Radhika Apte’s critically acclaimed dark comedy Sister Midnight has finally arrived on OTT, giving audiences another chance to experience one of the year’s most unconventional films. After a successful festival run and a theatrical release earlier this year, the Cannes-premiered film is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and JioHotstar. The film is available in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, ensuring wider accessibility for regional audiences.
Blending surreal humour with psychological unease, Sister Midnight offers a disturbing yet darkly comic exploration of marriage, identity, and quiet rebellion, anchored by one of Apte’s most fearless performances to date.
Festival Journey and Critical Recognition
Sister Midnight premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival under the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight section on May 19, 2024. The film quickly garnered attention for its bold narrative voice and unsettling visual language. Its international acclaim continued when it received a nomination at the 78th BAFTA Awards for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, marking a major milestone for the creative team.
The film later released theatrically on May 30, 2025, where it drew strong critical appreciation for its unconventional storytelling and refusal to conform to mainstream expectations.
Plot: A Quiet Descent Into Darkness
Set against the backdrop of Mumbai, Sister Midnight follows Uma, a young woman trapped in an unwanted arranged marriage. Rather than staging open rebellion, Uma’s resistance manifests subtly—through silence, suppressed rage, and increasingly surreal behaviour that hints at deeper psychological unrest.
As her domestic life grows more claustrophobic, the film weaves symbolic parallels with the goddess Kali, reflecting themes of fractured identity, suppressed anger, and the emotional cost of patriarchal control. The narrative resists resolution, choosing instead to sit with discomfort, ambiguity, and psychological tension.
Cast and Performances
Radhika Apte leads the film with a restrained yet deeply unsettling performance, capturing Uma’s internal collapse with remarkable precision. She is supported by Subhash Chandra as Sher Singh, Smita Tambe as Reshma, Chhaya Kadam as Sheetal, and Ashok Pathak as Gopal, all of whom contribute to the film’s oppressive emotional landscape.
The film is written and directed by Karan Kandhari, and produced by Alastair Clark and Anna Griffin under the banners of Film4, Griffin Pictures, Wellington Films, and the BFI. Paul Banks composes the music, while Napoleon Stratogiannakis handles editing, giving the film its off-kilter rhythm and creeping sense of unease.
Themes and Tonal Identity
Sister Midnight explores themes of female entrapment, mental health, identity erosion, and muted rebellion within deeply patriarchal structures. Its tone oscillates between dark comedy and surreal horror, often blurring the line between the two. The film refuses to provide conventional catharsis, instead lingering in moments of discomfort and psychological ambiguity.
Jay-Ho Exclusive
With its OTT release, Sister Midnight is poised to reach a broader audience that appreciates challenging, character-driven cinema. It is not an easy watch, nor does it aim to be—but for viewers willing to engage with its unsettling humour and symbolic storytelling, the film offers a haunting experience that stays long after the credits roll.
