Nawazuddin Siddiqui stands tall in this tranquil murder-in-the-mountain saga – Beyond Bollywood

Rautu Ki Beli’s quaint environment adds a unique flavour to writer-director Anand Surapur’s mystery thriller.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 / 5)

By Mayur Lookhar

Though not written in stone, a trailer plays a crucial role in influencing whether someone buys a movie ticket or not. Never underestimate the value of a title; after all, it’s the title that first builds intrigue around a film or series.

Originally titled Rautu Ki Beli, the film starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui was later renamed Rautu Ka Raaz [2024]. The earlier title refers to a village in the picturesque Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, formerly known as Uttaranchal. With the change to Rautu Ka Raaz, we were curious whether this Zee5 film would unravel the raaz (secret) behind Rautu’s famous paneer (cottage cheese).

Well, that raaz’ remains a raaz. In this Zee5 film, the raaz is a murder mystery. A murder? So, what’s the big deal? Well, if this is the first murder in 15 years in the quaint Himalayan village town, it is bound to create curiosity. Viewers wonder whether there really is hardly any crime in Rautu, or is writer-director Anand Surapur is presenting a utopia. If it was indeed one, this single murder has tarnished its reputation. Ideally, this should create ripples, but the people around just don’t believe it. Pin that on the town’s laidback nature.

If SHO Deepak Negi’s colleagues also believe this is a natural death, how can one expect the quaint town to entertain any murder theory? Life here continues at its own leisurely pace, but as two unnamed elders of Rautu say, ‘Negi is weird, but he will get to the bottom of this”.

The deceased is Sangeeta [Narayani Shastri], the warden of a school for the blind. Who could imagine a mysterious death in such a place? The chances of EYEwitnesses here are rare, thus increasing the possibility of a crime. Go unravel the mystery yourself; all we can say is that whether in mountains or cityscapes, human greed knows no bounds.

While Rautu Ka Raaz is primarily a mystery thriller, Anand Surapur and co-writer Shariq Patel subtly draw our attention to pressing issues in mountain regions – rising population opens possibilities for growth, but it often comes with environmental concerns. More importantly, the Zee5 film reminds us why we should pay attention to schools and orphanages for the blind and other ‘special’ beings. In an eye-opening moment, one character tells Deepak Negi [Nawazuddin Siddiqui], “Parents drop their blind child off at such schools, but not many bother to check on them thereafter.” 

Surapur skillfully weaves in social messages without veering from the investigation into the suspected crime. The mystery is there to be unfolded, but Surapur hasn’t compromised on Rautu’s tranquility for any needless thrill. Mind you, the layered mystery has its own thrilling allure.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Deepak Negi is a cop who often ends up sleeping in his cabin. Shortly after arriving at the school, Negi reprimands his subordinate Dimri [Rajesh Kumar], instructing him not to wake him up so early in the morning again. A troubled past has turned Negi into a bit of a recluse. Meanwhile, Dimri is more worried about his new flat, as the developer has still not handed over possession. Constable Trivedi [Rajendra Tripathi] is lazy, while lovebirds Head Constable Dinesh Pant [Vicky Dutt] and Constable Lata Bisht [Samriddhi Chandola] are pleading with Negi to approve their leave applications. Can this quintet be trusted to solve what is likely the first murder case in Rautu in 15 years? Let’s just say it’s largely a one-man show.

The last few years have been tough for Siddiqui, both professionally and personally. Siddiqui caught attention when he expressed frustration with OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms and even considered quitting them. However, several of his recent films released on digital platforms and most disappointed. Earlier this year, he celebrated his birthday with his family, marking an end to his personal woes. Now, Rautu Ka Raaz helps redeem Siddiqui, the actor.

The seasoned actor played a small-town cop in Netflix’s acclaimed film Raat Akeli Hai (2020). Jatil Yadav was in your face, unafraid to talk tough with bigwigs and his superiors. Deepak Negi, on the other hand, wouldn’t dare to question authority. However, he quietly goes about his job with determination. Perhaps it’s the laid-back environment that influences its people, keeping them unflustered in most situations. The only time Negi felt a bit out of place was when he derided Constable Trivedi for his incompetence. This, however, stemmed more from frustration at the casual conduct of his colleagues. Siddiqui immerses himself in the tranquility of Rautu, embraces Deepak Negi’s humility to deliver a calm and mature performance.

Negi’s colleagues each bring their unique flavor. It’s been a while since we last saw Rajesh Kumar in a film. When two million rupees are retrieved from the crime scene, Dimri asks Negi if they really need to reveal the entire amount, adding realism to the character and their profession. Kumar, best known for playing Rosesh in the hit comedy show Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai, delivers a commendable performance as Dimri. There are moments where you feel suspicious about Dimri, possibly adding a hidden layer to the character.

Vicky Dutt and Samriddhi Chandola seem comfortable in their roles, bringing a touch of small-town humor to the narrative. We can assure you that Narayani Shastri plays more than just a dead woman. Director Surapur is considerate in shedding more than just a light on the lives of a few blind students, some of whom might actually be blind.

With his white hair, hairdo, and mustache, the unheralded actor Atul Tiwari bears slight resemblance to Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. His character is named Manoj Kesari. The school owner is perhaps an antithesis to the laid-back Rautu town.

The Rautu Ka Raaz narrative has no room for any over-the-top characters. Like Raat Akeli Hai or any good mystery thriller, Rautu Ka Raaz also throws up a few unexpected surprises. The laid-back environment prevails throughout. Perhaps the intensity needed to be heightened towards the end, when the raaz unravels. More than one truth is uncovered, but the film is selective in meting out justice. Maybe certain truths are best kept hidden. Negi’s integrity though remains intact.

Rautu Ka Raaz grips you without resorting to the usual mystery thriller tropes. It operates at its own pace yet remains engaging throughout. Surapur maintains fine control over his narrative, eliciting measured performances from his entire cast. This raaz has been solved. Now will someone tell Rautu ke paneer ka raaz?

Watch the video review below.