What hustle? What Mumbai? These are some of the bewildering thoughts that arise while watching “Call Me Bae” — a new comedy series starring Ananya Panday, now streaming on Prime Video. The series intriguingly starts with a generic rap number in its initial episodes, which tries to remind viewers of how the city of dreams, Mumbai, will grind you down once you’re there. But what unfolds is a riches-to-rags comedy that attempts to entertain by placing its overly ditzy protagonist in the cut and thrust of ordinary Mumbai life. Except, the show wouldn’t recognize ordinary Mumbai even if it was crammed next to it on a Virar local, sweating profusely or engrossed in an episode of “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.”
The protagonist, Bella Chowdhury, or simply Bae (played by Ananya Panday), is a wealthy South Delhi socialite. Her life turns upside down when her husband, business tycoon Agastya (Vihaan Samat), throws her out after discovering her affair with the trainer. Through a series of vaguely defined circumstances, Bae, along with her collection of expensive handbags, ends up in Mumbai. Dismissed by family and friends, Bae decides to reclaim her self-worth, armed with qualifications such as ‘psychic vegan cheese and wine pairing’ and ‘David Beckham studies’. Her ignorance of local nuances is epitomized when she refers to an autorickshaw as a ‘tuktuk’— even Kim Kardashian, who jetted in for the Ambani wedding recently, did a better job of blending in.
Fortuitously, Bae has one redeeming skill: she once took a course in Social Media Journalism, or as she describes it, ‘how to do in-depth stories in less than 140 characters.’ This gets her an internship at a leading news channel where employees dress in leopard and spaceman costumes. Despite the unorthodox environment, Bae begins earning through her own efforts and soon assembles a small group of supporters.
Created by Ishita Moitra and directed by Collin D’Cunha, the series flaunts a disarmingly literal sense of humor. Bae, who is literally born with a golden spoon, is painstakingly trained by her status-obsessed, fascinator-sporting mother (Mini Mathur) to become a trophy wife. This is underscored by the literal flashing of an actual trophy during these revelations. Some lines like “Dinesh… let’s go to space” or “Hi Faye! I’m Bae” catch you off guard with their wit. However, the clever wordplay is not complemented by innovative dramatic situations. The narrative consists of painful flashbacks to Bae’s flawed past—her battles with alcoholism and shoplifting, fragments of her fraying marriage, and her time volunteering at an animal shelter in New York.
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“Call Me Bae” seems to be too enamored with Western sitcoms to establish its unique identity. Bae references “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and there are noticeable influences from “Schitt’s Creek,” “Two Broke Girls,” and “Emily in Paris.” However, Bae’s globe-trotting stories lack the allure of those told by Alexis Rose in “Schitt’s Creek.” Furthermore, the city of Mumbai barely registers as a backdrop. The ‘Losttel’ that Bae checks into earlier in the series is a hip, chic commune that could exist anywhere, and her subsequent residence, shared with a colleague, exhibits the kind of chic and spacious interiors typical of a Dharmatic production.
The series takes an interesting turn with a #MeToo subplot halfway through, featuring Bae and her gang following up on an anonymous tip. However, the show is more engaging in its quieter, throwaway moments. At least one sideline relationship blossoms unexpectedly. “Call Me Bae” also touches upon themes like motherhood and parental relationships. In one poignant dialogue, a character who complains about not being pampered as the child of a single mother is countered by another saying he was always pampered, despite his mother also being single. “She would make me tea with lemon, ginger, cinnamon,” he reminisces with affection. The series subtly explores different shades of parenting and the varied trajectories of individual growth.
Ananya Panday as Bella ‘Bae’ Chowdhury is once again in familiar territory, after her roles in “Gehraiyaan” (2022) and “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” (2023). Her buoyant and upbeat exuberance carries much of the narrative’s slack. Nonetheless, it is not an exceptionally challenging role—beyond being inherently kind and prone to getting drunk during emotional upheavals, there isn’t much depth to her gluten-free character. Vir Das, known for his instinctive comedic timing, performs as a muckraking anchor, though he seems to be winging it. Notably, the most amusing character is his managing editor, who solemnly declares, “We don’t want to be a news channel that’s on the wrong side of history.” To which one can only say, good for you, sir.
“Call Me Bae” is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, offering audiences a serving of literal humor and an offbeat look at the riches-to-rags narrative, albeit one that misses the genuine essence of Mumbai.
