Yash Tongaonkar

Hey everyone, I am pretty new to this web series / movie review thing, I wanted to start by reviewing something very new. I just finished watching the new web series Raakh on Amazon Prime Video, and honestly I am still trying to process it.

I usually like crime thrillers, but this one completely blew my mind because it is actually based on a true story from 1978, the famous Ranga-Billa case in Delhi.

Disclaimer: it is not an easy watch, but trust me it will keep you completely hooked!

Here is my honest take on it!

What is the Story About?

The show starts in the late 1970s in Delhi. Two teenage siblings are waiting at a bus stop on a rainy day and end up taking a lift from two strangers. They disappear, and what follows is a massive, nationwide manhunt.

The main guy leading the investigation is a Sub-Inspector named Jayprakash, played by Ali Fazal. What makes the show really interesting (and different from usual crime shows) is that it runs on two parallel timelines. One track shows the police trying to solve the case in the present, and the other track goes into the past to show the backstory of the two criminals, Babu and Rajjo. It literally shows you how a normal person turns into a monster.

The Good Stuff (Why I Loved It)

The Acting is Incredible: Ali Fazal is amazing as the stressed out inspector who is constantly trying to catch up to these guys. But to be honest for me the villains stole the show. Akash Makhija (who plays Babu) and Ramandeep Yadav (who plays Rajjo) will give you actual goosebumps. There is a casualness to how they commit crimes. You will absolutely hate them, which means they did a phenomenal job.

The Grieving Parents: Sonali Bendre plays the mother (a school teacher), and Aamir Bashir plays the father. Their pain feels so real. There is this heartbreaking scene where Sonali’s character is trying to teach math to her class while completely in grief. That completely broke my heart.

The 1970s Vibe: The production team did a fantastic job making Delhi look exactly like it did in 1978. The colors, the old cars, the clothes, and even the background score make you feel like you are right there.

My Small Nitpicks

Since I am trying to be a proper reviewer here, I have to mention a couple of things that pulled me back a little. It felt a bit slow in middle episodes and it felt like the story was moving at a much slower pace than the beginning. Also, the final 8th episode felt completely opposite where the story quickly captured the speed. At the end I was almost screaming at the screen as it felt like incomplete where the story quickly finished.

Final Verdict: Is It worth watching?

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

Yes, absolutely. If you liked shows like Delhi Crime or Paatal Lok, you will love this. It will make you feel uncomfortable, but it's a powerful story that stays with you long after the show ends.

Hey everyone!

I’ve been dying to write this post for a while. We finally managed to head down to the coast for a quick weekend getaway, and honestly it was exactly the reset I needed. We wanted to mix a bit of adventure with some pure relaxation, so we decided to start with the big views at Durdle Door before heading over to the lively vibes of Bournemouth.

If you’re thinking about taking a trip down to Dorset, here is my (very honest) take on how it went!

First Stop: The Epic Adventure at Durdle Door

We decided to dive straight into the deep end and head to Durdle Door first thing. I had seen it on Instagram a million times, but I’ll be honest—I didn't quite realize how much of a hike it was to get down to the beach!

The walk from the car park is beautiful, but it is steep. If you’re a beginner hiker like me, please take my advice: wear actual shoes, not flip-flops!

But was it worth it? Absolutely.

When we finally got to the top of the hill and saw that huge stone arch in the bright blue water, I was speechless. It didn’t even feel like we were in the UK anymore—it looked like we had flown to some tropical island! We spent ages taking photos (probably way too many, but I couldn't help it). It was such a wild, beautiful place, and it was the perfect way to start our trip with a real "wow" moment.

The Chill Phase: Bournemouth Beach

After the workout of climbing back up from Durdle Door, we drove over to Bournemouth, and it was exactly the vibe shift we needed. By the time we arrived, all I wanted to do was sit down and eat.

Bournemouth is so much fun. We walked along the Bournemouth Pier, grabbed some food, and just found a spot on the sand to watch the waves. It felt so easy and stress-free compared to our morning hike.

My quick tips for Bournemouth:

Don't rush the pier: It’s a great spot to look back at the town.

Stay local: We found that grabbing a coffee and just sitting near the beach huts was better than trying to do too much. It’s all about the chill factor here.

A Few Things I Learned

Since I’m still a total beginner at these travel blogs, here are a few things I wish I knew before I went:

Bring a Jacket: Even if it’s sunny, the wind on the coast—especially at the top of the cliffs by Durdle Door—can be surprisingly chilly. Always layer up!

Check the Tide: If you want to walk through the arch at Durdle Door or get the best photos, try to check the tide times. It makes a huge difference.

Final Thoughts

I came home feeling tired, a little sun-kissed, and very happy. Durdle Door gave us that epic, "bucket-list" feeling to start the trip, and Bournemouth gave us the fun, relaxing holiday vibe to round it off.

Since Covid, I’ve been working from home. Being in the IT industry, it felt exciting to start working remotely. When work-from-home began, I told myself to do something productive beyond just work-related tasks. I always wanted to start a blog—not because I had profound ideas to share, but because it seemed fun and fulfilling.

So, why did it take me almost two years to start? I got stuck trying to find the perfect blog name. I imagined myself like a hacker in a movie, writing under a cool, mysterious pseudonym. I searched Google for great blog names, but little did I know that choosing a name would be harder than writing the actual blog. I failed terribly, as you can see!

Before starting this blog, I began posting IT-related memes on Instagram and WhatsApp. Some friends even messaged me, jokingly asking to be blocked so they wouldn’t have to see my memes anymore!