Modern Love Mumbai Series Review: Love, Loss, and Self-Love Explored

Plot

Modern Love Mumbai is an anthology of six lively stories that present charmingly cock-eyed takes on longing and loss, assertion and surrender, in a bustling Mumbai megapolis. While each story follows men and women navigating matters of the heart and the spirit, they steer clear of the conventional trajectories of screen romance. The short films, each about 40 minutes, are based on weekly personal columns in The New York Times, the same as the American series Modern Love.

Acting

While most of the casting is on point, Pratik Gandhi and Ranveer Brar as the romantic gay couple look out of place with little chemistry. Their awkward make-out scenes are something you might fast-forward. However, Fatima Sana Shaikh is brilliant as Lali, and every girl trying to find a partner amidst the humdrum of work-life balance can see themselves in Masaba's Saiba. She and Ritwik Bhowmik are quite effortless and easy with their on-screen camaraderie. Moreover, the female actors portraying the characters bring variations of emotion and impulse that are easy to relate to but are anything but facile.

Cinematography

Modern Love Mumbai emphasises the beauty of Mumbai through its cinematography. The series includes almost all aspects of the city, from Misal Pav, Bandra-Worli Sea Link, local trains to cutting chai. While the conflicts may seem forced and the resolutions too sudden and lazily arrived at, the sets are bathed in the usual deep blacks and reds of Vishal Bharadwaj school of aesthetic.

Direction

The show, produced by Pritish Nandy Communications, has six Mumbai directors who put their creative shoulders to the wheel and sail through with distinction. Hansal Mehta, Dhruv Sehgal, Vishal Bharadwaj, Alankrita Shrivastava, Nupur Asthana, and Shonali Bose interpret life and its vicissitudes in the city they live and work in. However, some stories come off strong, while others fall short in execution.

Music

The music of Modern Love Mumbai is one of its USPs. The stories are relatable, and Raat Raani, I Love Thane, and Cutting Chai stand out in the series. Each episode has a different experience with a different setup and characters, making it enjoyable at one's own pace.

Final Thoughts

While Modern Love Mumbai celebrates romance, it also gives a reality check about love and loss, emphasising self-love. The Mumbai version of the American series Modern Love has half-a-dozen Mumbai directors, which includes well-written, well-adapted, well-performed episodes full of warmth and, of course, love. With two great episodes, two pretty good ones, an honest attempt and also a bland one, Modern Love Mumbai's first desi adaptation still makes for six hours well spent.

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