The eight‑part series launches on September 25, shifting focus from festivals to the city’s forgotten heritage, architecture and multicultural quirks.
Richa Chadha is set to roll out her first non‑fiction series, Musafiri, on YouTube this coming Tuesday, September 25. The eight‑episode venture dives into the lesser‑known corners of Mumbai, swapping the original festival‑centric idea for a broader urban canvas.
In a candid chat, Chadha explained that early research on India’s myriad celebrations – from the multi‑community drummers at Lalbaugcha Raja to the Hindu‑Sikh gatherings and Kerala’s harvest fairs – sparked a bigger curiosity. “While documenting festivals, I kept stumbling on stories that didn’t fit that frame,” she said. “That’s when the city itself demanded a spotlight.”
The series now tackles topics ranging from centuries‑old structures that sit unnoticed beside modern skyscrapers to the way different faiths have left their mark on the metropolis. One episode zeroes in on Gilbert Hill in Andheri, a 65‑million‑year‑old volcanic formation crowned by a temple. Chadha recalled her first visit: the hill’s sheer, hexagonal silhouette, the net that encircles it, and the quiet reverence it commands.
She noted the irony of a nation that zealously protects its religious sites while many historic buildings fade into oblivion. “We preserve temples, but the ancient stonework around them often goes unrecorded,” she observed. “‘Musafiri’ aims to bring those silent witnesses into the conversation.”
Balancing motherhood, a production house, and an acting schedule, Chadha admitted time was the toughest hurdle. “Juggling a newborn, running a company and still finding moments for on‑location shoots is a marathon,” she laughed. Yet she remains confident the series will resonate with viewers hungry for a deeper look at the city they call home.
Musafiri will drop weekly on YouTube, each episode running roughly 20 minutes. The platform choice reflects Chadha’s desire to reach a younger, digitally native audience without the constraints of traditional TV slots. Early teasers hint at a mix of on‑the‑ground reporting, archival footage and intimate interviews with locals who guard the city’s hidden narratives.
Industry watchers see this move as part of a growing trend where Bollywood talent leverages online platforms to tell niche stories. If the series gains traction, it could open doors for more actor‑driven documentaries that explore India’s urban myths and untold histories.
For now, fans can mark their calendars for the premiere and brace for a fresh perspective on Mumbai – one that goes beyond the glitz of Bollywood and the bustle of traffic, diving straight into the stone, the shrine and the stories that have lingered for millennia.
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.