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It’s an intimate beginning for an intimate travelogue. Richa Chadha has produced, written and hosted Musafiri, beginning with a trip around the lesser-known aspects of the megapolis that is Mumbai. The YouTube show premieres from September 25 with the first eight episodes, with a new episode every Friday on Phull Stop, the YouTube channel launched by Chadha and Ali Fazal. After that, Chadha hopes to visit other locales in India.
One such rare aspect of Mumbai is its only Armenian Church, the 233-years-old St. Peter’s, which is holed up in the Kala Ghoda area, where a central red carpet is kept vacant for the “presence of past visitors who are no more” and the Sunday service is conducted in Malayalam with idlis and coffee served! Bhagat Tarachand’s, a vintage eatery, and the Gilbert Hill, said to be one of three such natural structures around the world whose origins are volcanic, were also showcased in the first two episodes that were shown to the media.
Chadha said that she was amazed to know from a researcher that the hill is said to be 65 million years old. Today, an immaculately maintained temple is located at the top. “There is a net around and it is in the shape of a hexagon,” Richa stated. The episode also talks of the devis (female deities) that make up the soul of Mumbai city—from Mahalakshmi to Mumba Devi, Gamdevi, Sitaladevi and more.
The series explores Mumbai through conversations with cultural historians and experts as well as laymen in a charming and organic way. There is no unnecessary showmanship—creative or technical—and this gives the show a natural, raw vibrancy.
“Making this series gave me a renewed sense of energy and purpose,” Richa said. “I wanted not to look at Mumbai through a common lens.” A special episode will be on how Mumbai is also the safest city, born out of her own wonder after she shifted here from Delhi. “This city respects the working women,” Chadha maintains. She also revealed that the series was born out of—in a way—her post-partum depression. She had read that “Expression is the opposite of depression” and that was the point d’appui of her tryst with this show.
Chadha also added, “I have this small team that does everything. I am spending my own money and we don’t have a sponsor or financial backer. Because it is my belief that Lakshmi (money) will follow Saraswati (creative exercise).” Husband Ali Fazal, who also dropped in after the screening, stated that they had not gone for sponsors or financiers for “obvious” (read creative freedom!) reasons. “But it is all Richa’s baby. I was present in a very minor way for discussions,” he smiled.
Chadha has produced the show, directed by Ajitesh Sharma, under Pushing Buttons Studios, her banner with Ali Fazal. Their first production was Girls Will Be Girls (2024), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic section.
