Ever since Netflix announced 'Raat Akali Hai', I was excited to see Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte together again on screen after Sacred Games. Finally the film is released on 31st July 12.30pm and now available on Netflix. Although I missed it in the noon but watched it in the night. 

Honey Trehan is the second technician to become film director from casting director after Mukesh Chhabra this month. Till now known as casting director, this is Honey's first film as a director. Smita Singh who previously penned down the Sacred Games penned down the story of the movie. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Ila Arun presented it on screen. 

Radhika Apte and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Raat Akeli Hai (2020). Courtesy MacGuffin Films, RSVP and Netflix.

The story of the film revolves around the death of Thakur Raghuvendra Singh, who was killed on the night of his second marriage. He married a young girl Radha (Radhika Apte), the poor whom he had bought from Morena. Thakur's first wife died five years ago. Thakur has a full family but no one loves him. People of the family now fear that after the death of Thakur, all the property will belong to Radha. They are also angry. But the issue is who killed Thakur and why? However some people also say that Radha along with her lover has killed Thakur Raghuvendra Singh. But then one by one the secrets are opened and the truth of the murder mystery is revealed. The truth is quite shocking, and the links of the murder are related to each other in a way that is shocking.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Raat Akeli Hai (2020). Courtesy MacGuffin Films, RSVP and Netflix.

Nawaz is in form here. The first time is when he is in police uniform on screen and he has given justice to the character. Radhika Apte has acted in a fabulous way. Ila Arun is tremendous in the role of Nawaz's mother. His relationship with the son brings a lightness. The other male actors of the film, Nishant Dahiya, Tigmanshu Dhulia,Swanand Kirkire, and Aditya Srivastava manage to leave their mark. 

There have been many murder-mystery-thrillers in Bollywood, but there is some thing in 'Raat Akeli Hai', which makes it different from the rest of the films. The film seems very clear about its subject. Fear, eagerness, pressure, deception, perverted mentality all the emotions come out while watching the film. The thriller has a lighter tone and stronger performance like Johnny Gaddar and Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, you will feel it while watching Raat Akeli Hai. 

Raat Akeli Hai (2020). Courtesy MacGuffin Films, RSVP and Netflix.

The film's dialogue, cinematography, drama are its strong sides. Casting and camerawork are also good. At the same time, the only negative aspect of the film is its length, which needed a lot of editing.

The plot of the film is interesting and the story keeps it tied till the end.The thrill of the film does not get loose anywhere. The pace is maintained from beginning to end. This is undoubtedly the best content that has come on Netflix in recent times.