy at some point that may lead to skip or fast-forward some part to settle down with on knowing the head behind the crime. Nevertheless, the movie may bore at some point but still, the ending is surprising with an unexpected shocking climax and the incidents leading to it will resolve the small issue relating to ’Raat Akeli Hai’.
Another interesting thing I liked in the direction of Honey Tehran was the right choice of talented actors. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Inspector Jatil Yadav did a spectacular performance. No doubt it’s yet another top-class work of him, his involving enactment and also the mannerism for his character was rectified brilliantly. This particular characters ’Jatil Yadav demands many intensities and those whole qualities were seen lustrously on his performance. The dialogue delivery was also wonderful particularly at the investigation time with the crucial characters. Moreover, the qualities of an investigative police officer were undertaken accurately also a natural way of behaving was seen on his whole performance. All in all, as usual, Nawazuddin Siddiqui delivered yet another exceptional performance. The character ’Radha’ handled by Radhika Apte was also remarkable. Her face unfolding the various expression was a treat to watch. Her anger and frustration which the character demands was given fully by her. A mysterious shade in her character was also maintained by her accurately. Padmavati Rao, Swetha Tripathi and Shivani Raghuvanshi both did a notable performance, especially from the second half. Aditya Srivastava, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Nishant Dahiya also did complete justice to their respective supporting characters.
There musical work composed by Sneha Khanwalkar was mediocre but shines in making the best background score. The two songs in the movie were felt unwanted which doesn’t match in setting the scenarios. Those songs were added in a crucial scene and it was felt like a usual Bollywood routine which could have been avoided. But the background score was excellent, in formulating the right tone of the premise the BGM had stood up in the exact correct level. The background tunes at the climax and also the significant scenes where the story develops had matched flawlessly in making out the vivid momentum. The cinematography by Pankaj Kumar was also fantastic, the visuals of remote villages were captured according to the story. The lighting methods used in night shots particularly at the outdoor scenes were top class. The camera movements for the chasing scenes were also taken perfectly. The editing made by A. Sreekar Prasad was top class without any sort of single matches also the cuts were perfect but he could have been made advice to trim the lengthy duration of the film.
So overall ’Raat Akeli Hai’ won’t disappoint for the time we are spending, it has bright facets to make the audience thrill but the long duration and resemblances to the popular movie ’Knives Out’ may displease at some point.
• VERDICT: WORTH WATCH.
• RATING: 3/5.
