Modern Love Mumbai is a mixed bag, with 'Mumbai Dragon' and 'Cutting Chai' being the most impressive of the lot. A common theme in these episodes, apart from the emphasis on food, is that the stories are either centered on women or have a strong female character, which I feel is a welcome change.
1. RAAT RANI
Raat Rani takes us through the emotional journey of Lalzari as she goes through the various stages of grief. At first she tries to overlook the problems in her marriage, but when the fragility gets exposed and she gets the shock of her life, it shatters her world. In the next stage, she desperately tries to piece together her broken marriage, but all her efforts go in vain and we see her world go dark. Finally we see her accepting her fate and resolving to move on, which ultimately leads her on the path of liberation. It is perhaps the story of so many women, who are forced into a space of uncertainty when their husbands decide to kick them out of their lives. Fatima does a beautiful job of portraying the various stages of grief that she has to go through. Stories like these, once again highlight the importance of educating your daughter, as that would empower her to live a life on her own terms, a life that is not dependent on anyone but herself. The usage of metaphors to illustrate the changes taking place in Lalzari's life was impressive. 'Raat Rani' doesn't really entertain you, nor would you feel tempted to watch it again, but as a social commentary it works quite well.
2. BAAI
'Baai' starts with the visuals of the 1992 riots that took place in Mumbai, the hatred filled atmosphere that scarred the lives of so many people. Talking about homosexuality is a difficult thing, so the director tries to convince the viewers by using the example of riots. Opposing love is also a form of hatred, so if you are not allowing two individuals in love to get together, then you have allowed hatred to find a place in your heart. The director has used some of the most beautiful songs to soften the hearts of the viewers and make them more accepting of the romance. Pratik Gandhi very convincingly portrays Manzu, a conflicted man who doesn't really know how to open his heart. Manzu's upbringing stops him from following his heart and he's left trapped in a battle with himself. Ranveer Brar is not really acting in the film, he is just being himself as Rajveer, a fearless man who has openly accepted his sexual orientation. The movie has a strong supporting cast, but the standout performer is Tanuja as Baai. Every time Tanuja looks at her co-actor, you know she is not only looking at them but also reading their mind. Not everything needs to be said, when you have a thespian like Tanuja, who is absolutely brilliant not only when she speaks but also when she lets her eyes do the talking. Once again, this movie is socially relevant but viewers looking for entertainment would end up with disappointment.
3. MUMBAI DRAGON
Mumbai Dragon is easily the best episode of the series. This movie checks pretty much all the boxes that will compel a viewer to watch a film. It's well acted, there is a lot of humour, the screenplay is engaging, the music is good and it has a social message as well. In one of the scenes, Sui, who is the mother of Ming, asks him as to how will he survive with a girl who doesn't even eat garlic, a valid question considering it's relevance in Indian food, but the director is trying to say something about real life through that scene. How can people who belong to two different cultures get together? Both of them have had a different kind of upbringing, how can they ever come on the same page? The answer is also given through food, the most important ingredient in food is love and not really garlic. Two completely different individuals can come together and live happily in each other's company, if they really want to. It doesn't matter how you are different from each other, all that matters is what connects the two of you. As long as that connection is strong, nothing can pull you apart.
The star of this show is without a doubt the Malaysian actress Yeo Yann Yann, who has surprisingly managed to look old and grumpy in this film, because in real life she looks very young and attractive. Yeo plays Sui, who gets animated and over dramatic when things start to go out of hand. She represents every mother, who loves her child dearly but doesn't shy away from expressing her anger when they cross a line. Her scenes with Ming, played by Meiyang Chang, are absolutely hilarious. The interactions between Sui and Ming just don't feel acted out at all, everything feels spontaneous and authentic. Yeo is a fantastic talent, and I am really glad Vishal decided to cast her in this film.
It was a pleasant surprise to see Meiyang Chang in this film, after such a long time. He is a very capable actor, with a beautiful voice, and has given a grounded performance in the film. Megha has been confidently portrayed by the gorgeous Wamiqa Gabbi, an actress who has dropped out of nowhere and now I wonder as to why it took her so long? Wamiqa is an impeccable talent, and I am really happy to see her get more roles after her stunning act in 'Grahan'.
The movie beautifully uses food as a metaphor to explain the issues that have cropped up in Sui's life and it's only through food we get to know that a resolution has been found. That was a very charming and unique way of telling the story, and as a viewer you don't expect anything less from a director of Vishal's caliber. This movie is thoroughly entertaining, the performances are impressive, has an important social message and of course the quintessential Vishal Bhardwaj song, that you end up humming after watching the film.
4. MY BEAUTIFUL WRINKLES
This is the weakest and the most boring short film of this series. The message that the movie was trying to convey was good, your age and fear of society should never restrict you from having desires, you are the master of your life and nothing should stop you from doing what makes you happy. We have just assumed that old people don't seek companionship, they don't have any kind of sexual desires. This is the story of Dilbar, an old widow living a quiet life until one day a young man triggers her imagination by expressing his love for her. As a concept, it's great, but the screenplay and performances are a major letdown here. This movie does not engage you at all, you just keep waiting for something interesting to come up, but it never happens as the screenplay remains bland throughout.
5. I LOVE THANE
'I Love Thane' starts off shakily, with Saiba, played by Masaba Gupta, searching through dating apps for a soulmate, who is modern enough to accept her with all her shortcomings, but it gets better once she comes across Parth played by Ritwik Bhowmik. Ritwik is a wonderful talent, and yet again he has nailed the calm and composed character of Parth, an introvert, who might be considered old fashioned by many, but in reality is much more open minded than most men who pretend to be modern. Masaba is quite charming as Saiba; of course she's not as good as her mother, but she did quite well here. The majority of the film consists of conversations between Parth and Saiba, but it is very engaging, so much so that by the time the film ended, I wanted to spend some more time with the two of them and explore their universe. Sometimes the best conversations are about nothing and yet you enjoy them the most because they allow you the freedom to be yourself. The relationship that develops between Saiba and Parth has a certain warmth to it, which is not often seen in movies these days. I didn't quite like the beginning of this film, but by the time it came to a conclusion, it managed to put a smile on my face.
6. CUTTING CHAI
'Cutting Chai' is the story of one day in the life of Latika and Daniel, but it has been told very creatively. Chitrangda Singh and Arshad Warsi are two of the most exceptionally talented actors of our film industry, who never got the respect that they deserved from the audience as well as the filmmakers. Chitrangda looks absolutely gorgeous in every single frame of the film, it's impossible to look at anything else when she comes on screen, which makes it even more difficult to believe that this stunning beauty has been struggling to get work in the film industry! 'Cutting Chai' is told to us through Latika's perspective, in which she questions the key decisions of her life, and whether life would be any different if she had taken a different path? We are shown a visual representation of the conflicts rattling her mind, which I felt was a very innovative concept. Latika is angry and full of regrets, but the journey that she takes on that day allows her to contemplate and realize that her world may have been a chaotic mess, but she still managed to sail through because she always had love. The movie tries to emphasize that every time you end up at a dead end in your marriage, just take a moment to introspect and think about why you got together in the first place; it will help you realize that life is not as hopeless as you think it has become.
It's a mystery why an actor like Arshad Warsi is not as popular as his contemporaries. Arshad is not only a good actor but also has a great sense of comic timing, a quality very rarely seen in actors these days. In 'Cutting Chai', Arshad not only wins the heart of Latika but also of the viewers, because he really knows how to put a smile on your face. The conversations between Latika and Daniel have been done really well, I just wish there was more of it. The final interaction between Latika and Daniel is absolutely hilarious, and for that the writer as well as Arshad deserve to be praised. This is what sets apart Arshad from others, his comic timing is phenomenal. Cutting Chai is an extremely enjoyable episode that will fill your heart with warmth.
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