Rikshawala -2023- Ullu Original -

Rikshawala (2023): A Gritty Descent into Urban Decay and Forbidden Desires on Ullu

"Rikshawala" is a 2023 Hindi-language thriller-drama from the bold digital streamer Ullu. Known for pushing the envelope with adult-oriented content, Ullu attempts to merge social commentary with erotic thrills in this series. Directed by Deepak Pandey, the show attempts to navigate the dark alleys of metropolitan loneliness, class divide, and the monstrous transformation of a common man pushed to his psychological breaking point.

Social & Cultural Context

• Reflects taboos around sex, class, and gender roles in conservative or working-class Indian settings.
• Engages with the economics of informal urban labor (auto-rickshaw drivers’ precarious livelihoods).
• May critique social hypocrisy: overt conservatism vs. covert transactional sex and exploitation.

Cons:

• Predictable "rich woman/poor man" trope.
• Abrupt ending that leaves subplots unresolved.
• Unnecessary item song break in the middle.

Content Warnings

• Explicit sexual content / nudity
• Adult themes: infidelity, prostitution, sexual exploitation
• Possible depictions of violence, blackmail, or coercion
• Sensitive portrayals of poverty and social marginalization

Cinematography and Sound Design

The show’s visual palette shifts from sun-bleached, dusty yellows (representing Bhola’s waking life) to neon-drenched, rain-slicked blues and reds (representing his fantasy and stalking hours). The sound design is noteworthy: the clicks, rattles, and groans of the aging rickshaw are mixed at a near-uncomfortable volume, making the vehicle a character in itself. The background score by Sangeet Haldipur uses discordant looped rhythms that mimic a stuck auto-rickshaw meter, heightening anxiety.

Direction and Technical Aspects

Director Ranjit Singh (a recurring name in Ullu’s catalog) keeps the production gritty and grounded. The cinematography deliberately contrasts the cramped, dust-filled interiors of Bhola’s rickshaw and slum with the sterile, marble-floored emptiness of Sheetal’s bedroom. The color grading is desaturated—browns, greys, and dark blues dominate, reflecting the moral ambiguity. Rikshawala -2023- Ullu Original

The series is shot in a tight 3-episode format (each approx. 20-25 minutes), which works in its favor. There is little filler; the plot moves briskly from the first proposition to the inevitable climax of tension.

Performances

• Anubhav Srivastava (Bhola): Srivastava delivers a physically transformative performance. He moves from cowering subservience to wide-eyed menace with unsettling authenticity. His silence speaks louder than dialogue, especially in scenes where he polishes his rickshaw’s handlebar with obsessive, ritualistic care.
• Priyanka Bora (Tara): Bora plays Tara as a tragic femme fatale—not a villain, but a damaged woman who confuses cruelty with power. Her chemistry with Srivastava is intentionally toxic, devoid of romance, filled instead with transactional tension.
• Supporting Cast: The series benefits from brief but effective roles by seasoned character actors playing passengers—each encounter adding a layer to Bhola’s unraveling.

Final Verdict

Rikshawala (2023) is not for the faint of heart or the casual viewer seeking light entertainment. It is a grim, uncomfortable, and deliberately ugly portrait of how a city chews up its most vulnerable and spits out a monster. While it stumbles into familiar Ullu tropes, its central performance and atmospheric dread elevate it above the platform’s average fare. Rikshawala (2023): A Gritty Descent into Urban Decay

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) For fans of: Joker (2019) meets Anurag Kashyap’s ugly urbanscapes, but with the explicit filter of Indian OTT adult content.

Where to watch: Exclusively on Ullu App (18+ only – contains strong violence, sexual content, and psychological horror). Reflects taboos around sex, class, and gender roles

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Disclaimer: This write-up is a critical analysis based on available synopses, trailers, and genre trends. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

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What Works

• The Class Commentary: Unlike many erotic thrillers that use poverty as mere set dressing, Rikshawala keeps the power dynamic front and center. Every intimate scene is underscored by the reality that Sheetal can end this with a single phone call, while Bhola has everything to lose.
• The Pacing: At under 90 minutes total, it respects the viewer’s time. The third episode delivers a predictable yet satisfyingly tense confrontation.
• Authentic Atmosphere: The sound design—the honking of traffic, the rattle of the rickshaw, the muffled sounds of the city—effectively grounds the story.