Manoj Bajpayee's film Gajab Raat, formerly titled Ghooskhor Pandat, will stream on Netflix from October 23. The one-night crime thriller directed by Ritesh Shah and produced by Neeraj Pandey follows a police officer facing a moral dilemma. The film's original title was changed following public protests, court proceedings, and community objections over its perceived association with the Brahmin community.
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Gajab Raat, the upcoming film featuring Manoj Bajpayee, is set to become available on Netflix beginning 23 October. A dispute over the production's original title — Ghooskhor Pandat — prompted a name change before release.
Ritesh Shah takes the directing chair on this suspense thriller, with production handled through Neeraj Pandey's banner, Friday Film Works. A trailer for the film has been made available by Netflix, which also confirmed the title and its release date.
The film takes place within the span of a single night, structured around the conventions of crime thriller storytelling. At the centre of the narrative sits a law enforcement officer confronted with a choice that carries no easy answer. One decision can set in motion a chain of events that alters the trajectory of many lives. According to its released synopsis, the film puts its central character at a crossroads between self-interest and obligation, with questions of right and wrong pulling in opposite directions throughout the story.
Manoj Bajpayee takes on the lead part in the production. Among those rounding out the ensemble are Divya Dutta, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, Kiku Sharda, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and Shraddha Das.
Ritesh Shah's screenwriting portfolio across Hindi cinema has drawn consistent praise from critics and audiences alike. With Gajab Raat, he steps behind the camera for the first time to helm a full-length feature.
After a gap of close to eight years, Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey are set to work together again on this venture. Production on the project got under way after the title Ghooskhor Pandat was attached to it back in February.
Objections arose from multiple organisations over the title, with their representatives contending that the term "Pandat" carries associations with the Brahmin community. Objections also arose from the association with "Ghooskhor," a word used to describe someone who takes bribes. Demonstrations broke out across multiple regions of the country, and calls for renaming circulated across various online platforms. Protest plans were put forward by a number of groups, contingent on the original name remaining unchanged.
A petition lodged at the Delhi High Court put forward the argument that the title posed a threat to one community's standing and reputation. The case eventually found its way onto the Supreme Court's docket.
In court filings, Netflix indicated that the production team had opted to rename the project, with the streaming company's representatives noting that the replacement title better aligned with both the narrative and its underlying purpose. Those behind the production pulled its earlier advertising materials from circulation.
In earlier remarks, Neeraj Pandey described "Pandat" as an informal label attached to a fictional character, adding that the cop drama at the centre of the story was entirely invented and directed at no particular caste, religion, or community. Bajpayee stated publicly that the concerns of those who felt a personal connection to the issue were ones he both understood and treated with care.
Renamed Gajab Raat, the film centres on an unsettling, tension-filled night, with its title steering clear of any explicit nod to a particular group or occupation. Bajpayee's character answers an unexpected call and makes his way to a venue named Plaza, whereupon the story threads through mounting dread, outside pressure, and an internal ethical struggle.
The title joins Netflix's Indian library as one more entry in its growing slate of Hindi-language thrillers. Crime dramas, political storylines, and narratives anchored in character have all drawn funding from the platform.