Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders ending explained - Is Chitrangda Singh the real killer in Nawazuddin Siddiqui's crime thriller?

Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, available on Netflix, features Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Inspector Jatil Yadav making a triumphant return. The brutal slaughter of a media tycoon's family takes place in the sequel, directed by Honey Trehan, instead of focusing on the lone patriarch's death in the first film. Initially, the film appears to be a typical "closed-room" mystery, but as it approaches its conclusion, it reveals elements of class warfare and corporate negligence, challenging our understanding of justice.

Crime scene and obvious suspect

Mahinder, Prashant, Madhav, Seema, and Vivek are five members of the affluent Bansal family who are discovered murdered in their mansion at the beginning of the film. Aarav (Delzad Hiwale), the younger son of the family, is the main suspect. The police had an effortless time getting to him because of his history of drug abuse and because he was at the scene with a weapon. The main survivor, Meera Bansal (Chitrangada Singh), adds credibility to this story by asserting that her brother went on a drug-fuelled rampage.

But Inspector Jatil Yadav is still doubtful. Guru Maa's (Deepti Naval) spiritual cult is the crux of the Bansals' ties to his probe. When forensic evidence reveals that Guru Maa's monastery used clonazepam in "kheer" to sedate the family, it raises suspicions of a religious plot.

ALSO READ: Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders review - Nawazuddin Siddiqui delivers a nuanced performance in a tighter sequel, even if the whodunit feels secondary

Motive born of tragedy and injustice

The climax refutes the notion that the crime stemmed from a cult or a family feud. Jatil tracks down the real killer—Om Prakash, the family's unassuming night guard—through his inquiry into a firm named Baxim Polymers.

Rather than being a career criminal, Om Prakash was a man whose anguish drove him. His daughter was one of numerous local children killed years ago in a poison gas leak at a chemical factory owned by the Bansal family. The Bansals evaded justice by transferring control of the factory, bribing authorities, and censoring news stories through their media empire and political influence.

Execution of revenge

Om Prakash planned the massacre as a form of revenge. After poisoning the family's meals and distracting Aarav with his addiction, he went on a killing spree targeting those he blamed for his daughter's murder.

The ending reveals that Meera Bansal was far from an innocent victim. She was not directly involved in the killings, but she orchestrated the cover-up surrounding the gas leak. Because the corporate paper trail has been thoroughly cleansed, she is still legally protected even after the massacre.

Hollow victory for Jatil Yadav

Jatil Yadav celebrates a "hollow victory" in his film. Although he tracks down the murderer (Om Prakash), the law pays little attention to the moral instigators (Guru Maa and the Bansals). Guru Maa continues her activities, while Meera is exempt from punishment for the manufacturing disaster, demonstrating that money can buy impunity.

Finally, Jatil's boss, SSP Sameer (Rajat Kapoor), puts pressure on him to wrap up the investigation fast and lay the blame on Aarav's death so that the Bansal family's reputation can be preserved. Jatil works with forensic expert Dr. Panicker (Revathi) to show that Om Prakash's full confession is false.

Personal evolution

Because of his act of rebellion, Jatil is suspended from the force. The film concludes with a mix of emotions; the removal of his badge serves to emphasise the film's central thesis: that the powerful are shielded from accountability by the system. In terms of his development, Jatil is able to loosen his grip on traditional values. He breaks with his previous assumptions about "purity" and status by moving forward with his romance with Radha (Radhika Apte), whom he promises to wait for until she finishes her schooling.

According to the film's climax, The Bansal Murders demonstrates how difficult it is to achieve genuine justice in an unfair society. Despite his apprehension, Om Prakash is an outcome of an inefficient system. Although battered, the Bansal empire is still standing. Although the truth can be found, the victims of the "Baxim Polymers" leak were never given the luxury of accountability, which is a disturbing reality that the film leaves viewers with.

Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders FAQs:

Q: Who is the killer in Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders?

A: The actual killer is Om Prakash, the Bansal family’s night guard. While the police initially suspected the younger son, Aarav, Om Prakash orchestrated the massacre as revenge for his daughter's death, which was caused by a toxic gas leak at a factory owned by the Bansals.

Q: Who is in the cast of Raat Akeli Hai 2?

A: The film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Inspector Jatil Yadav and Radhika Apte as Radha. New cast members include Chitrangada Singh, Rajat Kapoor, Deepti Naval, Sanjay Kapoor, and Revathy. Ila Arun also returns to play Jatil’s mother.

Q: What is the runtime of the movie?

A: The film has a total runtime of approximately 136 minutes (2 hours and 16 minutes).