Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin Turns 29: Sudhir Mishra Reveals Film’s Gritty Origins and Lasting Impact

Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin at 29: Sudhir Mishra Reflects on Cult Classic’s Origins

As Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin marks its 29th anniversary, director Sudhir Mishra revisits the gripping tale that sparked a genre in Indian cinema. The 1996 film, a powerful exploration of politics and human relationships, was inspired by a real-life incident at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. Mishra’s brother, Sudhanshu, then a student, slapped a local ganglord’s brother, leading to a tense standoff where goons surrounded the institute, shouting, “Bring out Lambu!” Local authorities and family intervention resolved the crisis, but the harrowing two-day ordeal planted the seed for the film.

Mishra, who was navigating a divorce and the volatile 1990s Mumbai scene, infused his personal experiences into the script. “Mumbai was wild; every second guy was shouting, ‘Bhai ka aadmi!’” he recalled, referencing close encounters while shooting Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho in Doo Taanki. Set against the backdrop of corporate India’s rise, the film blurs the lines between hero and villain, with Nirmal Pandey as an advertising executive and Ashish Vidyarthi as a gangland boss. A memorable exchange captures the essence: the gangster asks, “Tum logon ke duniya mein aise hi hota hai? Kisi ki aurat, kisi ka mard?” to which the corporate man replies, “Haan, jaise aap logon ke duniya mein murder hota hai…”

Produced by Mahesh Bhatt and Amit Khanna, whom Mishra considers elder brothers, the film was a bold early-career move. Featuring a fresh cast—Tara Deshpande, Smriti Mishra, Nirmal Pandey, Saurabh Shukla, Sandeep Kulkarni, Kishore Kadam, and Ganesh Yadav—most in their debut or early roles, the 60-plus night shoot in Mumbai captured the city’s gritty pulse. Mishra, having directed Dharavi and Main Zinda Hoon, felt at home in Mumbai’s chawls and streets. The addition of M.M. Kreem’s timeless tracks like Chup Tum Raho, Jeevan Kya Hai, and Tere Mere Naam—suggested by Bhatt and Khanna—elevated the film’s appeal.

The film’s raw energy earned raves, with Ram Gopal Varma calling Mishra from Hyderabad to praise it for an hour. Anurag Kashyap and others lauded its impact, which predated Varma’s Satya and Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels by two years. Mishra dismisses claims of copying Ritchie in his later work Yeh Saali Zindagi, saying, “I was aping myself.” Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin remains a cult classic, credited with sparking a genre of gritty, urban thrillers in Indian cinema.