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Raakh

Raakh

Movie · 1989 · 6 people

Made in Hindi in 1989, the Indian action crime film Raakh (“Ashes”) has a strong dramatic side. Aditya Bhattacharya both wrote and directed it. Aamir Khan and Supriya Pathak take the lead roles, with Pankaj Kapur, Gajanan Bangera and Jagdeep in the cast. Naina Balsaver and Homi Wadia are also listed.

The story follows the young Aamir, who helplessly watches an attack on the woman he loves and takes justice into his own hands. As he confronts the criminal underworld, he forms a dark alliance with Kapoor, a disgraced police officer. It was Aamir Khan's first film after Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

On release it drew great critical praise and won three National Film Awards in 1989. The award categories include Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing and a Special Jury Award / Special Mention. Over the years it built a loyal following, and it is also said to have influenced many later films in a similar vein. Raakh is also remembered as the Bollywood debut of ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan and film editor A. Sreekar Prasad.

DirectorAditya Bhattacharya

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Cast

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Aamir Khan Aamir Khan Actor · 61 years old Amir Hussein Pankaj Kapur Supriya Pathak Naina Balsaver Jagdeep Homi Wadia

Also in the cast: Gajanan Bangera

Through different eyes

AI-assisted editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives. They are not reader reviews; those are below.

Action & Thriller Fan Puts pace, tension and set pieces first; little patience for slow drama.

Raakh has the two sturdiest building blocks of any revenge story: a young man who takes justice into his own hands and a disgraced cop. Their dark alliance sets up the tension from the start. But don't expect today's fast, flashy Bollywood action; the film has a strong dramatic side and draws its weight from it. It suits genre fans looking for a dark crime atmosphere rather than non-stop fireworks.

Cinephile Looks at script, editing and directing choices; keeps a distance from formula films.

What makes Raakh interesting today is the team behind the camera. As the Bollywood debut of ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan and editor A. Sreekar Prasad, it carries extra weight in hindsight, and its National Film Award for Best Editing shows that this crew was noticed from the very first step. Aamir Khan choosing such a dark crime story straight after Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak is also a striking career move. Written and directed by Aditya Bhattacharya, the film is remembered as a cornerstone said to have influenced later films of its kind. For anyone curious how a harder-edged crime narrative took shape in late-eighties Indian cinema, it is a worthwhile stop.

Family Viewer Asks whether the whole household can watch it; cares about humor and heart.

This one is not for children. The story is built on the revenge of a young man who helplessly watches an attack on the woman he loves, and the criminal underworld, violence and a dark mood are front and center. In a family, it's for adults and perhaps older teenagers only. Families hoping for a light, colorful Indian film full of songs should choose something else.

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