Raakh (2026)

Raakh Review: A Gritty Crime Drama with High Stakes

Prosit Roy's Raakh arrives on Prime Video as a bold addition to the Indian crime genre, promising a harrowing look at a nationwide manhunt triggered by the disappearance of two teenagers. With an A certification indicating mature, intense content, the series leans heavily into the darkness of human depravity rather than offering a sanitized procedural. While the premise of a relentless officer, played by Ali Fazal, scouring the country for answers is inherently gripping, the execution of Raakh is a mixed bag of stellar performances and a narrative that struggles to find its footing in the second half.

The direction by Roy, known for his atmospheric work in TVF Pitchers and Aspirants, brings a distinct visual weight to the series. The pacing is deliberate, often lingering on the psychological toll the investigation takes on the lead SI and the shattered family. However, this slow burn occasionally tips into drag, where the tension dissipates in favor of repetitive montages of the search. The series does not shy away from violence, but at times, the depiction of depravity feels gratuitous rather than necessary to the plot, which may alienate viewers expecting a tight, mystery-driven thriller.

Performances Anchor the Narrative

If Raakh has a saving grace, it is undoubtedly its cast. Ali Fazal delivers a career-highlight performance as SI Jayprakash Jatav. He embodies the exhaustion and obsession of a cop who has nothing left to lose, grounding the show's more melodramatic moments in reality. Sonali Bendre, marking her return to the screen, is equally compelling as Mona Arora, portraying a mother's grief with a quiet, devastating intensity that anchors the family drama. Dibyendu Bhattacharya provides the necessary bureaucratic friction as SP Indranil Hajra, offering a realistic counterpoint to Fazal's rogue energy.

However, the supporting cast is uneven. While veterans like Rakesh Bedi and Aamir Bashir bring gravitas to their roles, some of the younger cast members struggle to match the intensity of the leads, resulting in a tonal disconnect during key family scenes. The script, while ambitious in its scope, sometimes relies on familiar tropes of the "desperate father" and "corrupt system" without offering enough fresh insight into the specific socio-political landscape of the city depicted. As a result, the series feels like a collection of strong scenes rather than a perfectly woven tapestry.

Ultimately, Raakh is a series that demands patience. It is not the fast-paced, plot-twist machine that modern streaming audiences often crave. Instead, it is a somber, character-driven study of loss and the lengths one man will go to in the face of societal indifference. While it may not redefine the genre, it offers enough emotional weight and strong central acting to warrant a watch, provided you are prepared for a slow, sometimes uncomfortable descent into the underworld.