Leila : Netflix TV show review

Sometimes the specter of a dystopia is too real and close for comfort. There is no hiding from the fact that we live in portentous times. USA, Russia, China, India, Brazil - the masochistic monarchs (many democratically elected)  who preside over these critical nations of the Earth make me wonder whether we - the human kind, are in the first chapters of a Stephen King horror novel or an Atwoodian dystopia. Wish I had been born a boomer like my parents and done with my time on this planet before whatever Idiocracy that might descend upon us. 

Leila - the Netflix series by Deepa Mehta, is India's take on its dystopian future, life in a pure Hindu utopia - Aryavarta. The production design is commendable considering they didn't construct elaborate sets, rather used what is available along with a smattering of CGI and still came out with a convincing presentation. The Indian utopia/dystopia (depending on which side you are on) in Leila is based on a religion,caste based categorization of the masses.  It has more similarities with Hitlerian version of a pure-bred paradise than the gender based subjugation explored in The Handmaid's Tale. Leila's take, I believe, is more relevant and timely from an Indian (and current global) perspective than the Margaret Atwood's tale of subjugated maids.

Great casting - Huma Qureishi, Siddharth, the lead pair thrown together by circumstance make a powerful impression.  The supporting characters are also well etched out. Leila, got a lot of flak in India for its purported Hindutva bashing. I like to think of it as a possible outcome, an alternative reality that will come into existence if we keep on making bad choices while selecting our leaders. And yes, WATER, like it is shown in Leila, is going to be resource over which future wars will be fought, long as we keep on denying climate change.