To begin with, the series is not a modern day retelling of the Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay novel. It merely borrows personae and underlying themes from the text and creates a world of its own; inhabited by dark, troubled, vulnerable characters vexed with devils of their own making.
The alluring Kiranmoyee is the central object of affection (and all sorts of primal human afflictions...even crimes), herself doused in bouts of unfulfillment. Pushed by her paraplegic husband Harius' little game, Kiran makes a choice - a choice to taint her own character to punish Harius...a choice that would change everything. As the series progresses, more and more characters are introduced, but Satish remains pivotal, possessed with Kiranmoyee's bewitching trance, trying to find her in every other woman after their time together.
Though both the writing and the performances mature with every new season, the tangled storyline and tangential tales seem forced and illogical. There's salaciousness strewn about throughout, the imagery teetering between art and fan service, yet mostly coalescent to the plot. It's all quite atmospheric and well filmed. The characters, though mostly miserable, are well built and well portrayed, some with relatable maladies and profound depth.
One cannot deny that Charitraheen isn't merely one of those explicit acts prevalent on OTTs these days. There's much more to it. The darker spectrum of the collective human consciousness is dealt well with; threaded by love, lust, loneliness, longing and grief. There are moments of artful beauty in the direction and the acting.
Special mention to the music. The songs are on my go-to playlist.
