Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Tribhuvan Mishra is a chartered accountant with a government job, a loving home-baker wife, two adorable kids, and dependent parents. Unlike his peers, Tribhuvan doesn’t accept bribes or under-the-table payments, but with his entire family relying on his salary, he barely makes ends meet. So, when financial trouble comes knocking, he begins leading a double life: government officer by day, male escort by evening. This dual life comes at a steep price when the gangster husband of one of his clients starts hunting for his head.
The Netflix series Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper is a 9-episode show starring Manav Kaul as the titular protagonist. Tribhuvan starts off as a docile, shy, and honest officer, a loyal husband who despises corruption. However, as he starts earning more and more money through his unusual side-hustle under the alias ‘CA Topper,’ he begins to embody the same corrupt traits he once despised.
Set in Noida, the first three episodes of Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper are thoroughly entertaining, comically establishing the primary themes of the story—love, sex, dhoka, aur paisa. Ironically, Tribhuvan gets the idea to offer sex services due to his wife Ashoklata’s (Naina Sareen) constant compliments about how amazing he is in bed. On the other hand, it’s absurd how a chartered accountant is so bad at managing his finances—he keeps all his money and savings in a single account and has zero investments.
Also Read: Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Review – Pulp-Fiction Romance Peaks Early
Tillotama Shome shines as Bindi Jain, a Bollywood-obsessed woman trapped in a dull marriage to confectioner Teeka Ram Jain (Shubhrajyoti Barat), who secretly runs a deadly illegal racket. One of the most entertaining scenes features Bindi imagining herself and Teeka Ram dancing to iconic Bollywood songs like “Baazigar O Baazigar,” however, Teeka Ram has no interest in her silly whims. So, she turns to apps for sex, and soon becomes one of Tribhuvan’s most valued clients. Tillotama Shome is fantastic as Bindi—a diehard romantic whose head might be in the clouds when it comes to love, but who is also smart, cunning, and knows how to deal with men.
Naina Sareen, as Tribhuvan’s trusting, sweet, and simple wife Ashoklata, fits the role of a middle-class homemaker, but her performance feels bland, like a bowl of soup without seasoning. In contrast, Sumit Gulati and Shweta Basu Prasad bring some mild entertainment as Mr. and Mrs. Pathak, Ashoklata’s brother and his ambitious wife, who enjoy a more lavish lifestyle and serve as an amusing foil to the primary couple. While Ashoklata finds contentment in her kids and cakes, Shobha Pathak (Shweta Basu Prasad) is always experimenting and pushing her husband to think big, even if it means bending the rules. She even gets a hilarious gun-toting scene in the second half, facing down a goon with a song celebrating her guts.
I watched the first three episodes back-to-back, it took me over a week to finish the rest of the series because the plot quickly slows down when the writers let the gangsters take over Tribhuvan’s story. What begins as a quirky, exhilarating tale of a government officer’s journey as a gigolo in Noida morphs into the usual beaten-down narrative about extramarital affairs, where the angry gangster husband bays for the blood of his wife’s lover. The remaining episodes of Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper swing between boring stretches and shorts bursts of exciting moments.
Visually, this Netflix show is very engaging, with a vivid screenplay filled with interesting motifs. For instance, the hotel where Tribhuvan frequently goes to provide his services is called “Madhur Milaap,” which means ‘sweet union,’ and the neon sign bearing its name is shaped like a dildo. This sign is featured in almost every episode when Tribhuvan suits up for his evening job, and I couldn’t help but chuckle each time it flashed on the screen.
Thanks to his transactional dalliance with Bindi, the primary conflict in the second half of Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper revolves around escaping the murderous clutches of her gangster husband, Teeka Ram Jain. Guns, violence, and an unintended murder completely unravel Tribhuvan’s life. The final episode descends into utter chaos, with multiple characters involved in a ridiculous open-air gunfight. Shots are fired from all directions, and the climax ends with an abrupt twist that leaves both Tribhuvan and the viewer hanging.
While not binge-worthy, Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper is a bumpy yet entertaining attempt at a raunchy Indian drama focused on female pleasure and sexual gratification.
Rating: 6/10. Stream the show on Netflix.
Read Next: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)