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Richa Chadha Launches Travel Show ‘Musafiri’ to Explore Local Histories
After a successful career focused on acting, Richa Chadha is branching out into new territory with her debut non-fiction travel show, Musafiri. The show aims to uncover the lesser-known histories of urban landscapes and their significance, emphasizing a deeper connection between people and their cities. The first season kicks off with Mumbai, a city that Chadha has called home for most of her life.
Bridging Past and Present
With a profound sense of curiosity, Chadha expresses her desire to understand Mumbai more intimately, especially considering her roots in Delhi. “I have lived in Mumbai more than I have lived in Delhi, which is my native place. So, now I feel like I want to understand more of the city,” she says, noting how her initial choice to focus on Mumbai was also influenced by logistical considerations as a producer, such as minimizing travel and accommodation costs.
As her journey unfolded, Chadha discovered the city’s rich and complex history that often goes unrecognized. She highlights fascinating aspects such as Mumbai’s pivotal role in the global banking system and its historical connections to significant events like the American Civil War, which inadvertently influenced the cotton trade and the establishment of mills in the city. “Many people don’t know how Mumbai and its people have played a role in the banking system of the world,” she remarks, reflecting on her mission to unveil these crucial yet overlooked narratives.
From Research to Reality
The inception of Musafiri originated from her research documentation for a book she was contemplating, intending to delve into the history of cities. However, she soon recognized that a visual medium would be more effective in delivering the experiences tied to understanding a city. “Knowing a city is so much about experiences, visiting monuments, and looking at places,” she reflects, explaining how the concept evolved from a 40-minute documentary into a full-fledged episodic series.
Personal Transformation Through Exploration
Chadha’s experience of motherhood has also significantly influenced her perspective on life and the environment around her. “I started looking at everything differently, right from the sustenance of life. Are we living in a polluted place? How are we going to adapt through a changing climate?” she ponders, signifying a broader intention behind the show to address the pressing issues impacting urban life.
In the series’ inaugural episode, Chadha shares the emotional rudiments of redefining her identity post-delivery, emphasizing the sense of confusion that many women face during this transformative phase. The show becomes a medium for her to personally reconnect with Mumbai and explore what the city embodies for her—merging admiration with concern for its evolving identity.
A Quirky Yet Thoughtful Exploration
With a unique blend of curiosity and intelligence, Chadha navigates through Mumbai’s less-charted territories, engaging with auto-rickshaw drivers and local residents with a familiar ease. She recalls her initial experiences in Mumbai, which were shaped by a sense of freedom that she found elusive in other cities. “I was fascinated by the freedom women have in this city. You can take a cab at night without worrying. That is something not seen in other cities. Having grown up in Delhi, that is the first thing that jumps out at you in Mumbai. It just lets you be,” she shares.
Chadha appreciates the city’s remarkable multiculturalism, which is especially visible in its varied communities and culinary offerings. “In the older part of the city, you get to see Bohri Muslims, Parsis and Arab-owned eateries. So many people have come here,” she explains, underscoring how these diverse influences lend a unique energy to the city’s atmosphere.
Future Aspirations for ‘Musafiri’
Looking forward, Chadha has grand ambitions for Musafiri. She plans to extend its reach beyond Mumbai and explore various cities and towns across India. “I want to do it as a pan-India project. The world deserves to know that one-fifth of the population lives in this subcontinent. There are so many ways the country has shaped the world through food, architecture, arts, and science. I don’t think people know enough,” she expresses, advocating for a greater awareness of the cultural wealth inherent in India.
Currently, three episodes of Musafiri are streaming on YouTube, with new episodes released every Friday, inviting viewers to embark on this exploratory journey alongside Chadha as she seeks to redefine how people experience and relate to their urban landscapes.
