Disturbed as a parent: KJo calls Raakh a gut-wrenching and devastating watch

Karan Johar praised Prime Video's Raakh in a lengthy Instagram note after binge-watching the series. He said the finale episode left him deeply disturbed as a parent and member of society.

In Short

• Karan Johar praised Raakh series in a lengthy post
• He wrote how the finale disturbed him as a parent, viewer and member of society
• He said the series explores humanity's ugliest side without easy excuses

Filmmaker Karan Johar has showered praise on the recently released series Raakh, calling it a deeply disturbing yet brilliant watch that left him emotionally shaken long after the final episode.

In his lengthy note on Instagram, KJo revealed that he had been trying to take a break from social media but felt compelled to share his thoughts after binge-watching the series. "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 (sic)," the 54-year-old director wrote.

The filmmaker admitted that the show's finale left a profound impact on him. Describing himself as "deeply disturbed" after watching the last episode late at night, Karan said the series affected him not just as a viewer but also as a parent and a member of society.

"Disturbed as a parent, as a human being, and as a member of society The ugliest side of humanity is what Raakh explores (sic)," he wrote, adding that no amount of childhood trauma or personal justification can excuse succumbing to one's inner darkness.

Karan praised director Prosit Roy for his storytelling, calling the series an example of powerful and non-manipulative filmmaking.

"What I need to applaud is Prosit Roy's incredible storytelling, strong hold and non-manipulative approach of emotional depiction and a special chef's kiss to his undeniable craft (sic)," KJo wrote.

However, it was the performances that impressed him the most. Karan singled out lead actors Sonali Bendre and Aamir Bashir, describing their work as "career-defining."

"But what I can't get out of my head are the career-defining performances of Sonali Bendre and Aamir Bashir. Their portrayal of grief-stricken parents facing an unsurmountable tragedy left me awestruck. They became the characters and I salute their depiction," he added.

The filmmaker also praised Ali Fazal for his "exceptional and solid work" and gave a shout-out to Akash Makhija and Ramandeep Yadav for their performances. He further credited the team at Prime Video for backing the project.

Concluding his review, Karan described Raakh as "devastating and brilliant in equal measure," while admitting that he may not recover from the emotional impact of the series anytime soon.

About Raakh

Nearly five decades after the infamous Ranga-Billa case shook the nation, Prime Video’s Raakh revisits that period. Set in late-1970s Delhi, the series follows Sub-Inspector Jayprakash, played by Ali Fazal, a police officer investigating a case that grows darker with every lead. As the search intensifies, the series looks at the emotional toll on families, the pressures of the investigation and the atmosphere of fear in the city.

Directed and executive produced by Prosit Roy, the series has been created, written and co-directed by Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket, with dialogues by Ayush Trivedi.

Produced by Endemol Shine India in association with BhaDiPa, Raakh premiered on June 12.

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