Call Me Bae is the new web series on Amazon Prime Video and it is Ananya Panday’s first web series. The show is based on the life of Bella “Bae” Chowdhary, a South Delhi girl who belongs to a rich family but her world turns upside down after a scandal. Having lost all her money, Bae is left with no choice but to find her way in the real world and so she moves to Mumbai to become a journalist.
The Plot
Call Me Bae is a typical rags to riches story with a twist of the contemporary world. The series reveals the lives of the super-rich, and Bae’s life is full of designer clothes and accessories, as well as luxurious services. But she misses the romance and attention from her husband who couldn’t give her time as he used to before marriage. As a result she falls for her gym trainer But when a scandal breaks her affair, Bae loses her family’s money and is left with no choice but to start over in Mumbai.
One such scene is when Bae is at her lowest and is seeking attention which is followed by a well penned scene that captures Ananya Panday’s performance. It also touches on issues of identity, media commentary, and privilege, but these are not always developed to their potential.
The Inspiration
The makers of Call Me Bae wanted to tell a contemporary story that is familiar to the youth especially the Gen Z audience, The show, starring Ananya Panday in her first lead role, is a mix of comedy, drama and social relevance where the protagonist is a spoilt heiress who has to face the world after losing her money.
Call Me Bae: Creative Vision
The show was created and written by Ishita Moitra who wanted to depict the youth of today and their struggles of finding themselves while also dealing with the pressure of the society. In interviews, Moitra said that the show is a nod to ‘all the aspiring Gen Zs’ and explores their interactions with social media, self-identity, and self-improvement.
The character of Bella “Bae” Chowdhary is a combination of popular culture characters, and the inspiration was taken from Elle Woods and Alexis Rose. This makes it possible to have a familiar but new look at the transition from the state of privilege to that of independence. The creators aimed at showing not only the glamour of the rich but the problems that they face as well.
Ananya Panday’s Performance
Ananya Panday has done a good job in portraying the character of the dumb, spoilt Bae. She bungles her character’s complicated arc with a mix of innocence and cuteness that can be quite appealing. Panday is best in the low-key scenes, for instance, when she wears a black blazer to hide her feelings on a crucial business day.
As for the series, it does not always give depth to Bae but Panday is able to make the most out of what is given to her, her comedic timing and energy is evident. She is one of the most popular performers of the show and people are interested in what she will bring to the second season if it is created.
Cast and Crew
Ananya Panday: as Bella “Bae” Chowdhary
Satyajit Sen: Vir Das
Gurfateh Pirzada, Varun Sood, Vihaan Samat, Muskkaan Jaferi, Niharika Lyra Dutt, Mini Mathur, Lisa Mishra
Written by: Ishita Moitra
Directed by: Collin D’Cunha
Where to Watch
Call Me Bae is now available to watch only on Amazon Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Conclusion
Call Me Bae is a light-hearted show that gives the viewers a glimpse into the lives of the upper echelon of society. It does not try to reinvent the wheel but is saved by Ananya Panday’s cute portrayal and the rest of the cast. For those who want to watch a fun, mindless show, Call Me Bae delivers up a glossy, Indian spin on the rags-to-riches story.
