The Riti Riwaj (meaning "Customs & Traditions") series on ULLU is an anthology that explores the clash between traditional Indian customs and modern personal desires. Each part focuses on a different rural or semi-urban setting where age-old practices (often patriarchal or restrictive) dictate the lives of the protagonists, particularly women.
Part 6 continues this theme, delving into a specific local tradition that forces a young couple into a morally and emotionally complex situation. Unlike standalone episodes, each part is a short film (typically 25-40 minutes) designed for quick, dramatic consumption.
Unlike typical urban web series, Riti Riwaj is rooted in the fictional heartlands of Rajasthan or Uttar Pradesh, where ancient family laws (Riwaj) override modern legal systems. Part 6 introduces us to the Thakur clan, a powerful zamindari family struggling to preserve their bloodline.
The Core Conflict: The male heir of the family dies under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a young widow. The family elder, fearing the extinction of their lineage, invokes an archaic "Niyog" tradition—a controversial practice where a chosen man (often a close relative) is asked to impregnate the widow to produce an heir. Riti Riwaj Part 6 -2021- ULLU Original
However, Part 6 is not a simple reproduction of that trope. The twist lies in the fact that the widow is secretly pregnant with her late husband’s child. But politics within the family forces her into the arms of a menacing brother-in-law.
Key Characters:
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Upon its release in late 2021, Riti Riwaj Part 6 received mixed reactions:
When this episode dropped, it trended on Twitter and YouTube for several reasons: The Riti Riwaj (meaning "Customs & Traditions") series
Ragini, in a private flashback, reveals she is already pregnant. Her husband had visited her the night before his death. She hides this fact because she fears the family might kill the child (suspecting an affair) or force her into an abortion using herbal poisons.
Warning: Mild Spoilers Ahead
| Part | Theme | Female Agency | Shock Value | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Part 1 | Forced marriage to an old man | Low | High | | Part 3 | Revenge of the stepmother | Medium | Very High | | Part 6 | Illegitimate heir & blackmail | High | Medium | | Part 7 | Lesbian angle in the haveli | Low | Extreme | Watch this if you like:
Part 6 is often recommended as a starting point for new viewers because it requires minimal knowledge of previous episodes (standalone story).