‘Musafir Cafe’ review: A rom-com that learns to let go

Sharanya Rajgopal’s series ‘Musafir Cafe’ eventually finds its footing, settling into the comfortable rhythm of a novel discovered at a railway station bookstall. The story centers on Sudha (Vedika Pinto), a spirited and ambitious young woman from Bhopal who impulsively accepts a job offer in Mumbai. Her decision creates immediate friction with her boyfriend, Chander (Vikrant Massey), an engineer who dreams of opening a cafe in the picturesque hill station of Mussoorie.

The core of the series lies in the pragmatic conflict that arises when Sudha confronts Chander for abandoning his own aspirations to follow her to Mumbai. This moment, intended as the narrative's climax, exposes a genuine relationship drama embedded within the show's polished Netflix rom-com design. Based on Divya Prakash Dubey’s novel, the series initially struggles with an aesthetic that feels at odds with its more grounded source material, making even Bhopal appear as a bustling metropolis.

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This scene is what the entire series is building towards – and it reveals a sincere relationship drama embedded within the glossy design of a staple Netflix rom-com.

Both Pinto and Massey embody their roles with a certain protagonist-like sheen, perhaps lacking the 'ordinary' quality that might have better served the narrative. Chander, in particular, is portrayed as a pragmatic but somewhat insecure individual, initially charmed by Sudha’s bluntness during an awkward arranged-marriage meeting that unexpectedly turns into a first date. Massey, typically a strong actor, appears somewhat adrift in the story's sparseness, with Chander’s characterization often feeling thin beyond his desire for marriage and infatuation with Sudha.

Directed by Ruchir Arun, known for relationship dramas on Indian YouTube, ‘Musafir Cafe’ incorporates many of the genre's familiar tropes. Pinto's portrayal of Sudha, a small-town girl, occasionally falters due to body language that seems more suited to a cosmopolitan setting. The humor and the rapid progression of the relationship can feel contrived in the early episodes. However, the series gains momentum and becomes more engaging from the third and fourth episodes onwards.

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Sudha shames Chander for flippantly giving up on his dreams, and choosing to follow her instead.