Manoj Bajpayee Headlines Ritesh Shah's Delhi Police Thriller 'Gajab Raat' on Netflix
Director Ritesh Shah's thriller Gajab Raat, starring Manoj Bajpayee in the lead role, has premiered on Netflix. The 120-minute feature film, created in collaboration with writer-producer Neeraj Pandey, offers an intricate look into the internal mechanics of law enforcement and systemic corruption in Delhi.
Originally titled Ghooskhor Pandat, the movie was renamed Gajab Raat following legal objections and a petition in the Supreme Court alleging that the original title and storyline were offensive to the Brahmin community. The Supreme Court accepted the filmmaker's decision to withdraw the initial title, observing the sensitive nature of public sensibilities surrounding community portrayals.
Plot and Institutional Conflict
The plot centers on Sub-Inspector Ajay Nivrit, played by Bajpayee, a corrupt yet exceptionally efficient Delhi Police officer. Operating alongside his immediate superior, SHO Rana (played by Rajiv Gupta), Ajay manipulates legal procedures and police authority to pursue personal financial ambitions, including funding his plans for a private farmhouse.
The narrative shifts rapidly during a single night. Following a routine hotel raid and extortion attempt, a public incident occurs when a young girl jumps from a moving SUV in Delhi's Connaught Circus. As information spreads across social media, Ajay is assigned to lead the investigation due to his proximity to the scene.
The case quickly escalates into a complex national security situation as higher authorities intervene. Officers from central agencies—including a CBI officer portrayed by Akshay Oberoi and an NIA operative played by Saqib Saleem—alongside a social activist played by Shraddha Das, converge at the hospital. These external figures attempt to take over the investigation and strip Ajay of his jurisdiction, leading to an intense administrative battle as Ajay uses his institutional knowledge to maintain control over the case.
Performances and Production Themes
Bajpayee anchors the narrative by portraying a flawed, hyper-efficient law enforcement officer navigating high-pressure administrative conflict. Departing from slow-paced dramatic roles, Bajpayee uses a fast cadence and rapid-fire dialogue delivery to convey the internal panic of an officer whose scheme unravels under intense scrutiny.
The supporting ensemble features dynamic interactions across various levels of authority:
- Rajiv Gupta plays SHO Rana, depicting a weary, experienced station officer navigating systemic pressure.
- Divya Dutta portrays a cold, restrained power figure, creating a strong contrast with Bajpayee's manic survival tactics.
- Akshay Oberoi plays a smooth, mysterious CBI officer, while Saqib Saleem appears as an NIA operative.
- Shraddha Das plays a social activist, and Suneet Tandon portrays a corrupt Lutyens' Delhi figurehead.
- Nushrratt Bharuccha makes a high-impact cameo appearance.
Through its dialogue and narrative structure, Gajab Raat explores how institutional corruption functions at different hierarchy levels, examining how rules and evidence are leveraged as tools for self-preservation within administrative systems. The film is currently available for streaming globally on Netflix.
