Raat Akeli Hai - The Bansal Murders

It's taken only five years for the makers of the acclaimed thriller Raat Akeli Hai to come up with a sequel, now with the added tagline 'The Bansal Murders'. This establishes two things immediately: one, the team was in no hurry for the sake of eyeballs. Two, it gave them ample time to work on a genuinely interesting thriller.

A moody whodunnit that rarely surprises. It's strong performances contrast with its predictable climax and familiar twists.

Despite many attempts of Bollywood at whodunnit thrillers, this film holds its unique identity. All said and done, Raat Akeli Hai is one of the better whodunnit thrillers out there. Despite the dark undertone throughout, there aren't really any dull moments. An intriguing watch!

Raat Akeli Hai 2 is watchable, but considering the strength of its predecessor, it could have been more engaging, with a greater sense of urgency and a sharper, cleverer story. The Bansal Murders isn't as sharp as its predecessor, but still stands as an engaging standalone film, with a murder mystery that keeps you interested throughout.

A sincere, slow-burn sequel elevated by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, but short on the tension that made the original compelling. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's quiet intensity powers an ambitious but tame thriller.

Honey Trehan’s sequel to 'Raat Akeli Hai' (2020), starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, makes a Knives Out-sized dent in the Hindi genre landscape

The filmmaker transports us to the heart of Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow-Kanpur axis, spinning a sharp crime thriller with a throbbing conscience. By asking what happens when victims and perpetrators trade places, Honey brings emotional depth to the unraveling of the mystery. A refreshed Nawaz anchors the film with a restrained yet magnetic performance of an investigator navigating corruption, both within and without.