Our Raat Rani review in short: episode 1 of Modern Love: Mumbai is a simple, moving story about Lalzari, a Kashmiri woman in Mumbai who is left by her husband and learns to stand on her own. Directed by Shonali Bose and led by a strong Fatima Sana Shaikh, it is the best way into the series, which streams on Amazon Prime Video.
Modern Love: Mumbai premiered on Prime Video on 13 May 2022. It is the Indian take on Modern Love, the anthology based on The New York Times’ weekly column about relationships. The Hindi series has six standalone episodes of roughly 40 to 45 minutes each, and Raat Rani opens it. Here is our refreshed review, with series details and spoiler-light notes.
Modern Love Mumbai Raat Rani: quick facts
| Series | Modern Love: Mumbai |
| Episode | 1, Raat Rani (Night Queen) |
| Director | Shonali Bose |
| Cast | Fatima Sana Shaikh as Lalzari, Bhupendra Jadawat as Lutfi |
| Premiere | 13 May 2022 |
| Where to watch | Amazon Prime Video |
| Language | Hindi |
The story of Raat Rani
The episode opens at sunset near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Lalzari, called Lali, and her husband Lutfi are enjoying the sea breeze. She trusts him completely and chatters about why two-wheelers are not allowed on the sea link. He seems uneasy, and the viewer senses something is off before she does.
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Lali is a Kashmiri Muslim woman who wears a hijab and works as a domestic help and nanny in the homes of two married women, Ray and Avantika. She is short-tempered and easygoing at the same time, and she has far more strength than she realises.
The couple had a love marriage. Her family was angry about it because Lutfi belonged to a lower caste, so when he walks out, calling the relationship boring, she has no one to fall back on. He leaves behind his old bicycle.
From heartbreak to the flyover
The middle of the episode stays with Lali in her low point. In one of the most telling scenes, the roof of her small house gives way, and she says there is no point fixing it now that Lutfi is gone. The house becomes a picture of how she sees her own life.
Then she starts to move, literally. She decides to learn to ride the bicycle so she can get to work in the city on her own. It is a struggle at first, and that struggle is the heart of the episode.
Alongside, she starts selling kahwa, the Kashmiri tea, to earn extra money. The climax, where she rides across the flyover, is the moment the episode has been building towards. It shows she has healed and is ready to start again on her own terms, without needing anyone’s permission.
Raat Rani review: why it works
Fatima Sana Shaikh’s performance
Fatima Sana Shaikh carries the episode. She makes Lali funny, stubborn and fragile without overplaying any of it. She holds the screen even in the quiet scenes.
Shonali Bose’s direction
Shonali Bose keeps the story small and true to life. There is no melodrama, no long speech about empowerment and no villain to hate. Lutfi leaves, and the episode is about what Lali does next.
The themes
Modern Love usually means romance, but Raat Rani is about self-love. It also touches on caste, migration and the life of a working-class woman in a big city, without turning into a lecture. Through all of it, tradition and gender do not stop Lali from choosing independence.
The title
The raat rani, or night-blooming jasmine, gives the episode its name, and the episode uses an Urdu couplet about the flower. In short, the verse says that people tried to keep the flower in check, but it keeps sharing its fragrance with everyone anyway. It is a neat summary of Lali, a woman who keeps giving, and keeps going, whatever life throws at her.
Who should watch it
Viewers expecting a love story may be surprised, since the romance ends early by design and the episode is really about Lali on her own. If you like quiet, character-led stories, it is an easy recommendation.
Verdict
Raat Rani is a quiet, warm opener that sets the tone for Modern Love: Mumbai. It works because its emotions feel real. If you only have time for one episode of the series, make it this one. Read more of our reviews and series coverage.
The rest of Modern Love: Mumbai
The other five episodes feature Pratik Gandhi and Tanuja in Manzu’s story, Yeo Yann Yann, Meiyang Chang and Wamiqa Gabbi in Mumbai Dragon, Sarika with Danesh Razvi, Masaba Gupta with Ritwik Bhowmik, and Chitrangada Singh with Arshad Warsi. Amazon also made Modern Love Hyderabad, released on Prime Video on 8 July 2022, and a Chennai chapter.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Modern Love: Mumbai?
All six episodes stream on Amazon Prime Video. The series premiered on 13 May 2022.
Who plays Lalzari in Raat Rani?
Fatima Sana Shaikh plays Lalzari (Lali), and Bhupendra Jadawat plays her husband Lutfi.
Who directed Raat Rani?
Shonali Bose directed the episode.
How many episodes does Modern Love: Mumbai have?
Six standalone episodes, each running about 40 to 45 minutes. You can watch them in any order, though Raat Rani is the first.
Is Modern Love: Mumbai based on a true story?
The franchise is based on The New York Times’ Modern Love column, which publishes personal essays about relationships. The Mumbai episodes are Indian stories built around that idea.
Sources: Wikipedia: Modern Love: Mumbai, Wikipedia: Modern Love Hyderabad, Amazon Prime Video.
