Web series Chiraiya puts spotlight on marital rape in India

Chiraiya, which has drawn an audience of millions, has prompted conversations on social media around consent and misogyny.

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Chiraiya - the Hindi word for small birds - aired on JioHotstar in March. It has already drawn an audience of millions, making it one of the network's most popular Hindi shows in months.

Praised by media critics for confronting a subject that is largely seen as taboo, it has sparked conversations on social media about consent and misogyny. At the same time, some commentators have described it as "anti-men" and "an attempt to undermine the sanctity of marriage".

Divy Nidhi Sharma, the show's scriptwriter, says the series follows two women, Kamlesh and Pooja.

Kamlesh, played by Divya Dutta, is a middle-aged homemaker who firmly believes "women should be interested in cooking and housework". Pooja, played by Prasanna Bish, is educated, socially conscious and talks about gender equality and dignity.