This is one more Neeraj Pandey film that follows his body of work—on the police, intelligence officers, criminals, businessmen, and as we saw in Taskaree, even customs officers occupying centerstage.
Gajab Raat is about two cops—a Station Head Officer Praveen Rana (Rajiv Gupta) and his deputy, Sub-Inspector Ajay Nirvit (Manoj Bajpayee), who both dream of an ideal and idyllic life ahead because of their propensity for taking bribes. Just as Nirvit raids a hotel teeming with sex workers, and is hoping for the usual compensation (to be shared with his superior) from the parties concerned, he is sent by a higher cop to cover the case of an anonymous girl, who has been seemingly thrown out of a running SUV and has brutal injuries on her face and body,
The girl is admitted to a Delhi hospital, the media goes ballistic and once it is known that she is critical but not dead, there are pressures on Nirvit to have her killed. And attempts to do so. Even Nirvit is tempted because of a huge sum offered, but destiny has writ that his sleeping conscience will for once be awakened.
The girl is alternatively described by interested parties as either a sex worker or a foreigner of dubious integrity. Involved here is CBI officer Naveen (Akshay Oberoi) who fibs to Ajay that the case has been transferred to him (which makes the latter realize that the story here is bigger than that a mere girl being thrown out of a vehicle).
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Also, around are NIA agent (Saqib Saleem) and even a social worker, Neha (Shraddha Das) of the organization VVW (Vigilant Volice for Welfare), besides a politician (Divya Dutta).
Soon, the girl is identified as journalist Arya Singh (Aditi Sandhya Sharma) and the lid is blown off an international conspiracy to create a fake vaccine shortage.
Ritesh Shah has written the film with Neeraj Pandey (also the producer) from Deepak Venkateshan’s story, but I could not understand Covid as the base for the tale since the film is clearly not set during those times. The screenplay is gripping for the most, though I found the final climax quite watered down and dull after the exciting earlier momentum. This film had been titled Ghooskhor Pandat, but had to be renamed and its protagonist’s name changed when protests broke out from the pandit community.
Shah has been known as a versatile writer for over 20 years now and turns director with this film. Though egged on by Sanjoy Chowdhury’s rousing background score, his directorial skills need some amount of modification for better pace, depth and intensity. But the highlights are the lines he has given to Bajpayee as well as to Rajiv Gupta. They are incisive, wry and humorously satirical and help in heightening their performances.
Manoj Bajpayee is in his element as Nirvit and giving him excellent company are Rajiv Gupta as Rana and Akshay Oberoi as Naveen. Pandey favorites Divya Dutta and Saqib Saleem get limited scope. Kiku Sharda is tepidly amusing and Darius Chinoy, Sumit Gehlawat and Sunit Tandon are alright in smaller roles. Shreya Rukmini as the nurse impresses while Nushrratt Bharuccha as Rosie does what her character needs.
Technically, the film is on par and is concise at 124 minutes. But it ranks nowhere near the narrative aces Pandey’s stable is known for.
Rating: ***
Netflix presents Friday Storytellers’ Gajab Raat Produced by: Neeraj Pandey Directed by: Ritesh Shah Written by: Deepak Venkateshan, Ritesh Shah & Neeraj Pandey Music: Sanjoy Chowdhury Starring: Manoj Bajpayee, Akshay Oberoi, Saqib Saleem, Aditi Sandhya Sharma, Rajiv Gupta, Divya Dutta, Kiku Sharda, Darius Chinoy, Sumit Gehlawat, Sunit Tandon, Shreya Rukmini, Sp. App.: Nushrratt Bharuccha & others
