Raakh Review: Prime Video brings a gritty investigative series led by Ali Fazal, Sonali Bendre, and Aamir Bashir that gets under your skin from the moment the investigation starts. Exploring the disappearance of two children in 1978, when violent crimes in Delhi were all but unheard of, the series showcases the ripple effects the crime had in the tight-knit community and the police’s unending efforts to see the perpetrator face justice.
Instead of being a traditional whodunit, Raakh is a thriller that tries to uncover the psychological and emotional consequences of an unforgivable crime that destroys the core of a tight-knit community. There’s nothing simple about a tragedy like this, and the series aims to get to the bottom of what makes people do bad things and their devastating consequences.
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Who is in the Cast of Raakh Prime Video?
Ali Fazal, Akash Makhija, Ramandeep Yadav, Divya Sharma, Vivaan Sharma, Sonali Bendre, Aamir Bashir, Anshul Chauhan, Rakesh Bedi, Dibyendu Bhattacharya
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Who are the Directors of Raakh Series?
Prosit Roy, Anusha Nandakumar, Sandeep Saket
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When is the Series Releasing?
12 June 2026, 12AM IST
The series has 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 40 minutes.
Raakh Review
A Crime Story Rooted in Human Tragedy
The disappearance of two teenagers triggers the Delhi police to try and track down the perpetrators, only to open up a can of worms they were probably not ready to unearth. The series brings forth a relentless investigation that viewers can hardly see these days, but at the heart of it is human psychology that pushes us to the edge in different ways.
On one hand is SI Jayprakash, or JP, who gets so deep into this horrible tragedy that he can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and on the other are Babu and Rajjo, two men whose fates are sadly intertwined in ways that ultimately lead to their end. The series highlights the tragedy in both cases, although one story turns out better than the other. In this quest, thus, the story reveals disturbing layers of violence, moral ambiguity and societal failures along with the sheer devastation of losing loved ones.
What distinguishes Raakh from other contemporary shows is that it emphasises the victims and their families. Sure, the investigation is the driving force, but it’s the emotions behind these characters that truly separate the show from others. The series reels us in with the intensity with which JP conducts the investigation, and tears us down with Mona and Ashok’s loss. Through them, the arrests and revelations become secondary as the series reminds us that crimes live on through the memories of those who are left behind.
Grounded Performances Elevate the Story
One of the best parts of the series is also its performances. Ali Fazal brings a certain desperation to JP that makes us root for him throughout the runtime. Although he seems to be one step behind the perpetrators all the time, there’s a drive to him that makes him so likeable. He’s not some larger-than-life cop but is restrained and grounded; his exhaustion, frustration and determination separate him from other cop characters we have seen in media these days.
He’s a man who is struggling to confront and accept the horrors unfolding before him, but still pushes on because what choice does he have? It’s the type of character that makes us sit up and take notice. Fazal portrays JP well and is one of the reasons why the series feels all the more impactful.
Meanwhile, Ramandeep Yadav and Akash Makhija are both fantastic as well and represent men in this world who will do anything to survive. Of course, there’s a deeper discussion at play here that I will not get into (because spoilers), but their characters feel real and, as a result, extremely terrifying. Both men portray Rajjo and Babu with such grounded ferocity that it gets under your skin. Sometimes, their eyes speak more than their actions, and it does the job.
Lastly, Sonali Bendre and Aamir Bashir are devastated parents who represent the common people whose hands are almost tied. It’s heartbreaking watching their lives go from normal to upside down within hours, and both actors do a great job of bringing forth that confusion and trauma an anguish that they now have to live with. Bendre, especially, brings a quiet desperation to the role that gets under your skin as you understand her emotions at losing her children in the blink of an eye.
Atmosphere Over Action
Prosit Roy, who has spearheaded several fantastic crime/thriller shows in the past, including the acclaimed Paatal Lok and Pari, creates an environment that feels uneasy and tense. The series benefits from the mood, tension and character psychology that grips viewers from start to end. Thankfully, the reliance is mostly on creating and maintaining this atmosphere of loss rather than showcasing flashy action sequences, as a result of which it leaves a deeper impact.
The cinematography embraces this vibe wholeheartedly and runs with it, creating an atmosphere that is drowning in muted and shadowy tones and reinforcing the bleakness of the subject matter. Every frame feels claustrophobic because it’s burdened by the weight of the devastation that the perpetrators have left in their wake.
However, it’s important to mention that as a result of everything mentioned above, the series isn’t a flashy and twisty endeavour that will provide shock after shock. This one requires a bit of quiet introspection as we dig deeper beyond the layers of the crimes and the psychology of the perpetrators who seem to have no moral compass.
A Familiar Genre Given New Emotional Weight
If you look into the story of Raakh, it’s like every other Indian crime show that we watch these days. Indian streaming platforms are teeming with such stories of devastation. However, what makes this one stand out is the way the story is approached and how it’s presented. The series avoids feeling formulaic because it focuses on the emotional consequences of the crime rather than catching the perpetrators. Although viewers are left on edge, wondering whether or not JP will arrest the perpetrators or not, it’s the emotional devastation that brings us back to the story.
However, at 8 episodes, the series can feel stretched out at some points. Some subplots and emotional beats can drag out for longer than necessary and feel predictable. Although it has to be mentioned that showcasing Babu’s entire trajectory, however briefly, adds to the terror of knowing him as a person, adding weight to his character as an antagonist.
Final Verdict
Raakh is an interesting and immersive watch whose impact is heightened by the echoes of real-life tragedies that we hear about every day. The story is presented to us well, and it benefits from grounding its characters rather than making everything a spectacle. It’s a story that one might have heard of happening around them at some point in their lives, which is precisely what makes it so terrifying. With great antagonists and fantastic performances, the series leaves you with goosebumps from start to end.
What are your thoughts on Raakh on Prime Video? Let us know in the comments below!
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