Leila Review

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.