{{Short description|2026 Indian web series}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox television | image = Chiraiya.jpg | caption = Promotional poster | genre = Drama | creator = Divy Nidhi Sharma | based_on = {{Based on|''Sampurna''}} | showrunner = Divy Nidhi Sharma | writer = Divy Nidhi Sharma | story = Soumyabrata Rakshit | director = Shashant Shah | starring = {{Plainlist| * Divya Dutta * Sanjay Mishra * Siddharth Shaw * Prasanna Bisht }} | composer = Raja Narayan Deb | country = India | language = Hindi | num_seasons = 1 | num_episodes = 6 | executive_producer = Rajesh Sharma | producer = Shrikant Mohta<br />Mahendra Soni | cinematography = Subhankar Bhar | editor = Aseem Sinha | runtime = 26{{ndash}}39 minutes | company = SVF Entertainment | network = JioHotstar | released = {{Start date|df=y|2026|3|20}} }}
'''''Chiraiya''''' ({{Translation|"Bird"}}) is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language drama web series directed by Shashant Shah and produced by SVF Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gavankar |first=Vaishnavi |date=March 6, 2026 |title=Chiraiya trailer: Divya Dutta leads powerful social drama series, questions silence around marital consent |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/chiraiya-trailer-divya-dutta-leads-powerful-social-drama-series-questions-silence-around-marital-consent-article-13852915.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-03-22 |website=Moneycontrol |language=en-US}}</ref> It stars Divya Dutta, Sanjay Mishra, Siddharth Shaw and Prasanna Bisht. It is an adaptation of the Bengali web series ''Sampurna''.
The series began streaming on JioHotstar from 20 March 2026 and has become one of the most popular Hindi series on the platform in recent months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-06 |title=Divya Dutta-starrer 'Chiraiya' to stream on JioHotstar from March 20 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/divya-dutta-starrer-chiraiya-to-stream-on-jiohotstar-from-march-20-101772787313162.html |access-date=2026-03-22 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pandey |first=Geeta |date=2026-04-12 |title=Web series Chiraiya puts spotlight on marital rape in India |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqkl2kqkxzo |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Premise == A young bride navigates a suffocating marriage, battling for autonomy in a society that values family honour over her consent. The show confronts marital rape, exposing the myth of implied consent within marriage and highlighting her emotional and psychological struggle for dignity.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Khurana |first=Archika |date=March 20, 2026 |title=Chiraiya Season 1 Review : A Quietly Powerful Mirror to an Uncomfortable Truth |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/chiraiya/season-1/seasonreview/129624129.cms |access-date=March 22, 2026 |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
== Cast == * Divya Dutta as Kamlesh * Sanjay Mishra as Sukumar Bhramar * Prasanna Bisht as Pooja Kumari * Siddharth Shaw as Arun Kumar * Faisal Rashid as Vinay Kumar; Kamlesh’s husband * Tinnu Anand as Nana; Kamlesh's grandad * Sarita Joshi * Anjum Saxena
== Episodes == {{Episode table |background=#8D441F |total_width=auto |overall= |title= |director= |directorR= |writer= |airdate= |airdateR= |episodes= {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 1 | Title = Griha Pravesh | DirectedBy = Shashant Shah | WrittenBy = Divy Nidhi Sharma | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2026|3|20}} | ShortSummary = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website --> | LineColor = 8D441F }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 2 | Title = Pag Phera | DirectedBy = Shashant Shah | WrittenBy = Divy Nidhi Sharma | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2026|3|20}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 8D441F }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 3 | Title = Honeymoon | DirectedBy = Shashant Shah | WrittenBy = Divy Nidhi Sharma | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2026|3|20}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 8D441F }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 4 | Title = Muh Dikhai | DirectedBy = Shashant Shah | WrittenBy = Divy Nidhi Sharma | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2026|3|20}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 8D441F }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 5 | Title = Vidaai | DirectedBy = Shashant Shah | WrittenBy = Divy Nidhi Sharma | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2026|3|20}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 8D441F }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 6 | Title = Kathaa | DirectedBy = Shashant Shah | WrittenBy = Divy Nidhi Sharma | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=y|2026|3|20}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = 8D441F }} }}
==Soundtrack== {{tracklist | headline = Track-List | extra_column = Singer(s) | total_length = | all_writing = Divy Nidhi Sharma | title1 = Udi Chiraiya | extra1 = Sunetra Banerjee | length1 = 2:24 | title2 = Dhoop Jaye Dever | extra2 = Amrita Bharati | length2 = 2:42 | title3 = Suhaagan Bhookhi Pyaasi Re | extra3 = Zeenia Roy | length3 = 1:28 | title4 = | extra4 = | length4 = }}
==Release== ''Chiraiya'' was released on JioHotstar on 20 March 2026.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chiraiya OTT release date: When and where to watch Divya Dutta's social drama on marital consent|url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/chiraiya-ott-release-date-when-and-where-to-watch-divya-duttas-social-drama-on-marital-consent/193113df36724|date=6 March 2026|website=OTT Play}}</ref>
== Reception == === Critical reception === Archika Khurana of ''The Times of India'' gave 3.5 stars and wrote "At its core, the series tackles the sensitive and rarely explored subject of marital rape, challenging the deeply ingrained belief that marriage implies automatic consent. But rather than turning into a loud, didactic social commentary, Chiraiya chooses a more introspective route. It does not point fingers; it holds up a mirror."<ref name=":0" />
Shubhra Gupta of ''The Indian Express'' gave 3.5 stars and worded "The series adopts a degree of melodrama which belongs more to the Ekta Kapoor brand of kitchen-sink saas-bahu serials than a modern series that challenges patriarchy through personal choices which are held up for what they are."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Shubhra |author1-link=Shubhra Gupta |title=Chiraiya review: The Divya Dutta show is let down by melodrama |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/chiraiya-review-the-divya-dutta-show-is-let-down-by-melodrama-10592386/ |access-date=25 March 2026 |work=The Indian Express |date=20 March 2026 |language=en}}{{rating|2.5|5}}</ref>
Shreyas Pande of ''The Hindu'' reviewed the series and highlighted "Through its accessible storytelling, the show offers a sharp portrayal of patriarchy and its impact on families, even though the presentation lacks finesse, making it clunky in some portions."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pande |first1=Shreyas |title=‘Chiraiya’ series review: Divya Dutta uplifts the rough edges of this timely take-down of marital rape |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/chiraiya-series-review-divya-dutta-uplifts-the-rough-edges-of-this-timely-take-down-of-marital-rape/article70764849.ece |access-date=22 March 2026 |work=The Hindu |date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
Rahul Desai of ''The Hollywood Reporter India'' writes that "Not the gender empowerment story we deserve" and describe it as "A liberal mind undone by a conservative body".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Desai |first1=Rahul |title='Chiraiya’ Series Review: A Liberal Mind Undone By A Conservative Body |url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/features/insight/chiraiya-series-review-a-liberal-mind-undone-by-a-conservative-body |access-date=22 March 2026 |work=The Hollywood Reporter India |date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
Vinamra Mathur of ''Firstpost'' rated it 3.5 stars and said that "In most of the Hindi movies that we have seen, the wedding room represents intimacy, to celebrate what we call Suhaagrat. In Chiraiya, it’s depicted as a room for horror and loneliness. And it has been done well."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mathur |first1=Vinamra |title='Chiraiya' Web-Series Review: Divya Dutta leads a discomforting show about marital rape and women's rights |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/chiraiya-web-series-review-a-haunting-divya-dutta-leads-a-discomforting-show-about-marital-rape-and-womens-rights-13991724.html |work=Firstpost |date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
Udita Jhunjhunwala writing for ''Scroll.in'' observed that "Chiraiya is saying something that matters, but it leans so heavily on its message that it begins to feel less like a story and more like a lesson."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jhunjhunwala |first1=Udita |title=Review: ‘Chiraiya’ bluntly confronts marital rape |url=https://scroll.in/reel/1091500/review-chiraiya-bluntly-confronts-marital-rape |work=Scroll.in |date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
Sana Farzeen of ''India Today'' gave 3.5 stars and writes that "It does not claim to have all the answers. Instead, it leaves you with questions – difficult, uncomfortable, necessary questions. Because sometimes, the first step towards change is not action, but acknowledgement. And in a society that still struggles to even name the problem, that in itself is a powerful beginning."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farzeen|first1=Sana |title=Chiraiya review: Divya Dutta's show is an unflinching take on marital rape |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/chiraiya-review-divya-dutta-show-is-an-unflinching-take-on-marital-rape-2884557-2026-03-20|work=India Today |date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
BH Harsh of ''Cinema Express'' rated it 3.5 stars and said that "Chiraiya tells us to be cautious of those animals who thrive in broad society under the endearing allure of poetry."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harsh|first1=BH |title=Chiraiya Series Review: An impactful story that manages to rise above its heavy-handed treatment |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/review/2026/Mar/20/chiraiya-series-review-an-impactful-story-that-manages-to-rise-above-its-heavy-handed-treatment|work=Cinema Express |date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
Arpita Sarkar of ''OTT Play'' gave 3 stars out of 5 and said that "Chiraiya is a socially important series that highlights issues such as marital abuse, consent, and patriarchal norms."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sarkar|first1=Arpita|title=Chiraiya Review: Divya Dutta's series is another wake-up call on how toxic masculinity begins at home |url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/chiraiya-review-divya-duttas-series-is-another-wake-up-call-on-how-toxic-masculinity-begins-at-home/c78ec5a9f9742|work=OTT Play |date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb title|tt40828245}}
Category:Indian web series Category:2026 web series debuts Category:2026 Indian television series debuts Category:Hindi-language web series Category:Disney+ Hotstar original programming Category:Hindi-language Disney+ Hotstar original programming Category:Indian drama web series Category:Indian family drama television series Category:Television series about marriage Category:Works about marriage Category:Works about sexual abuse Category:Fiction about arranged marriage Category:Fiction about adultery Category:Television shows about adultery Category:Works about women Category:Hindi-language television shows about violence against women Category:Works about rape Category:Works about violence against women Category:Remakes of Indian television series