A slow-burn thriller builds tension through investigation, atmosphere and withheld information rather than chases and set pieces. That is also why the label is risky. A film that is slow in the way you enjoy can feel dull to the next viewer, and critics often disagree about which it is.
So this guide does something different. Each of the four films below was described as slow, leisurely or deliberate by at least two published critics. We quote them, say where they found the pace a strength, and say where they found it a problem. This guide rests on published reviews and official records, and it describes only the first act of each film, so nothing here gives away a turn in the story.
Talaash (2012)
Directed by Reema Kagti, with Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor. A police inspector investigates the late-night crash of a well-known actor’s car while grieving the recent loss of his young son. Released 30 November 2012.
The critics we found read the slow pace as a choice rather than a flaw. Anil Sinanan of Time Out called Kagti’s pacing “deliberate” and slow, and said it gradually draws the viewer into the lives of its characters. Karan Bali of Upperstall found it “languid” by design, with little action, but thought the suspense weaker in the second half. A reviewer at Filmibeat wrote that the first half is a bit slow but that the film stays absorbing.
Runtime: about 135 to 140 minutes, depending on the version (BBFC). Caution: the BBFC passed the UK cinema version as 12A after a drug-use scene was removed; an uncut version was rated 15.
Raat Akeli Hai (2020)
Directed by Honey Trehan, with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte. A small-town police officer in Uttar Pradesh is called to investigate the death of an elderly member of a wealthy family. Released on Netflix on 31 July 2020.
Film Companion called it a “slow-burning whodunnit” and thought the film overlong at two and a half hours. Deepa Gahlot wrote that it moves at a leisurely pace that builds mood, then sags in the middle before finishing satisfactorily. SheThePeople found the pace good but not consistent.
Runtime: 2 hours 29 minutes (two reviewers give this figure). Caution: the story is a murder investigation; we did not find an official content advisory for the film.
Jaane Jaan (2023)
Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma. A mystery thriller set in Kalimpong in northern West Bengal. Netflix describes it as the official adaptation of Keigo Higashino’s novel The Devotion of Suspect X. Released on Netflix on 21 September 2023.
Priyanka Roy of t2 wrote that its “slow-burn thriller vibe” suits the atmosphere, but felt the last 15 minutes rush the revelation. Pratikshya Mishra of The Quint called the pacing slow, yet said the film keeps viewers engaged. Opinion was split on whether the wait pays off: Film Companion called it engaging while it plays but found the final stretch unconvincing, and Amartya Acharya of High On Films found the thriller “inert”.
Caution: the story involves murder and physical violence.
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)
Directed by Dibakar Banerjee, with Sushant Singh Rajput. Set in Calcutta in the early 1940s, during the Second World War, it follows the detective Byomkesh Bakshi, created by the writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, as he reluctantly takes on a missing-person case that leads into crime and opium. Released 3 April 2015.
This is the most divisive entry. Nandini Ramnath of Scroll found the pace slow, and wrote that the film only “finally gains steam” near the end. Vinod Mirani of Indiantelevision called it too slow. Ajit Duara of Open called the pacing sluggish and said the film dwells on atmosphere. Manjusha Radhakrishnan of Gulf News found the first half engaging but thought the second half overreached. If you enjoy period atmosphere and can accept a slow build, it may suit you. If you need steady momentum, the critics suggest it will test you.
Runtime: 148 minutes (BBFC). Caution: the BBFC advises strong bloody violence, including stabbings and a bloodied corpse.
How to choose
These are our reading of the critics’ comments, not facts about the films.
- For a pace critics read as intentional: Talaash.
- For a small-town mystery with a long running time: Raat Akeli Hai.
- For a quieter, atmosphere-first adaptation: Jaane Jaan.
- For period detail, and only if you are patient: Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!
If you want something faster
Drishyam (2015, directed by Nishikant Kamat) is a useful contrast. Stutee Ghosh of The Quint praised its fast pace, and the Khaleej Times reviewer called it taut once the investigation starts, while finding the opening weak.
Where to go next
New to Hindi cinema altogether? Start with our guide to where to begin with Hindi cinema, which includes a thriller that does not take its time.
How we checked
Quotations are short extracts from reviews published by the outlets named; we link to none of them here and have not watched the films for this guide. Runtimes and content advisories are from British Board of Film Classification listings where we give them. Last checked 24 October 2026. If you spot an error, tell us and we will correct it.
