Manoj Bajpayee is all set to entertain audiences with his upcoming crime thriller, ‘Gajab Raat’. The makers released the trailer on Thursday, offering a glimpse into a gripping story about a corrupt police
officer whose plans for a profitable night take an unexpected turn when he gets caught up in a murder investigation and a larger conspiracy. The crime thriller was earlier titled ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, but has now been renamed ‘Gajab Raat’ after a controversy over its title a few months ago.
Gajab Raat Trailer Out
Released by the makers on Thursday, the 2-minute-and-20-second trailer begins with Nirvit, played by Manoj Bajpayee, receiving a phone call directing him to a location called Plaza. There, an injured girl has been thrown out of a moving car.
What follows is a chain of events centred on the girl’s identity and the circumstances surrounding a murder. As the investigation unfolds, Nirvit finds himself caught between his personal interests and his conscience, forcing him to make difficult decisions over the course of one night.
Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, Divya Dutta, Kiku Sharda and Nushrratt Bharuccha also feature in the trailer.
Announcing the film on Instagram, Netflix wrote, “Anek kahaaniya, anek kirdaar aur sirf ek raat to disclose the truth. Watch Gajab Raat, out 23 October, only on Netflix.”
Gajab Raat is directed by Ritesh Shah, who has co-written the story with Neeraj Pandey. The film is produced under Pandey’s banner, Friday Filmworks.
The thriller will premiere on Netflix on October 23, reuniting Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey nearly eight years after their last collaboration. The duo previously worked together on Special 26 (2013) and Aiyaary (2018).
Why Was The Film’s Title Changed?
The film was earlier announced as Ghooskhor Pandat, but its original title sparked controversy and objections from several quarters earlier this year.
In February, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) raised strong objections to the title Ghooskhor Pandat, warning that it could harm social harmony and hurt community sentiments.
The federation appealed to producer bodies to halt the registration of what it described as inflammatory titles and advised filmmaker Neeraj Pandey to withdraw the title with immediate effect in the interest of social unity.
FIR And NHRC Notice Over The Controversy
The controversy escalated further when an FIR was registered at the Hazratganj police station in Uttar Pradesh. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also issued a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting following a complaint, according to PTI.
Subsequently, all promotional material for Ghooskhor Pandat, including its teaser, was taken down from the internet following a directive from the Centre.
The film has since been renamed Gajab Raat, with its trailer now offering a glimpse into the crime, mystery and moral dilemmas that drive the story.
