‘Rainbow Rishta’ review: A docuseries with heart and spunk

There is plenty of warmth alongside coruscating observations in Rainbow Rishta, which revolves around members of the Indian LGBTQIA+ community. There is topicality too – the Prime Video docuseries firmly repudiates the recent Supreme Court ruling against same-sex marriage.

Creator Jaydeep Sarkar explores the meaning of love, individual freedom and social validation in six stories that play out over six episodes. Each of the subjects is in search of companionship or a legal stamp to long-term commitments. The episodes have been directed by Sarkar, Hridaye A Nagpal and Shubhra Chatterji.

The most-well known character is Trinetra Haldar, the trans woman actor-influencer who played a pivotal role in the series Made in Heaven. Despite her attractiveness and fame, Haldar finds that “men see trans woman as something to tick off a sexual bucket list”. Over a series of dates, Haldar looks for a partner who will accept her for who she is, rather than what she represents.

In Guwahati, the achingly young lesbian couple Aneez and Sanam hunt high and low for a progressive landlord who will rent them an apartment. Their search ends the minute they decide to be honest about themselves, rather than lying about their sexuality.

In Delhi, the human rights lawyer Ayushmaan, who performs as the drag artist Lush...

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