Raakh Web Series Review | Suchin Mehrotra | THR India
Video Overview & Insights
Suchin Mehrotra reviews Raakh, the Amazon Prime Video series from director Prosit Roy and writer-creators Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket, for The Hollywood Reporter India. Inspired by the horrific 1978 Ranga-Billa case — the abduction and murder of siblings Geeta and Sanjay Chopra that shook Delhi and the nation — the show fictionalises the siblings as Suman and Sahil Arora (Divya Sharma and Vivaan Sharma), their devastated parents played by Sonali Bendre and Aamir Bashir, with Ali Fazal as SI Jayprakash, a young officer who puts everything on the line to win them justice. Suchin finds Raakh at its most potent and disquieting across its first two episodes, where Prosit's undeniable craft — Saumyananda Sahi's visuals and Anish John's sound in particular — keeps viewers in a state of near-constant dread, delivering a crime drama packaged as a horror story that is at once suffocating, immersive and terrifying.
Should’ve been a 3/4 episode mini series
From there, Suchin argues, the demands of longform storytelling seep in and conventional cracks begin to form, as the eight-episode series pads itself out with subplots, tacked-on cold opens and grandstanding statements about society that dilute its concentrated cocktail of pain, dread and grief — leaving him wondering whether a feature or a more contained series might have done this tragic tale greater justice. He's particularly uneasy about the decision to hand half the narrative to the killers, Babu (Akash Makhija) and Rajjo (Ramandeep Yadav), and the risk of a show more enamoured by its monsters than its victims, though he praises both performances and singles out Akash's chaotic, Jekyll-and-Hyde menace; Anshul Chauhan's underwritten journalist, by contrast, keeps pulling him out of the proceedings. Ali, however, is in fine form, bringing an aching sincerity to a dismissed rookie forced to prove himself against the prejudice of his caste. Suchin's THR Bottom Line: despite its questionable, overlong structure and stretches of contrived writing, Raakh is elevated by its craft and performances — a series he'll remember for its dread and despair. Raakh is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
#Raakh #RaakhReview #THRIndia
Very well made web series. It engages us throuout keeping interest in further episodes. Sonali bendre doesn't have much to do. But akash mKhija and ramandeep and Ali fatal r very good in this series. Good dialoges and direction. Good editing.
More User Perspectives
It wae such difficult watch, can't do further
@milimishra2841I actually liked the fact that the drama took both the haunting tragedy perspective, AND the nerdy/morbid curiosity look at what informs the criminals to do what they do. When the drama ends with the tragic account of the siblings death, it was a very hard emotional watch…and I was glad the series took a cerebral detour into the psychopaths motives before.
@arunat3211Series looked very forced in its screenplay. Laga kisi ne poori writing aur directing team ko zabardasti bola hai iss real story par series banao. Aur ek woh azeeb sa boss toh hona hi hai. I see Dibyendu in lot of series, people consider him legendary actor but I just find his acting very lifeless and annoying.
@nikhilsahay895Something felt missing in this series, not bad but not as good as I have felt watching series in similar sets.
Black warrant was such a good series and gripping throughout, also has some part of Ranga And Billa and that part was so dark and something.
I am using word something because art makes you feel something and that something you can’t define at times.
Then Trial by fire, another series of pain of death of children; was so gripping.
राख में वह बात नहीं लगी।
Wish they stop milking this tragedy for crime dramas. Leave those children alone and RIP. I was a kid when I watched this story on Doordarshan and it haunted me. Now am almost 50 and see it around, haunting people on different platforms.
@universal4571Starting today, I watched Raakh, based on the horrifying Ranga Billa vs. Geeta and Sanjay Chopra case (often remembered through the tragic story of the young victims). The tears are still rolling down my cheeks, and the pain continues to linger in my heart. This is not just a crime thriller—it is an emotional and terrifying journey that leaves you shaken.
The series brilliantly captures the fear, helplessness, and trauma surrounding one of India's most heinous crimes. The outstanding performances by Ali Fazal, Akash Makhija, Aamir Bashir, Sonali Bendre, and Ramandeep Yadav bring every emotion to life with remarkable intensity.
Watching the brutality inflicted upon those innocent children gave me goosebumps. Knowing that such a horrific crime actually took place makes it even more heartbreaking. My heart still mourns for the young victims whose lives were cruelly taken away by these ruthless criminals. Some stories are not merely watched—they stay with you forever. Raakh is one such story. A gripping, haunting, and deeply emotional masterpiece. 💔🥀
❤❤❤
@SMArif-tx8wl❤❤❤
@SMArif-tx8wlVery intriguing! Well put!
@storywala88Excellent work but can't watch eight episodes it's so disturbing
@gk8656Still waiting for Maa Behen review
@sudsam1990wow webseries
@salaamnamaste5676I don't understand why unnecessary swear/curse words used , who the hell uses that language in 1978 absolutely stupidity,
@piyushh.R9Good suchin finally has his rate of speech under admissable control 😂
@rahultiwari-dx8qoI had my blood and nerve wrecked.
One of the best shows from Indian OTT Space ❤
Exactly I think both the villains did great job in portraying the character but the shows focuses too much on their story. If this was a 3/4 1 hour each episode show I think its impact would’ve been way bigger. There was no reason to go into the ep5 & 6 where we get backstory of both villains which are fictional. But tbh I like that they didn’t fabricated the real facts & research was top notch regarding the main story.
@banimeclips10Not an easy watch.
Not meant to be.
The kind of series that stays with you long after the credits roll.