Modern Love Mumbai Story:-
Amazon Prime’s response to its sophisticated New York counterpart is a portrayal of Mumbai that mirrors the city’s chaotic yet beautiful essence. “Modern Love Mumbai” captures the city’s liberating yet confining nature, embodying a paradox of identities. In a classic Bollywood fashion, the series delves into themes of love, recognizing it as one of the most marketable emotions, but strips away the glossy exterior to reveal a more nuanced and realistic portrayal. While not every aspect may be appealing, the series offers a blend of realism and fantasy served up with intensity, urging viewers to select what resonates with them.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 13 May 2022 |
| Language | Hindi, English, Punjabi, Cantonese |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Episodes | 6 |
| Cast | Fatima Sana Shaikh, Bhupendra Jadawat, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Tanuja, Pratik Gandhi, Ranveer Brar, Yeo Yann Yann, Meiyang Chang, Wamiqa Gabbi, Naseeruddin Shah, Sarika, Danesh Razvi, Ahsaas Channa, Tanvi Azmi, Masaba Gupta, Ritwik Bhowmik, Prateik Babbar, Aadar Malik, Dolly Singh, Chitrangda Singh, Arshad Warsi |
| Director | Shonali Bose, Hansal Mehta, Vishal Bhardwaj, Alankrita Shrivastava, Dhruv Sehgal, Nupur Asthana |
| Writer | Nilesh Maniyar, John Belanger, Hansal Mehta, Ankur Pathak, Jyotsna Hariharan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Alankrita Shrivastava, Dhruv Sehgal, Nupur Pai, Devika Bhagat |
| Cinematography | Kavin Jagtiani, Pratham Mehta, Tassaduq Hussain, Akshay Singh, Aniruddha Patankar, Sanket Shah |
| Music | Ram Sampath, Sameer Rahat, Vishal Bhardwaj, Gaurav Raina, Neel Adhikari, Soumil Shringarpure |
| Producer | John Carney, Rangita Pritish Nandy, Pritish Nandy |
| Production | Pritish Nandy Communications |
| Certificate | 16+ |
Adapted from the beloved column of the same name in The New York Times, “Modern Love Mumbai” follows a similar episodic format, with each episode featuring a unique directorial perspective. Notable contributions come from female filmmakers Alankrita Shrivastava and Shonali Bose, who infuse their stories with raw honesty and emotional depth. In Shrivastava’s “My Beautiful Wrinkles,” the narrative explores the complexities of love and desire through the unconventional relationship between Dilbar Sodhi (played by Sarika) and Kunal (portrayed by Danesh Razvi). This chapter exposes societal hypocrisies without vilifying the characters, supported by captivating performances and evocative visuals.
Similarly, Bose’s “Raat Rani” delves into the struggles of a young Kashmiri woman, Lali (portrayed by Fatima Sana Shaikh), as she navigates the challenges of love and societal expectations. Addressing controversial issues such as triple talaq, Bose crafts a poignant story of resilience and empowerment, brought to life by Shaikh’s compelling performance.
While these episodes shine with authenticity and depth, others fall short of expectations. Hansal Mehta’s “Baai” and Nupur Asthana’s “Cutting Chai” tackle socio-religious themes and gender dynamics but lack the same impact. Mehta’s portrayal of a conservative family grappling with a gay grandson feels contrived, while Asthana’s exploration of marital dynamics struggles to resonate with viewers.
Despite these shortcomings, the series remains a compelling exploration of love in all its complexities. With its diverse storytelling and engaging performances, “Modern Love Mumbai” offers a thought-provoking reflection on the intricacies of human relationships in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai.
I have a myriad of emotions swirling around Masaba Gupta and Ritwik Bhowmik’s ‘I Love Thane’. First off, has Thane always been this enchanting and captivating? Anyway, Dhruv Sehgal’s knack for portraying normalcy in relationships, especially on screen, shines through in these two contrasting characters. One is a landscape designer from Bandra, while the other is a BSc graduate and government employee with a deep affection for Thane. Sehgal crafts a love story rooted in the shared desire for genuine human connection, devoid of superficial Instagram-worthy bonds but rather grounded in real emotions. While this urban romance may not reach the heights of Sehgal’s previous work like ‘Little Things’, it still offers plenty of heartfelt laughs. Gupta and Bhowmick deliver natural and effortlessly comfortable performances as an unconventional pair finding love in a conventionally unexpected place.
Vishal Bharadwaj’s talent for realism meets his newfound interest in humor in ‘Mumbai Dragon’. Set in the 30s, the characters migrated from China and have since made India their home. The film humorously tackles themes of identity and belonging, as evident in the dialogue where an unwittingly racist music producer praises Ming for his Hindi skills over his Chinese heritage. Home is portrayed as an emotion rather than a geographical location for Ming and his fiercely protective mother. Bharadwaj expertly weaves global societal issues with Indian sensibilities, shedding light on the complex relationships between Asian children and their parents. While the film’s humor and paradoxical tone hit the mark, it lacks Bharadwaj’s signature flair, resulting in a somewhat underwhelming climax. However, ‘Modern Love Mumbai’ embraces the perplexing and illogical nature of modern love, resonating with those who understand its complexities.
Despite its progressive themes, ‘Modern Love Mumbai’ adopts a traditionalist approach to cinematography, offering a familiar portrayal of the city through a modern Bollywood lens. The juxtaposition of drone shots capturing slums with images of SoBo’s elitism, the Sea Link symbolizing melancholy, and Shah Rukh Khan’s bungalow representing success all adhere to conventional Bollywood tropes. Pritish Nandy Communications could have taken a more innovative approach, given their resources.
In navigating a wide array of topics, ‘Modern Love Mumbai’ breaks down barriers and offers valuable insights. Ultimately, it teaches us that relying solely on external validation for love will leave us feeling depleted.
