India is progressing in its representation of the gay community with each passing film on the subject. Hansal Mehta, who has previously directed Aligarh, a film on the same topic with a different angle, has brought the same sensitivity to make Bai the second episode of Modern Love Mumbai.
Manzur played by Pratik Gandhi is a singer who moves to Goa, dejected by his parents because of his homosexual identity. Here, he finds Ranveer a Manhattan return chef played by Ranveer Brar. Both fall in love but, even though Manzur is dejected by his parents he in no means wants to break the heart of the matriarch of the family; Bai played with a lot of honesty by veteran actor Tanuja,(Grandmother) who don’t even know about his sexual preference.
Hansal Mehta has very beautifully created different worlds of Manzur and Ranveer. One is in an old building in Mumbai, other one is in free flowing beaches of Goa. Both the settings directing you about the kind of atmosphere they have when it comes to expressing not just their sexual identities but, also, what they want to pursue. The string between the two worlds is love and food.
Now, on to some complaints, The titular character here is talked about as not just loving but, also the supreme figure of power without who’s consent nothing happens but, there is only one scene where we see the power status of the woman. Other scenes mostly focused on her caring nature and the feisty nature is just talked about by the other characters. Time could be the reason for that maybe. Anyways, Manzur and Ranveer’s story is a brewing recipe to be watched for love care and affection .
