The crime thriller genre has always been an audience favorite on the OTT platform. But when a series is based on a true and gruesome crime case that shook the nation, the expectations double. Director Prosit Roy’s new series ‘Rakh’ is one such attempt. The series is inspired by the infamous ‘Ranga-Billa abduction and murder case’ of 1978, which shocked the whole of India decades ago. The producers have been successful to a large extent in presenting this difficult and sensitive subject on screen without sensationalism.

The story of the series begins on an ordinary day, when two innocent children leave their home for a radio station, but never reach there. The disappearance of the children throws the family into chaos and the parents (Sonali Bendre and Aamir Bashir) approach the police for help.

The responsibility of investigating this complicated case goes to Sub-Inspector Jaiprakash (Ali Fazal), who is handling the first major case of his career. After much investigation, the bodies of the children were found abandoned in the hilly area. After this begins a wall-to-wall investigation into the arrest of two of India’s most dangerous criminals – Babu and Rajjo (known to the world as ‘Ranga and Billa’).

 

The show doesn’t rely on memorable one-liners or long speeches. Instead, it rests on silence, stagnation and tension. Due to the atmosphere of the series, even small sounds feel very loud. The writer knows when to keep quiet, and it works in the show’s favor.

Ali Fazal has handled the show with great restraint. As SI Jayaprakash, he portrays the restlessness of a young officer who struggles with his insecurities while trying to solve a gruesome case. His performance never seems exaggerated and that makes it all the more impressive.

But ‘Rakh’ is not just an actor’s story. Sonali Bendre looks heartbreaking as a mother whose entire world crumbles overnight. Pain is visible in every scene of him. Aamir Bashir supports her well as the father, who tries to stay strong but is crumbling inside.

Rakesh Bedi’s screen time is less, but he leaves a deep impression. Her relationship with Ali Fazal brings some warmth to this grim story. Dibyendu Bhattacharya is credible in the role of SP and shows a strong presence in every scene. Davinder Gill has played the role of a police officer who helps Brun Sobti in ‘Kohra 2’. This time he is helping Ali Fazal. This actor has a great sense of lightening the atmosphere of a serious thriller. She has been successful in doing this in ‘Rakh’ too.

However, the biggest surprise comes from Akash Makhija and Ramandeep Yadav, who play the roles of Ranga and Billa. His performance is very disturbing. He never plays a character just for show. Instead, they are too easily absorbed into the disturbing thoughts of the characters. If their presence makes you uncomfortable, the actors did what they wanted to do.

Prosit Roy deserves praise for avoiding the temptation to sensationalize the story. Instead of making it a dramatic spectacle, they let the facts and feelings speak for themselves. The style of the story stays connected to the ground reality and this makes many scenes seem even more disturbing. In crime thrillers, sensation is often created for effect. But ‘Rakh’ hits the right note.

The strongest point of this series is that the investigation takes time to understand the criminals rather than glorify them. In most crime dramas, the police officer who solves the mystery is made the hero. Here, the story also shows what Ranga and Billa were doing in the days before the crime, which reveals their troubled psyche. And if you plan to watch it at night, rest assured, you won’t be able to sleep for long after the TV is off.

The speed of ‘Rakh’ is also commendable. It is neither too slow nor does it move in an unnecessary rush. The sequence creates a balance that maintains the tension throughout the story.

The journalist track feels detached from the main story at times and could have been shortened. There are moments where things seem incomplete and some questions remain unanswered. These small flaws don’t spoil the fun of the film, but they certainly attract attention.

‘Rakh’ is a powerful crime thriller that stays in your mind even after the film ends. It deals with a difficult subject honestly and has strong performances from all the cast, especially Ali Fazal and the Ranga-Billa players.

 

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