Rautu Ka Raaz is a 2024 Bollywood Hindi mystery drama film directed by Anand Surapur. Backed by Zee Studios in collaboration with producers Umesh Kr Bansal, Anand Surapur, and Chintu Srivastava, the film features acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead role, alongside Narayani Shastri, Rajesh Kumar, and Atul Tiwari in pivotal performances.
Set in the quiet village of Rautu, the story unfolds as a gripping mystery that combines atmospheric storytelling with intense performances. The film garnered attention at the prestigious 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), reflecting its critical recognition.
Rautu Ka Raaz premiered on ZEE5 on 28 June 2024 and was met with positive reviews from audiences and critics alike, who praised its storytelling, direction, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s compelling portrayal.
Cast and Crew
- Director: Anand Surapur
- Writer: Anand Surapur, Shariq Patel
- Producer: Zee Studios, Umesh KR Bansal, Anand Surapur, Chintu Srivastava
- Star Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Narayani Shastri, Rajesh Kumar, Atul Tiwari
- Cinematography: Sayak Bhattacharya
- Editor: Manish Jaitly, Anand Surapur
- Production company: Zee Studios, Phat Phish Records
- Genres: Drama, Crime, Mystery
- Distributor: ZEE5
- Release date: 28 June 2024
- Running time: 115 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
Rautu Ka Raaz 2024 Trailer
Film Star Cast
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Inspector (SHO)
- Deepak Singh Negi
- Narayani Shastri as Blind School Warden
- Sangeeta Nihau
- Rajesh Kumar as Assistant Sub-inspector
- Naresh Prabhakar Dimri
- Atul Tiwari as the School owner, Manoj Keshri
- Anoop Trevedi as Constable Rajender Tripathi
- Vicky Dutt as Head Constable Dinesh Pant
- Samridhi Chandola as Constable Lata Bisht
- Pratham Rathod as Rajat – Blind Student
- Kailash Kandwal as Principal Vishwanath Kumai
- Sandeep Sharma as C.O. Arjun Panwar
- Drishti Gaba as Diya – Blind Student
- Anil Rastogi as Home Minister
- Kruthika Pawar as Payal – Rape Victim
- Gautam Sharma as Trijugi Semwal – Asst. to Principal
- Riya Sisodiya Natasha as Music Teacher
- Parimal Aloke as Govind – Rapist
- Preeti Sood as Hema (Asst. to Warden)
- Nitin Rana as Ashraf Jaani – Builder
- Kavita Virmani as Malini Keshri
- Harshit Verma as Tanmay Keshri
- Amit Kumar Sinha as School Watchman
- Rahul as Sikander
- Sadat as Billa
- Rashmi Sharma as Diya’s Mother
- Rajender Negi as Diya’s Father
Story of the film
Welcome to this peaceful Uttarakhand village, where people are happy with their daily routines and life is uneventful. The community is rocked by the strange death of Sangeeta (Narayani Shastri), a warden at a blind school. A natural death is initially thought to be the cause, but it quickly becomes clear that there may be more to the story. SHO Deepak Negi (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) and his crew provide a distinct flavor to the mystery with their relaxed investigative approach.
The story, which was co-written by Shariq Patel and directed by Anand Surapur, thrives on its simplicity. The intentionally sluggish tone creates a languid ambiance that makes the research seem drawn out and occasionally disorganized. Except for a few clear suspects, everyone in the little community appears innocent in this method, which also immerses viewers in daily life. Its ability to hold audiences’ attention until the truth is eventually exposed is what makes the movie so appealing.
An emotional chord is struck by the subplot of blind pupils Rajat (Pratham Rathod) and Diya (Drishti Gaba) and their lives, including their abilities and hardships. The tales of Rathod and Gaba are both intriguingly interwoven into the drama, giving the location and background more nuance.
As SHO Deepak Negi, a police officer afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder, Nawazuddin Siddiqui excels. His performance is evocative of Pankaj Tripathi’s role in “Murder Mubarak,” but with a distinct twist: because of his odd behavior, Deepak is viewed as “Najeeb police wala (weird cop)”. Siddiqui’s acting is nicely complemented by Rajesh Kumar’s portrayal of Sub-inspector Naresh Dimri, but their too-informal demeanor may occasionally be annoying. The plot gains depth from the believable performances of Narayani Shastri as the severe warden Sangeeta and Atul Tiwari as the school’s trustee, Manoj Kesari.
With its charming mountains and forests, the small-town location adds to the mood of the movie. Sayak Bhattacharya’s cinematography is particularly noteworthy since it captures the area’s natural beauty while retaining a persistent air of discomfort. The film’s visual appeal and Siddiqui’s exceptional performance are its highlights.
Production
The movie’s plot took ten years to create, and it was filmed in 2022. Rauti Ke Beli, after the village where the narrative is located, was its original title.
Marketing
The movie’s trailer was released on June 13, 2024.
Review
Critics gave Siddiqui’s performance favorable reviews.
“Rautu Ka Raaz” is a slow-moving murder mystery that maintains its tense atmosphere, keeping viewers interested as the mystery develops, according to Archika Khurana of The Times of India, who rates 3 stars out of five.
The reviewer gave India’s Anindita Mukherjee’s “Rautu Ka Raaz” three stars out of five, saying it’s a good watch for fans of cop mysteries, hill station thrillers, and, of course, Nawaz. Beyond its stellar ensemble, the film has a lot to offer. You won’t regret adding it to your weekend to-do list.
According to Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in, Rautu Ka Raaz is making fun of your typical police process.
The film, directed by Anand Surapur, impresses with its ambition but fails to delve deeply into the people and their situations, according to Anuj Kumar of The Hindu, who stated in his review that it is a change from blood-stained, fast-paced criminal thrillers.
According to Mayur Sanap of rediff.com, who awarded the movie 1.5 stars out of 5, Rautu Ka Raaz is a long, slow-burning movie that just doesn’t get going.
A Bollywood Hungama critic rated Rautu Ka Raaz two stars out of five, stating that the film had a surprising climax and some fascinating scenes. However, there are some loose ends in the storyline, and the movie lacks excitement and action.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025e, April 12). Rautu ka raaz. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rautu_Ka_Raaz
- Rautu ka Raaz (2024) ? 6.3 | Crime, Drama, Mystery. (2024, June 28). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32607174/
- Rautu Ka Raaz Review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s murder mystery is lazy yet intriguing. (2024, June 27). https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/rautu-ka-raaz/ottmoviereview/111310749.cms
