The latest comedy series on Prime Video, ‘Call Me Bae,’ featuring Ananya Panday, serves up a curious blend of humor that sometimes hits the mark but often leaves viewers scratching their heads. The series, directed by Collin D’Cunha and created by Ishita Moitra, centers around Bella Chowdhury, more commonly referred to as Bae, a pampered South Delhi socialite played by Panday. Initially introduced to the audience through a generic rap number that pontificates about the grinding hustle of Mumbai, ‘Call Me Bae’ ends up presenting a version of Mumbai that would feel alien to most of its residents.
Bella ‘Bae’ Chowdhury’s life takes a nosedive when her wealthy husband, Agastya (Vihaan Samat), uncovers her affair with her trainer and unceremoniously kicks her out. Stranded and disregarded by her former socialite friends and family, Bae relocates to Mumbai, bringing along her myriad of posh and impractically expensive handbags. Determined to rebuild her life and self-esteem, Bae faces myriad challenges, not least of which is her utter lack of practical skills. Her qualifications include outlandish pursuits like ‘psychic vegan cheese and wine pairing’ and ‘David Beckham studies,’ dazzlingly irrelevant to her new, leaner circumstances. Even her understanding of basic local transport is askew, as she confusingly refers to an autorickshaw as a ‘tuktuk’.
Interestingly, Bae’s life takes a turn for the better thanks to her past academic endeavor in Social Media Journalism—a subject she cheekily summarizes as ‘how to do in-depth stories in less than 140 characters’. This unlikely merit lands her an internship at a news channel where employees nonchalantly roam around in eccentric costumes ranging from leopard prints to spaceman suits. Through this, she slowly starts climbing the ladder of self-sufficiency, eventually gathering a modest network of supporters.
The series attempts humor with a literal touch—Bae’s golden spoon upbringing is depicted precisely with a golden spoon in frame. Her mother, portrayed by Mini Mathur, is a hoot as a status-obsessed figure, indoctrinating her daughter with visions of trophy wife perfection. The lines in the series catch viewers off guard with their wit; exchanges like “Dinesh… let’s go to space” and “Hi Faye! I’m Bae” induce chuckles.
. However, the overall drama does not always live up to the clever wordplay. Flashbacks to Bae’s more turbulent past, her struggles with alcoholism, shoplifting, and snippets from her dissolving marriage lack the innovation needed to captivate the audience thoroughly.
It is clear that ‘Call Me Bae’ has taken inspiration from a multitude of Western sitcoms. Panday’s character name-drops ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,’ yet the influences of shows like ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ ‘Two Broke Girls,’ and ‘Emily in Paris’ are palpable. Despite these references, Bae’s globe-trotting tales lack the intriguing charm found in similar characters, such as Alexis Rose from ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ Mumbai as a setting fails to make a significant impact, with key locations like Bae’s initial hippie-chic hostel or her impressively spacious colleague’s house feeling more like generic backdrops than genuine Mumbai locales.
Midway through the series, a #MeToo subplot adds an unexpected depth, featuring Bae and her team chasing up an anonymous tip. Yet, the show’s quieter, subtler moments shine more brightly. One of the subplot’s unexpected relationships develops endearingly, and the series provides poignant insights into different shades of parenting and familial bonds. Conversations about pampering reveal poignant contrasts; one character laments the lack of pampering due to being raised by a single mother, while another fondly recalls being pampered even with a single mom, illustrating diverse experiences of love and attention.
Ananya Panday tackles the character with the same verve and upbeat charm she has brought to previous roles, such as in ‘Gehraiyaan’ (2022) and ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’ (2023). Her lively performance fills in many of the narrative’s gaps, although the role does not demand much beyond her natural engaging persona. Complementing her, Vir Das portrays a muckraking anchor with natural ease, and his character’s managing editor delivers one of the show’s funniest lines with solemn conviction, “We don’t want to be a news channel that’s on the wrong side of history.”
Despite its inconsistencies and the somewhat shaky depiction of Mumbai, ‘Call Me Bae’ does have moments that entertain and provoke thought. For those looking for light-hearted comedy with a dash of satire on social dynamics and filial relationships, it could provide engaging viewing. ‘Call Me Bae’ is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
