Rautu Ka Raaz (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – After the mysterious death of a warden of Sevadham school, it is up to inspector Negi who suffers from PTSD to solve the high-profile investigation which leads him to disturbing facts.

My Take – Few actors can elevate a film like Nawazuddin Siddiqui. A masterclass performer who has well proven his talents to imbue himself into any character the script demands. Who also over the past few years, with a few exceptions of course, and probably in an effort to cement a position in the big leagues, has been wasting himself in either misguided romantic comedies or over the top action flicks.

However, his strength as always has lied in standing out in smaller films, with smaller set ups, like his latest, a ZEE5 release, which once again sees him donning the police uniform and solving a whodunit murder mystery in a sleepy town, akin to one of his better recent films like Raat Akeli Hai (2020).

Promising a similar experience, albeit by switching the intense and dark tone of the Netflix release to a more laid-back, lighthearted and almost comical approach. Resulting in a pleasant contrast to the fast-paced, urbane murder mysteries that dot the streaming space.

Backed by yet another understated Nawazuddin Siddiqui performance, here, director Anand Surapur (The Fakir of Venice), who co-wrote the film with Shariq Patel, laces the police procedural with subtle humor, emanating from social stereotypes people in small towns live with, and impresses with a lazy murder investigation that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Yes, it contains some aspects that might seem implausible, and adopts a clichéd sad cop story to keep things relatable, nonetheless, the film’s approach to disability on screen, the grounded unhurried police work process and the muted beauty of a sleepy hill station make for a decent and refreshing watch.

Set in Rautu Ki Beli, a sleepy small town in Uttarakhand, the story follows Deepak Singh Negi (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a sharp but weird station house officer, who is struggling with insomnia due to a personal trauma. However, one regular morning, he is alerted by his Sub Inspector Naresh Prabhakar Dimri (Rajesh Kumar) to the death of Sangeeta (Narayani Shashtri), the warden of Sevadham School of blind, who was found in her room.

Though the staff of the school insists it is a natural death and Negi’s team of laggards don’t seem eager to stretch themselves. The postmortem report and the intuition of Negi breaks the tranquility of the serene territory, which has not witnessed a murder in the last 15 years. Sending Negi down a never-ending rabbit hole with suspects, past incidents, politics and power.

As one would expect, the scene of the crime is dotted with red herrings, plenty of witnesses, and several backstories where characters cross each other’s paths. The needle of suspicion moves towards the school’s founder Kesari (Atul Tiwari) but like the roads on the hills, the investigation either meanders or meets dead ends.

But much like life in the hills where everything moves at a relaxed pace, the film follows the same suit. Unfolding leisurely, with a deliberate pace that mirrors the laid-back investigation of a murder. Nevertheless, the slow revelation of secrets and characters during the murder investigation keeps the interest alive. Nothing shockingly dramatic happens, but not all films need to be that way.

Here, director Surapur completely does away with the usual-style chases and confrontations. There are no fight sequences, no big reveals, and no lengthy monologues. What we get instead is the kind of policeman we may have encountered in a police station near us.

And while, the backstory of Negi never really touches you or gets enmeshed with the narrative, it nonetheless remains gripping. But most importantly, it offers a different model for how to treat the disabled in our mainstream films in India.

The film introduced real-life visually impaired characters, who are involved in all activities from marital arts, cricket, and braille to playing music and writing poems. And director Surapur sneaks it all into Negi’s casual itinerary. In one fleeting scene watching the visually impaired go up and down the staircase with such ease that Negi is hilariously tempted to attempt it.

Performance wise, Nawazuddin Siddiqui once again does full justice to his role, playing it with the simplicity and authenticity required. His comic timing, dialogue delivery, and demeanor continue to be peculiar.

He is ably supported by Rajesh Kumar, who carries most of the film’s weight with his acting prowess and remarkable chemistry with Nawazuddin. His character suits him well, and his comic punches add a delightful touch to the film.

In supporting roles, Atul Tiwari and Samridhi Chandola deliver commendable performances. Narayani Shastri has little to do, despite that, she performs really well in her scenes. Pratham Rathod and Drishti Gaba as blind students Rajat and Diya, respectively, are adequately sweet as teens in the throes of their first love. On the whole, ‘Rautu Ka Raaz’ is a decent leisurely paced murder mystery starring a delightful Nawazuddin Siddiqui.