Call Me Bae Review: Ananya Panday’s ‘Behen Code’ Shines in a Schitt’s Creek Meets Emily in Paris World!
In Call Me Bae, starring Ananya Panday as Bella, the Gen Z-inspired moniker “Before Anyone Else” (Bae) receives a modern makeover. Produced by Dharmatic Entertainment (a Karan Johar brand) and directed by Collin D’Cunha, the online series has promising flashes of charisma but is ultimately disappointingly shallow.
Review of Call Me Bae: An Analysis of the Script
The series, which is written by Ishita Moitra, Samina Motlekar, and Rohit Nair, has elements of both Emily in Paris and Schitt’s Creek, with a touch of Aisha, played by Sonam Kapoor. A cross between Annie Murphy’s Alexis from Schitt’s Creek and Suhana Khan’s Veronica from The Archies seems to describe Ananya Panday’s Bella. A glitzy, “spoiled rich” environment is used before, but it doesn’t add anything new or meaningful to the story.
The protagonist, Bella, is a spoiled spoiled brat who starts the story off in the middle of an affair involving her personal trainer. She leaves her privileged life behind and starts over in Mumbai on a path of self-discovery. Although the idea is intriguing, the way it is carried out is disappointing. Things that could have an impact, like Bella’s decision to become a social media journalist, are treated too superficially and don’t go deep enough.
The narrative tries to connect with Gen Z through fleeting mentions of social media and viral culture, although these components feel shoehorned in and underdeveloped. “engaging people in 140 characters” is an interesting line, but it doesn’t really get Bella anywhere. The potential impact of social media as a narrative device is wasted because it is reduced to an inconsequential incident.
Is the show Call Me Bae mocking the lives of the super-rich or is it the real deal? Nothing in the show ever makes sense. The problems that Bella faces are portrayed in an overly dramatic and polished way, making them seem more comical than real. Despite being about a woman’s coming-of-age in her personal and professional life, the show fails to adequately address important subjects such as ambition, ethics, and reinventing oneself.
Evaluation of Call Me Bae: The Acting of Stars
Ananya Panday is the perfect embodiment of Bella’s style; she plays the role of a chic, wealthy young woman dealing with a devastating collapse. But she fails to convey the character’s emotional journey. Bella fully embraces her “flawsome” character, although Ananya’s acting chops are emphasized by the writing. Her performance seems flat and unsteady because there isn’t a solid story to ground her.
Thankfully, the series’ supporting cast gives it the meat it required. As Bella’s encouraging friends, Niharika Dutt and Muskaan Jaaferi give engaging and likable performances. Vir Das brings a lot of humor to the role of the competing journalist, making him stand out. Gurfateh Pirzada plays the attractive knight in shining armor, while Varun Sood skillfully fulfills his role as the quintessential presence in Bella’s turbulent life.
In conclusion, give me a call. If you’re looking for a web series that puts presentation before content, Bae is your jam. It borrows ideas from hit shows around the world, but it falls short in terms of originality, depth of character development, and clever storytelling. Ananya Panday’s “Behen Code” in this Gen Z environment gives a few light-hearted moments but ultimately falls short of making a lasting mark.
Call Me Bae could be suitable background music if you’re seeking lighthearted, escapism-inducing tunes. Just don’t expect anything more profound than the glitter it flaunts.
