For writer Apurva Asrani, starting a “conversation in society” through his work is of utmost importance. Recently, the show written by him, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, bagged the Best Asian Drama Series award at ContentAsia Awards 2021. But the recognition has come at a time when the Chhattisgarh High Court ruled that ‘sexual act with one’s wife is not rape, even if forced’.

This has put the spotlight back on marital abuse in India. “The timing of the verdict, coinciding with our show winning this international honour, was just crazy. On one hand, the civilised world is moving towards undoing the evils of domestic abuse, and on the other, Indian courts are giving men a free hand to rape their wives. Many women and men are under the misconception that control is equal to love. It’s in fact the opposite. Let’s raise our voice against the awful Chattisgarh verdict,” he says.

“I’m blessed to find collaborators who feel deep empathy towards such stories. My film Shahid (2012) talks about minorities wrongly imprisoned under draconian laws, fighting for justice. Then Aligarh (2016) made the case for a teacher who happened to be homosexual, fighting for his right to privacy. Made In Heaven, where I worked as an editor, took that conversation into an urban space,” he adds.

Asrani shares how women reaching out to him on social media is his greatest reward. “Women of all ages watched the show and sent me messages about their domestic situation,” he says, adding, “One woman begged me to save her from an abusive husband. I was shaken till I connected her to an NGO.”

So, how important is it to create content such as this? “I wept the day I learned Criminal Justice Behind Closed Doors was a big OTT hit. Not just because every artiste strives for recognition, but it also meant households were ready to talk about what happens behind closed doors,” he adds.