Showing posts with label Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders. Show all posts
Honey Trehan wanted me for a song in Raat Akeli Hai-Chitrangda Singh
8:56 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 27, 2025)
If things had played out differently, Chitrangda Singh would have been a part of the first instalment of director Honey Trehan’s Raat Akeli Hai (2020) itself. It’s not something she regrets, and for good reason. “Honey had gotten in touch with me for a song in the first film. They wanted to put a special song for the theatrical release. But that got dropped because the film went to OTT,” recalls the actor.
Funnily, her loss turned out to be her gain. Today, Singh is winning praise for her turn in Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, the second part of the Netflix murder mystery franchise. She recalls Trehan approaching her when she was shooting for Housefull 5.
“He messaged me, saying, ‘Do you know what you’re doing in January-February?’ I said, ‘I am shooting with you’,” she laughs.
Only when she sat for a meeting with Trehan did the actor learn that it was Raat Akeli Hai 2 with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte. Singh, who plays a grief-stricken mother in the crime thriller, says the director’s brief to her was to convey her emotions through body language.
“I had to remind myself that the energy of this woman is somebody who has lost her son. So, I doubled my [emotional] weight and dragged myself because the woman doesn’t even want to even live anymore.”
It also gave her an opportunity to be a part of a story that offers social commentary on the disparities existing within the society. A plot point in the film involves children falling sick due to a poisonous gas leaked from a factory. For Singh, who is a mother, it hit home.
“As a mother, I also worry about the water we’re drinking. When I was first reading the script, we were largely thinking of scenes and character graph. But while shooting, I realized that social commentary is such an important part of the film. What a character does in the end is because there is no justice.”
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To Chitrangda Singh, co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui is all about improvisation. She says, “Even if he says the same line 10 times, every time he’ll change [things] in it.”
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About Deepti Naval’s nuanced act, she says, “When you see her off camera, you know what she’s doing, but when you see it on the monitor, the impact [is unbelievable].”
Nawazuddin Siddiqui on Bollywood entourages: "What’s the need for so many people?"
8:28 AM
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 26, 2025)
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has never been one to follow industry conventions — whether in the roles he chooses or the opinions he shares. Weighing in on the ongoing entourage debate, the actor says he “prefers travelling with a small, tightly-knit team because it is far more efficient than managing a large crew”.
For him, a lean setup helps maintain focus and prevents situations he describes as being “overstaffed and underworked”, which, he believes, rarely serve any creative purpose. “Professionalism lies in knowing what is essential to the work and creative process,” he notes, adding, “That said, it’s also between a producer and an actor. Everyone is different and knows what they’re worth. If a producer is happy adjusting to someone’s demands, who am I to comment? I just prefer working with a small team.”
Nawazuddin, who was recently seen in Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, also spoke about the growing reliance on film franchises. “Even Hollywood is doing it, and doing it badly,” says the 51-year-old. “Successful films are repeatedly extended simply because the original worked — that’s not how it should be.”
He says audiences eventually see through such repetition. “You can’t be lazy with content. Some things shouldn’t be touched again and again,” he concludes.
(Crisp) Movie Review: RAAT AKELI HAI: THE BANSAL MURDERS by FENIL SETA
5:09 PM
Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, which has released today on Netflix, rests on a very shocking story. We have seen murder mysteries where usually one murder takes place at a time. Here, most of the family members are eliminated together. Hence, one can't help but get involved in the goings-on. The bond shared by the cop and the forensic doctor is lovely and also stands out. The suspense is unpredictable. Sadly, the writing and direction are not up to the mark. The members of the family are not properly introduced. A crucial angle in the second half is not properly depicted, which is shocking, since it's a crucial part of the goings-on. It is shown in an unhurried manner, while the suspenseful revelation happens all of a sudden. Also, there's no recall value for the first part, but the makers assume that we all remember it. This also goes against the film, especially in the mother-son scenes. Nawazuddin Siddiqui puts his best foot forward, as always. Chitrangda Singh adds to the mystery and intrigue with her lovely performance. Deepti Naval has a superb look and performance-wise, she’s first-rate. Sadly, the makers don't do much with this character. Revathy (Dr Panicker) is terrific and plays a very well fleshed-out character. Rajat Kapoor (DGP Sameer Verma), Priyanka Setia (Nisha), Akhilendra Mishra (S P Chauhan; cop) and Rahaao Bali (Om Prakash; guard) do very well in supporting roles. Sanjay Kapoor and Radhika Apte are great in special appearances. From the Bansal family, only Delzad Hiwale (Aarav) stands out. All in all, Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders is an average flick, just like the first part.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
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