Karan Johar pledged to step aside from Instagram for a digital detox, but pulled to Instagram to pen a review for Prime Video’s Raakh. The eight-episode series, rooted in the chilling true story of the 1978 Ranga-Billa case, left the 54-year-old director restless and pushed him to post a detailed Instagram review, which quickly went viral. In his review, KJo praised the Ali Fazal starrer Raakh, calling it “gut-wrenching.” He further described his experience with it while referring to himself as “deeply disturbed” as a parent, as a human and as a member of society.
Karan Johar reviews Raakh
had recently made headlines for unfollowing nearly everyone on Instagram as part of a digital detox. Raakh changed all of it for him. After finishing the season finale at midnight, Karan Johar took to his Instagram and said, “I was trying to take time off from the gram… I thought I was successful till I saw this gut-wrenching series and felt the need to express myself.” He called the subject of the series deeply unsettling: “the ugliest side of humanity is what Raakh explores,” and that “no justification or childhood trauma is reason enough to succumb to an inner devil,” said Karan.
While commenting on the craft of the series, he gave a “special chef’s kiss” to director Prosit Roy for his “non-manipulative approach of emotional depiction.” However, his praise for Sonali Bendre and Aamir Bashir remained the strongest among all, calling their performance “career-defining.” “Their portrayal of the pathos pained parents in the face of unsurmountable tragedy left me awestruck… they became the characters, and I salute their depiction… they are OUTSTANDING! BRAVO!!!” he added further while urging the audience to “observe their performances to experience what I have felt.” Karan also praised Ali Fazal for his “exceptional and solid work” and gave special mentions to Akash Makhija and Ramandeep Yadav for their “brilliant portrayals,” before signing off, while calling Raakh “devastating and brilliant in equal measure.”
All About Raakh
Streaming on Prime Video, is an eight-episode crime drama set in 1970s Delhi that premiered on June 12. The series is based on the real-life Ranga-Billa case, one of India’s most harrowing criminal cases, in which siblings Geeta Chopra, 16, and Sanjay Chopra, 14, were abducted and murdered in August 1978 while on their way to an All India Radio programme.
Ali Fazal in and as Jayprakash Jatav from Raakh
The case triggered nationwide outrage and led to the conviction and execution of the accused, Kuljeet Singh and Jasbir Singh, in 1982. Ali Fazal plays Sub-Inspector Jayprakash, a cop whose investigation into the disappearance grows darker with every lead. Directed by Prosit Roy and created by Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket, the series is produced by Endemol Shine India in association with BhaDiPa.