Rating: 3/5
Gajab Raat is a crime thriller on Netflix that turns one night in Delhi into a dangerous game of corruption and conspiracy.
Directed by Ritesh Shah, the film follows a corrupt cop forced to choose between personal gain and doing the right thing. With Manoj Bajpayee leading the story, it promises suspense but struggles to sustain it.
The plot follows Sub-Inspector Ajay Nirvit (Manoj Bajpayee), whose night takes an unexpected turn when an injured woman escapes from a CBI officer’s car. As Ajay investigates, NGO worker Neha Prabhu (Shraddha Das) joins the case, while the CBI and NIA become involved.
A ₹5 crore bribe raises the stakes, forcing Ajay to navigate a conspiracy involving powerful people. Bajpayee delivers an entertaining performance, using sharp dialogue and calculated expressions to portray the corrupt cop. Akshay Oberoi is restrained as CBI officer Navin Madhok, while Divya Dutta, Saqib Saleem and Rajiv Gupta support the story.
Ritesh Shah and Neeraj Pandey’s screenplay builds intrigue through sharp, realistic dialogue, gradual revelations and dark humour. However, the writing loses steam in the second half, with implausible developments and a convenient climax weakening the mystery.
Shah’s direction keeps the numerous characters and plot threads accessible, but Ajay’s sudden moral shift lacks convincing justification. Arvind Singh’s cinematography captures Delhi’s tense atmosphere, while Sanjoy Chowdhury’s background score adds suspense. The absence of songs keeps the focus on the investigation.
Should you watch Gajab Raat?
Gajab Raat is worth a watch for fans of crime thrillers and Manoj Bajpayee, whose performance lifts an uneven script. However, a weaker second half and an unconvincing resolution prevent it from becoming a gripping thriller.
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