Author : Avni Rahul Katakkar
MODERN LOVE : Mumbai Myriad hues of emotions, vivid perceptions, loathful inhibitions and guilt.. All summed up beautifully in this Amazon Prime Series.
This Pritish Nandy Communications Series would definitely make you fall in love again and again.
The 6 segment series directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, is a beautiful ode to the City of Mumbai, not that all the stories are about Mumbai, but yes the stories hold and embrace the overwhelming uniqueness of Mumbai.
What brings out the rainbow is that all the episodes talk of different shades of love. From ‘self-love’ to ‘gay-love’ to ‘age is just a number’ wala love… Every sentiment of love is rationally yet passionately painted throughout the series.
Episode 1 – Raat Rani
Fatima Sana Shaikh, a Kashmiri girl working as a cook in the plush families of Mumbai, works day in and day out to meet her ends, ditched by her boyfriend, she’s seen shattered but once she learns to embrace self-love, she puts forth her happiness before anything and everything. Splendid acting by Ms. shaikh, her Kashmiri accent literally brings Kasmir in front of your eyes. Definitely lits up the fragrance of sself-love just like the scent of raat rani.
Episode 2. Baai
Spectacular and intriguing!!
The delicate issue of homosexuality and gay marriage is handled with sheer beauty and maturity.
As expected, Pratik Gandhi hits the bull’s eye but what comes unexpectedly is Ranbir Bra’s very natural acting. There are a few intimate scenes between the gay couple. What’s applauding is that those scenes don’t make you feel awkward but bring you a little closer to their emotions. The end will give you happy tears.
Episode 3. Mumbai Dragon
A tad bit confusing, juggling within emotions and bluntness. The episode talks about the story of a Chinese mother residing in Mumbai, her mother love detesting her son’s affair with a Gujrati girl. The series also paints amazing food and cultural diversities. The son’s efforts while he manages to never say no to his mom, would melt you ur heart for sure. Mumbai Dragon certainly shows how Mumbai has always accepted all the cultures and traditions overwhelmingly. Meiyang Chang manages to look cute, not so exceptional at his acting skills.
Episode 4. My beautiful wrinkles
The goddess of beauty Sarika looks gorgeous and pristine at her age. The story talks of infatuation and love with a huge age gap. There’s a feeling of guilt and umpteen inhibitions in Sarika’s life that didn’t let her move on from her past. And there comes the young boy who expresses love to her and makes her perceive that life is all about ‘take it as it comes’ and always give yourself a second chance.
Episode 5. I love Thane
Talks about the love that is just besides us and we keeping stpredictableji bickering to find it throughout the world. Masabah is excellent in her role and so is Rutwik Bhowmik. The landscapes of Thane are portrayed beautifully. The predictablej story is served so deliciously that you can’t resist appreciating it.
Episode 6. The cutting chai
Yaay!! Almost all married couples would relate to this episode, where a writer wife/mum is taken for granted yet loved immensely by her family. That amiss of passion and love in a marriage after a decade is so relatable. What touches the strings of our hearts is those small, cute gestures between the couple, Arshad Warsi and Chitrangada Sen, the comic timing of Warsi is as usual fantabulous. The story ends on a wonderful note to embrace and ignite the spark in a marriage is only in your hands.
The series is #mustwatch.
Ps – Sadly, legends like Naseruddin Shah and Tanuja are wasted in misfit.
