Jio Hotstar’s latest web series, Chiraiya, directed by Shashant Shah, isn’t here to entertain you. Featuring Divya Dutta, Sanjay Mishra, Prasanna Bisht, and Siddharth Shaw, the six-episode series forces you to see the ugly truth that’s all around us. Chiraiya brings forward the subject of marital rape and how the law still refuses to recognise it as a heinous crime. The show makes you go through an uncomfortable, jarring, and hard-hitting storyline and reminds you that just because it is not legally a crime doesn’t mean it is right. Read this Chiraiya review to find out why this unsettling watch deserves your time and attention.

Chiraiya, a story that refuses to stay silent

At its core, Chiraiya is a simple story. A close-knit Indian family that is functioning smoothly. Everyone in the family knows their place and boundaries and respects each other’s, at least on the surface. Kamlesh (Divya Dutta) is the quintessential elder bahu who has raised her brother-in-law, Arun (Siddharth Shaw), as her own son. In her eyes, Arun can do no wrong. Her husband, Vinay (Faisal Rashid), is supportive, gentle, and caring, and treats his wife as an equal. And the backbone of the family is Kamlesh’s progressive father-in-law, Papa Ji (Sanjay Mishra), who has always taught her to stand up for the truth.

The web series starts with Arun getting married to a progressive and modern girl, Pooja (Prasanna Bisht). On the very first night, Pooja falls sick and tells Arun she isn’t in the mood to “do it”. But like most men, Arun fails to understand the concept of consent and forces himself on her. When Pooja confronts her family and Kamlesh about it, she is told to shut up and not ruin the family’s reputation. But after continuously facing the assault, she can’t take it anymore and brutally self-harms to get out of the situation. That’s when Kamlesh realises the gravity of the situation and stands up with her to fight against the heinous crime.

The law, the loophole, the lie

Chiraiya doesn’t turn into a courtroom drama but shows the battle of calling marital rape a crime, even when the law fails to recognise it as one. After all, how do you punish someone when the law for such a crime doesn’t exist? It highlights the absurdity of a system where consent is assumed as soon as a marriage certificate is signed, no questions asked. It shows the mirror to a society where consent is still a foreign concept, and saying ‘no’ in a marriage is considered null and void.

Does marriage give men the right to assault, abuse, and exploit their partners? Chiraiya addresses this uncomfortable truth, and even though it slows down in parts, it never forgets its direction. The series might be a heavy, uncomfortable watch that becomes hard to sit through at some moments, but that’s why it matters.

The performances that rise above storytelling

Divya Dutta as Kamlesh might not be your favourite character in the beginning, but she steals your heart as the story moves forward. Conflicted but determined to favour those who can’t raise their voice, her performance is layered and evolves from denial to daring quickly. Sanjay Mishra, as Papa Ji, cleverly hides behind his progressive mindset till the fire reaches his own household. The morals vanish quickly, and righteousness is out of the window. He is now just a hollow man whose reputation is above all. His understated brilliance makes for a worthwhile watch. Other cast members, including Prasanna Bisht as Pooja and Siddharth Shaw as Arun, bring nuance, drama, and emotional depth to the show. And the supporting cast, including Tinnu Anand, Sarita Joshi and Faisal Rashid, fill in the gaps effortlessly.

Chiraiya is now streaming on Jio Hotstar.

Can you watch it with your family?: Chiraiya features themes of sexual violence and marital abuse, making it an unsettling watch.

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