Conversely, conservative outlets and parent groups condemned the series for “normalizing extra-marital affairs and LGBTQ+ relationships in rural settings.” A petition on Change.org sought to ban the show from PrimePlay, gathering 12,000 signatures. PrimePlay responded with a statement: “Antarvasna is for mature audiences (18+) only. We stand by artistic freedom.”
By The Digital Entertainment Desk
Clearly, PrimePlay is positioning Antarvasna as the “premium” choice in a sea of cheap thrillers. No discussion of this series is complete without addressing the controversy. Episode 3 ( The Inheritance ) depicted a same-sex kiss between two men in a religious setting (a temple courtyard at night). The Hindutva fringe group “Sanskriti Raksha Dal” staged protests outside PrimePlay’s Mumbai office. Additionally, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asked PrimePlay to remove a 12-second scene from Episode 4 involving a mirror and full-frontal reflection. PrimePlay complied for the theatrical version but retained the director’s cut on the streaming service. Antarvasna -2023- Season 2 PrimePlay Original
Editor Ritika Khanna uses long takes, forcing the audience to sit with discomfort. The sound mixing deserves special mention—breathing, fabric rustling, and ambient city noise are amplified while background scores drop to zero during crucial scenes. | Feature | Antarvasna S2 (PrimePlay) | Ullu Originals | ALTBalaji’s XXX | Netflix’s Lust Stories | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Explicit Content | High, artistic | High, gratuitous | Medium | Low-Medium | | Character Depth | Strong | Weak | Average | Strong | | Episode Length | 25-35 mins | 20 mins | 20-25 mins | 30-45 mins | | Target Audience | Urban 25-45 | Mass 18-35 | Mass 18-40 | Elite 18-50 | No discussion of this series is complete without
Until then, remains the benchmark for what happens when Indian OTT platforms treat adult content with the seriousness of an art film. It is not perfect, but it is fearless. And in today’s climate of cautious storytelling, that fearlessness is its greatest victory. Have you watched Antarvasna Season 2 on PrimePlay? Share your thoughts in the comments below. For more reviews on bold Indian web series, subscribe to our newsletter. Additionally, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)