Gajab Raat Review: Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey unite once again to bring a crime thriller that explores corruption, moral dilemmas and the consequences of actions over the course of a single night. Taken away from a simple night of raiding, SI Ajay Nirvit is pushed into a complex case where the twists and turns leave an innocent woman’s fate being controlled by corrupt politicians. The film, at over 120 minutes, showcases people’s worst sides and how common people bear the brunt of political corruption.
The cast includes Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta, Akshay Oberoi, Saqib Saleem, Rajiv Gupta, Shraddha Das, Aditi Sandhya Sharma, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and Kiku Sharda, and the film is directed by Neeraj Pandey and Ritesh Shah.
Gajab Raat Review
One Night, One Decision, Multiple Consequences
At 2 hours, Gajab Raat movie packs the runtime with shocking decisions and consequences that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. Following a corrupt SI who finds himself moved by a young woman’s courage, the film is a no-nonsense watch that, although it appears to be based on another disturbing incident, soon turns into a showcase of how deep corruption runs and how it’s slowly hollowing the country out.
As Ajay’s investigation progresses, the film showcases the push and pull between financial gain and a newly imbued sense of justice and professional responsibility. We see him slowly realising how his small choices have huge implications for the country and the very fabric of life, something that adds a different element of thrill to the runtime that viewers will expect to find. The consequences extend beyond just the immediate case, turning an already complicated situation into a fight for survival.
The single-night element of Gajab Raat makes it a tense watch, making its fast-paced narrative impactful and turning up the heat. Viewers will feel the pressure that Ajay himself is feeling and how quickly he must make his choices while also thinking about how they will affect the nation as a whole. It’s an interesting plot device for a suspense thriller as the ticking time reminds us how every minute counts.
The film, thus, maintains its urgency while also exploring the consequences of corruption and compromised morals. As a result, the investigation happens smoothly, and viewers will find themselves wondering what comes next. Although the answer to these difficult questions is a bit obvious and unconvincing, it’s Manoj Bajpayee who ultimately holds the reins of the film tightly and makes it enjoyable till the end.
Manoj Bajpayee Brings a Morally Complicated Cop to Life
As mentioned earlier, Gajab Raat works mainly due to Bajpayee, who does a fantastic job as the corrupt cop who will do anything for money. However, his changing worldview makes the film an interesting character study and highlights how even the worst people can move over to the light. The film starts with a cop whose motivations are as twisted as they get. This morally complicated cop’s journey over the course of this one night, wherein he must choose between personal gain and responsibility, thus makes for an arresting watch. While the overarching story about the injured girl and political turmoil isn’t impressive, Bajpayee’s Ajay somewhat makes up for its shortcomings.
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the other characters, who are mostly caricatures of bad guys that we see on film. Some are Disney villains while others are greyer, but overall, none are worth remembering. Rajiv Gupta, though, is delightfully hilarious and shares good banter with Bajpayee.
Does Ritesh Shah’s Directorial Debut Do Justice?
Pandey and Bajpayee collaborate after Special 26 and Aiyaary. The former is a delightful heist thriller, but the same can’t be said about Gajab Raat. This is Ritesh Shah’s directorial debut, and basing the crime thriller within tight time constraints makes for a tense venture. However, beyond that, the film lacks the charm and novelty that you might expect from a crime thriller. The revelation is obvious, and the supporting characters show an obvious lack of personality and character development that will disappoint viewers. It also takes away from delivering on the tense premise that it started with, leaving viewers with an obvious entertainer that doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Is Gajab Raat Worth Watching on Netflix?
An intriguing premise and a morally complicated protagonist can’t completely save a film with a half-baked revelation and supporting characters. While the central story is intriguing and explores the consequences of corruption and how it affects the country, the film never reaches that satisfying conclusion that one might expect from a crime thriller. Although the ending is quite interesting and realistic, it’s somewhere in between, and the film loses its audience.
Final Verdict
Overall, Gajab Raat is entertaining but not memorable. There are characters whom we never get to know the name of, much less get to know what they do. The film is unable to give every character equal attention, considering there are so many unnecessary ones. In the end, this one’s a good one-time watch, but don’t get your hopes up!
Gajab Raat is streaming on Netflix right now. Let us know your thoughts about the crime thriller in the comments below!
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