Reviews & Ratings for
Leila (2019)

Leila, a Netflix original is scary yet engrossing at the same time which makes it all the more intriguing to watch. Set in a dystopian world of Aryavarta in the near future, year 2050 to be precise, the show depicts the poor and sorry conditions of the mankind in the years to come due to the torture we are doing on the earth in today’s time. It is terrifying how real the whole future looks and if that is seriously going to happen in the time to come. The show has an interesting and engaging plot filled with the struggle of the protagonist and the awful lifestyle where air and clean water are considered to be a luxury. The show faced its own set of controversial viewpoints but in my opinion, I quite liked the show which had a nail biting and sitting on the edge of my seat moments.

Leila is an Indian thriller web series by Netflix. It is an adaptation of Prayaag Akbar’s 2017 novel based in a dystopian totalitarian India of 2047 where Joshi and his goons command ‘Aryavarta’ and the society is divided into ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. To remain pure, individuals are not supposed to mingle outside their ‘communities’ and restrict themselves in tightly sealed ‘sectors’ that are bordered by high walls. Outside these walls lie the ‘bastis’ or ‘slums’ where the poor are left to suffer. The six episodes follow Shalini’s (played by Huma Qureshi) search for her daughter Leila who is forcibly snatched away for being ‘mishrit’ (or mixed, born to a Muslim father and Hindu mother). The world of Aryavarta starkly displays an autocratic state. Themes of surveillance, water crisis, pollution, riots and authoritarianism are glimpsed throughout; too close to reality than one would like to admit. They almost resemble a grimier version of India. The series must be commended upon showing society a mirror and issuing a warning of sorts of a possible future. Siddhartha as Bhanu, Huma Qureshi as Shalini and Arif Zakaria as Iyer are compelling in their roles and succeed at making an impression. The series excels at extracting an array of emotions from the viewer, ranging from repulsion to fear. Certain episodes seem to be rushed with numerous things happing at once but at the end of the day, Leila does what it had intended to. It depicts if tyranny is left unchecked then the consequences can be grave.

Can you imagine a scenario where religion takes over reason?

Well, this series is purely indicative of that. It takes you to India in the year 2047, 100 years since it got independence. There is chaos and tension all around as religious hindu fascist powers try to rule the land with the government backing them in the process. They plan to outnumber the minorities in the act, and even destroy their very existence.

Huma Qureishi acts as the lead and fights the evil forces with all her might but is questioned by her own conscience several times during this battle.

Watch out if you are a fan of political and religious rivalries. With the political hoopla created throughout the country, this was a perfect time to reap in the cash for the producers of this series. Pure timing I would say, but in the end, it disappoints on many fronts - religious ideologies have been used as silly excuses, and the makers of the film have vaguely stereotyped the religions as we normally do.

It's worth watching for once, and I am pretty sure it is very hard to get addicted to this one.

The adaptation of Prayaag Akbar’s novel of the same name has been directed by Deepa Mehta, Shanker Raman and Pawan Kumar. Leila is set in the late 2040s in an India that is now known as Aryavarta. The totalitarian nation-state is headed by Joshi (Sanjay Suri), a semi-divine figure who lords over the populace through holograms, photographs and statues.The lines that divide caste and religion have taken literal form. Each community has its own sector, which is separated from the others by tall walls. The emphasis is on purity, and intermingling between communities is penalised.
Transgressors are cut off from their families and sent to facilities where they are given uniforms and reschooled in the new ways of the new world (“Mera janm hi hai mera karm” – my birth determines my fate.)Shalini (Huma Qureshi) is one such transgressor, having committed the crime of marrying a Muslim, Rizwan (Rahul Khanna). They have a child together, Leila, who has been separated from Shalini. Over the course of six episodes, Shalini attempts to locate her daughter, dodging surveillance systems, thwarting thugs and uncovering a political conspiracy along the way.
The series deserves credit for daring to hold up a mirror to contemporary Indian society and warning that a similar brand of intolerance and exclusion could be round the corner if our worst impulses remain unchecked. However, the dystopia suggested by Leila isn’t always convincing. The series tackles too many themes – surveillance, hyper-segregation, social hierarchies, authoritarianism, pollution, a water supply crisis – without exploring any one idea with depth.Leila has all the ingredients of a perfect dystopian drama that strike a chord with the viewers. The fear makes you uncomfortable, the suspense on edge of your seat, the tragedy makes your miserable while the horror of it all surrounds you with all its intensity, as the possibility of an impending doom lurks.
The 6-episode series will force you to binge watch it as it hooks you to the scary, seemingly realistic future, leaving you utterly perplexed.

Have you ever felt like once you start a series and you dive into it so much that you start believing it blindly? This is what happened to me watching this web series. Some may say its pointless but according to me this series has a great level of #addiction to it. Its rather #emotional turn of events when the lead actress Huma Qureshi dives into various thoughts and conversations with her husband and daughter in her conscience. This series is rather #againstTheSystem and I think that is why some people are finding it hard to digest. The characters played by Huma Qureshi and Siddharth have a condescending effect on its audience and that's why they are being so very appreciated. Watch it if you really have the guts to see what our future might be. All the Best!

Leila is an Indian T.V series directed by Deepa Mehta, Shanker Raman and Pawan Kumarbased on the novel written by Prayaag Akbar which was released in 2017. With a dyspotatian region as a backdrop, this series shows how communities are divided and even clean water and air is shown as a luxury which only few people can afford.
The series is titled as Leila who is the daughter of Shalini played by Huma Qureshi. Huma Qureshi gives a powerful performance as a mother who is desperately in search of her daughter – Leila .The series shows a fascist government and makes the audience feel terrified of the fates of the characters owing to their natural acting. Even though the series is thrilling and the actors have considerably justified their roles, it misses out on a strong storyline. There are lot of foreshadowing happening in the series and nothing unexpected is seen. The season 1 didn’t meet up to the expectations nor did the season finale did justice. Hopefully, the season 2 will make up for the blunders made in season 1.

Based on Prayaag Thakur's Leila, this is a hella creepy and thrilling. Being dystopian, it's outright depressing. You care for a world and you wanna see it in a particularly gay light, however, this is downright opposite. Like the book, the concept of purity is the centre theme. In a society, that is increasingly getting divided into small ghettos, this series serves as a horrifying mirror and a signal for what we can be gearing against.

LEILA - Directed by Deepa Mehta, Pawan Kumar & Shanker Raman.

Story of a women called Shalini, who married a Muslim Man Riz who is out of her community. Her community is against of her marriage. Some suspicious events have taken place in which her husband is no more and her daughter is missing!
As the Promotion Poster says it is an perfect blend of Thriller, Ominous, Sci-Fic, Drama, and Cyberpunk.

Huma Qureshi's expressions and acting is good. Rahul Khanna and South Star Siddharth presence makes plot more interesting!
Camera Shots, Angles are damn cool! Cinematography and Editor should get an applause!
Background Music grabs the audience at first sight itself!

The protagonist gets married to someone outside her community.Her husband is killed and her child taken away from her.Will she ever meet her Daughter in her life again?