Sachin Bansal

Leila is the story of a mother searching for her daughter in the totalitarian state of Aryavarta. There are multiples themes, but two are dominant: one is the touching story of a mother who is ready to go to any extent to find her daughter after she is separated from her two years back, and the other is the horror of living on the wrong side in an authoritarian state. While overall theme is that of despair and horror, there are some clear high points and low points. High points: 1. Shalini's search for her daughter and her despair at the helpnessness she suffers. Scenes showing how her comfortable life has changed drastically create sympathy for her. 2. Brilliant depiction of how a dictatorship works. Young Indians haven't witnessed the emergency of 1975, but this story tries to show how it feels like to be in such a state. 3. A glimpse into a gloomy future in which access to drinking water and clean air is a privilege. One realises how foolish we would be if we continue to exhaust our natural resources recklessly. Low points: 1. A young girl named Roopa knows what is capitalism, calls herself impure and displays further illogical behaviour several times. One wonders how can such a little girl know about the world so much and behave so inconsistently. 2. The government shoots very tiny 'bombs' on the locations of the 'fighters' but doesn't kill them. This is very hard to believe. 3. Laila forgets about her mother just after 2 years of state-sponsored brainwashing. This is quite unbelievable. Overall, the series can be binge-watched easily. If you are interested in a dystopian future, then it is for you. Towards the end, one cannot help but feel connected to the protagonist after all the horrors she has gone through. The ending leaves one craving for the next season.