Jehanabad – Of Love & War is an Indian Hindi-language streaming web series that premiered on the OTT platform SonyLIV. Set against the backdrop of the Naxalite-affected district of Jehanabad in Bihar, the show interweaves a romantic narrative with the violent realities of the Maoist insurgency in the region. The series was created by Sudhir Mishra, a filmmaker known for politically textured narratives such as Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, and was co-directed by Satyanshu Singh and Rajeev Barnwal.
| Title | Jehanabad – Of Love & War |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, romance, political thriller |
| Language | Hindi |
| Created by | Sudhir Mishra |
| Directors | Satyanshu Singh, Rajeev Barnwal |
| Setting | Jehanabad district, Bihar |
| Platform | SonyLIV |
| Format | Web series (multi-episode) |
The series draws inspiration from the troubled history of Jehanabad, a district in central Bihar that became synonymous with caste-based violence and the Naxalite movement during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The district witnessed clashes between upper-caste private militias such as the Ranvir Sena and Left-wing extremist groups, as well as the 2005 Jehanabad jailbreak, in which Maoist cadres stormed the district jail and freed several inmates. While the show is a work of fiction, its atmosphere and political subtext are rooted in this historical context.
The narrative centres on a college lecturer in Jehanabad whose ordered academic life intersects with the lives of students drawn into Maoist activity, a hardened Naxalite leader, and the local police machinery. A central romantic thread between the lecturer and a student unfolds amidst ideological conflict, caste tensions, and counter-insurgency operations. The series uses the personal arcs of its characters to explore the moral ambiguities of revolution, state response, and ordinary aspirations in a conflict zone.
Sudhir Mishra served as showrunner, with the series being among his ventures into long-form streaming content following his earlier theatrical work on political subjects. The directors, Satyanshu Singh and Rajeev Barnwal, handled day-to-day execution. The production sought to recreate the small-town and rural texture of Bihar, with attention to local dialect, costuming, and locations meant to evoke the region.
On release, the series attracted attention for its attempt to dramatise a politically sensitive subject within a mainstream OTT format. Reviewers commented on its ambition in tackling the Naxal question alongside a love story, with critical assessments varying on the balance between the romantic and political strands. The performances of the lead and supporting cast, particularly Parambrata Chattopadhyay's portrayal of the Maoist commander, drew specific notice.
The show is part of a broader trend in Indian streaming content in which regionally specific, politically charged stories from the Hindi heartland—such as those set in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh—have become a recurring genre. By foregrounding Jehanabad, a name closely associated with caste massacres and Maoist activity, the series contributes to popular cultural engagement with the legacy of Left-wing extremism in India.