Rikshawala -2023- Ullu Original Info

Rikshawala, released on the streaming platform Ullu in 2023, continues the platform’s signature formula of blending social drama with bold, adult-themed content. True to the UllU brand, the series is not for the faint of heart; it uses the metaphor of a common mode of transport—the humble auto-rickshaw—to navigate the murky intersections of class, desperation, and forbidden attraction.

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The series revolves around Bhola (played by Anubhav Srivastava), a mild-mannered, impoverished auto-rickshaw driver in a bustling but unforgiving city. By day, he navigates potholed roads and rude passengers; by night, he returns to a cramped slum dwelling, invisible to the elite world he ferries around.

Bhola’s life takes a dark turn after a chance encounter with a wealthy, manipulative passenger, Tara (played by Priyanka Bora). Tara represents everything Bhola cannot have—luxury, confidence, and sexual agency. What begins as an unequal transaction (a ride home) spirals into psychological manipulation. Tara, bored with her privileged yet hollow existence, toys with Bhola’s repressed desires, using him as a pawn in her own games. Rikshawala -2023- Ullu Original

As Bhola becomes increasingly obsessed—first with Tara, then with the idea of becoming the kind of man who deserves her—he begins to shed his moral compass. The rickshaw, once a humble tool of livelihood, transforms into a symbolic chariot of vengeance. The narrative accelerates into a spiral of stalking, voyeurism, and ultimately, brutal violence.

The titular character is the soul of the series. The actor portrays a duality that is essential for this genre. On the surface, he is obedient and subservient, calling the female lead "Madam" or "Didi." However, his eyes often betray a simmering intensity and desire. As the story moves forward, his transformation from a service provider to a dominant force in the narrative is the key hook of the show. Rikshawala , released on the streaming platform Ullu

Ullu has often been criticized for packaging social commentary as pornography. Rikshawala explicitly tries to comment on class divide. There is a poignant scene where Tara watches Raju eat a vada pav with his hands while she sips wine. She is aroused not by him, but by the act of slumming it.

Does the film succeed as art? Partially. The metaphor of the rickshaw—a vehicle for others’ journeys—is strong. Raju spends his life driving people to their destinations, never owning his own path. When he finally "drives" into the bedroom of a wealthy woman, it is a rebellion against the caste-class ceiling. Skip it if: The series revolves around Bhola

However, the graphic nudity and the "revenge porn" undertones in the final act dilute the message. For every minute of social commentary, there are two minutes of gratuitous close-ups. In the end, Rikshawala is caught between being a soft-core fantasy and a noir drama.