Five years after the acclaimed original, director Honey Trehan and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui reunite for Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, a sequel that ambitiously expands its scope but struggles to recapture the nail-biting suspense that defined its predecessor. Released on December 19, 2025, exclusively on Netflix, this 2-hour-16-minute Hindi thriller presents a larger mystery but delivers a more subdued emotional punch.
A Larger Canvas, A Muted Thrill
The film transports viewers back to Uttar Pradesh, where the influential Bansal family has been brutally massacred. The case, initially dismissed as supernatural, falls into the lap of the seasoned and intuitive Inspector Jatil Yadav (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Summoned by DGP Sameer Verma (Rajat Kapoor), Jatil enters an investigation that seems straightforward: a killer is identified, and there's an eyewitness, Meera (Chitrangada Singh).
However, Jatil's instincts scream that the truth is buried under layers of privilege, greed, and betrayal. As institutional pressure mounts to close the case quickly, the inspector's quiet persistence becomes the audience's guide into a complex web of motives. The narrative cleverly inverts the classic 'whodunit'—the 'who' and 'how' are known early on, making the 'why' the central puzzle.
Nawazuddin's Quiet Intensity Anchors The Film
Once again, Nawazuddin Siddiqui proves his mastery, delivering a performance of remarkable restraint and quiet intensity. He effortlessly differentiates Jatil Yadav from his many other cop roles, portraying a man wrestling with his conscience amid external pressure. His understated portrayal is the film's strongest pillar, lending credibility to every step of the prolonged investigation.
The supporting cast, including Chitrangada Singh, Deepti Naval, and Radhika Apte, delivers capable performances but is hampered by characters that lack depth. Singh's Meera and Naval's enigmatic Guru Maa are visually compelling but their motivations feel underexplored. Radhika Apte's Radha, now Jatil's girlfriend, provides personal warmth but her subplot feels disconnected from the core mystery, adding little to the narrative drive.
Where The Bansal Murders Loses Its Grip
Despite its intriguing premise and strong central performance, the film falters in maintaining suspense. Director Honey Trehan's sincere and restrained approach unfortunately translates into a lack of visceral tension and urgency over its 136-minute runtime. Smita Singh's layered screenplay becomes long-winded, diluting the impact of key revelations.
The film's most significant letdown is its climax, which feels convenient and underwhelming after such a meticulous, slow-burn buildup. Crime thrillers thrive on the cathartic thrill of discovery, but The Bansal Murders keeps curiosity alive without ever truly setting the pulse racing. The final rating reflects this divide: the film earned a 3.0 Critic's Rating and a 3.0 Users' Rating, with sub-scores of 3.0 for Direction, Dialogues, and Story, and a slightly higher 3.5 for Visual Appeal.
In conclusion, Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders is a well-intentioned sequel that broadens its narrative landscape but dulls its thrilling edge. It remains an intermittently engaging watch, powered almost single-handedly by Nawazuddin Siddiqui's compelling presence. For dedicated fans of the first film and Siddiqui's admirers, it offers a sincere, slow-burn experience. However, viewers seeking a taut, edge-of-the-seat mystery may find its pace too leisurely and its payoff lacking the necessary punch.
