Ep 1. Episode 1

Leila is an Indian Netflix series that is set in a dystopian future. The show is based on a novel of the same name by Prayaag Akbar. The series premiered on June 14, 2019, and consists of six episodes in total. The first episode is titled "Episode 1."

The story begins with a woman named Shalini and her daughter Leila. Shalini is married to a man named Riz, who is from a different caste. Leila is the product of their inter-caste marriage. The episode takes place in a city called Aryavarta, which is a highly structured and segregated society. The city is divided into different zones or colonies, each of which is populated by people of different castes. The higher castes live in the inner zones, whereas the lower castes are relegated to the outer zones. Shalini and Riz belong to the lower castes, which means they live in the outer zones.

Shalini has a happy life with her husband and daughter, but her world is turned upside down when her daughter is abducted by the authorities. Leila is taken away from her mother and placed in an institution called Aryavarta Pure Children's Acculturation Unit. The institution is meant to indoctrinate the children of inter-caste marriages and "purify" them. Shalini is devastated by the loss of her daughter and spends years searching for her.

The episode then fast-forwards to the present day, which is where the main storyline begins. Shalini is shown living in a rundown apartment in the outer zone of Aryavarta. She is still searching for her daughter and has made some progress in her investigation. She has a lead on the whereabouts of Leila and is determined to find her. Shalini is a strong-willed character who refuses to give up on her daughter, despite the dangers and challenges that lie ahead.

The episode also introduces some of the key characters who will play a role in the rest of the series. These include Bhanu, who is a member of the dominant caste and is in charge of the police force in Aryavarta. He is a powerful and corrupt figure who uses his authority to oppress and exploit the lower castes. Another important character is Rizwan, who is Shalini's estranged husband. He abandoned her after their daughter was taken, and Shalini blames him for their daughter's abduction. Rizwan is shown living in a wealthy and prosperous inner zone of Aryavarta, where he has a new family and has embraced the oppressive system that separates people based on caste.

The episode ends with a dramatic twist, when Shalini is captured and taken to a mysterious location. She is interrogated by a group of women who call themselves "The Aryavarta Resistance." They are a secret organization that opposes the totalitarian regime that governs Aryavarta. The Resistance offers to help Shalini in her quest to find her daughter, but she is hesitant to trust them. She is torn between her desire to find her daughter and her fear of the consequences of going against the system.

Overall, the first episode of Leila sets the stage for an intriguing and thought-provoking series. The show tackles important issues such as casteism, authoritarianism, and oppression, and does so in a way that is both engaging and impactful. The characters are well-developed and the story is full of twists and turns that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. If you are a fan of dystopian fiction and enjoy shows that make you think, then Leila is definitely worth checking out.