Netflix’s new Hindi series, Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper, is an emotional comedy-drama about an honest government employee and his desperation to provide for his family. The series addresses the often neglected topic of sexual desire in women; while that is a commendable attempt, it loses its path with too many characters and their backstories, resulting in a messy climax. The performances are top-notch, and overall it is an enjoyable watch.
CA topper, Tribhuvan Mishra, took pride in his honesty, as did his wife, Ashoklata. They were not concerned with the finer things in life, and as long as they had a roof above their heads and could provide food and education to their children, they were content. Tribhuvan’s perspective changed all of a sudden when his bank account was frozen after the bank was accused of being involved in a scam. Tribhuvan had committed to covering the costs for repairs at his parent’s house and paying his children’s school fees, but Tribhuvan did not have enough cash on hand. Will circumstances turn Tribhuvan into a corrupt man, or will he find a way out?
Spoiler Alert
How did Raja Bhai’s men find out about Tribhuvan?
After the bank scam, Tribhuvan realized that even in the worst of circumstances, he could not approve of illegal projects in exchange for a bribe. The only talent he possessed was keeping his wife sexually satisfied, and he decided to use it to his advantage. Earning money through prostitution seemed easy and extremely profitable. To him, it seemed better than taking bribes. Tribhuvan went by the pseudonym ‘CA Topper,’ and after learning the basics of the trade, he soon became popular among the Noida women. He was no longer running short of cash, and the one thing he learned after taking up the side hustle was that money could indeed buy happiness. His children respected him more; he could buy his wife a new oven for her bakery business, and he never had to turn down any of their requests. As his pockets got heavy, Tribhuvan’s demeanor changed. From a shy, honest government employee, Tribhuvan had turned into a confident man. He wore brightly printed shirts and had a bounce in his step. He felt boastful when his wife discussed how a male prostitute named CA Topper had become the talk of the town. He not only sexually satisfied women but also paid attention to them. Life was good for Tribhuvan, but that was until one of his clients’ husbands found out about him.
Bindi dreamt of Bollywood romance, but her husband, the “bhujiya king of Noida” (snack king of Noida), Teeka Ram, showed no interest in her fantasies. He was busy looking after his legal and illegal businesses; he sold snacks during the day and conducted his gangster operations at night. Tired of being ignored by her husband, Bindi searched for her own happiness and found CA Topper on the internet. For the first time, a man danced to Bollywood songs for her and prioritized her satisfaction over everything else. Spending a few hours with the CA Topper had become a part of her regular routine, and Ram’s right-hand man, Dhaincha, noticed her absence. Even though Ram showed no interest in finding out what his wife was up to, Dhaincha sent Lappu to tail Bindi. Lappu followed Bindi to the hotel she frequented, “Madhur Milaap,” and fixed a camera in one of the rooms. He had video evidence of Bindi cheating Ram with another man, and he was proud of his accomplishment. Teeka Ram was more offended to see another man dance for his wife than he was by their sexual intimacy, and he instructed Dhaincha and Lappu to catch his wife and her lover red-handed.
Why did Bindi stop helping CA Topper?
Lappu caught CA Topper and Bindi at the hotel, and he threatened to shoot Tribhuvan. Bindi and CA Topper tried to tackle Lappu, but the situation soon went out of control, and Tribhuvan ended up stabbing Lappu. Bindi got rid of their fingerprints and advised Tribhuvan to leave with the murder weapon while she left from the back exit. Tribhuvan had also called his trusted friend, Vineet, to help him. Bindi was no stranger to dead bodies, and she showed more courage than the two men in the room. Bindi had no choice but to confess to her husband, but she left out all the important details. She lied about his name and stayed as tight-lipped as possible. Bindi kept Tribhuvan continuously informed about her husband’s plan. The situation was almost like the action climax in Bindi’s favorite Bollywood films, and she knew that in the end, the hero and the heroine must end up together.
Tired of only speaking over the phone, one evening Bindi asked CA Topper to meet her secretly. For Tribhuvan, their relationship had always been transactional, and he was surprised when Bindi stated that they were lovers. She proposed that they run away somewhere safe together and start a snack business with her secret recipe. This was the happily ever after of her perfect Bollywood romance, but unfortunately, real life tends to be far more painful. Tribhuvan clarified that he was not in love with her, and that he had never considered her his lover. He paid extra attention for the extra cash, and he cared about her like he did for each of his clients. Bindu was heartbroken; instead of a happy love story, her life turned tragic. She returned home with a sense of vengeance—she wanted to see the end of CA Topper.
How did Tribhuvan try to protect himself from Raja Bhai’s men?
Tribhuvan deactivated his account temporarily. He had to pay his dues to the loan shark, but without the extra income, it was almost impossible. With the help of his brother-in-law, Shambhu, and his wife, Shobha, Tribhuvan managed to convince Raja Bhai’s rival, Ehsaan Qureshi, to lend his bodyguards to protect him. Tribhuvan had no choice but to approve the illegal construction plans for Ehsaan Qureshi and Agarwal Builders. He had turned into the dishonest man that he always swore he would never become. Tribhuvan did not have much choice, and he realized he would rather be corrupt than dead. With Bindu’s help, Tribhuvan found out that Dhaincha had spotted his tattoo, so he changed the design. He had also received the information that Dhaincha knew that he had a yellow scooter and that he had an image of half the number plate. To fool Dhaincha, Tribhuvan painted as many scooters yellow as he could in a fraudulent way. He felt hopeful as long as Bindi was by his side, but with her gone, he no longer had access to information.
Bindi hatched a plan with Dhaincha. She asked him to closely watch the police investigation into Lappu’s murder. The CA Topper’s phone number was no longer available, and she assumed that the police would find someone in connection with the case and that would help them track their target. Inspector Haider Ali suspected Vineet Kumar because he offered the same service and was a known figure in the cheap hotel circuit. Vineet was also Haider’s gym trainer, and even though he did not have solid evidence against him, Haider was confident that Vineet had some knowledge about the murder at ‘Madhur Milaap’. Vineet was about to utter Tribhuvan’s name when, all of a sudden, Dhaincha and his gang interrupted and took him hostage. He was held at gunpoint and was asked to call Tribhuvan to fix a meeting. Tribhuvan invited him to his family function, and Dhaincha, Teeka Ram, and Bindi followed the lead.
Why did Dhaincha refuse to shoot Tribhuvan?
Raja Bhai and his gang arrived at the religious gathering organized by Shambhu and Shobha. They took to the stage and instructed Vineet to spot the CA Topper. Tribhuvan fired a shot to create chaos, and the crowd immediately dispersed. While Teeka Ram was ready with his men, Tribhuvan called his bodyguards to rescue him. A gunfight broke out, and the police joined the party as well. They had had their eyes on Teeka Ram for a long time, and they believed he was also involved in Lappu’s murder. Vineet tried to escape, and when the police offered him a cozy deal to confess the truth, he did not hesitate to put Tribhuvan in danger. While Tribhuvan had always been afraid of pulling the trigger, this time he did not have a choice. He shot at Teeka Ram and his men, and so did Sobha and Shambhu. Ashoklata could not believe the horror that was unfolding right before her eyes. She had no idea that her husband had a gun, and she was equally surprised to see Shobha shooting like a professional.
In Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper‘s ending, Ashoklata was devastated when Bindi walked up to her and disclosed Tribhuvan’s secret. She loved him for his honesty, and she could not believe that her husband had been deceiving her for months. In the end, Teeka Ram was shot, and instead of killing Tribhuvan, Dhaincha stared at him in wonder. He looked exactly like the hero that Bindi had described, and even though he had been wanting to kill Tribhuvan for days, at that moment, he could not pull the trigger on him. There was something so charming about the man that even Dhaincha forgot to avenge his lover, Lappu.
Did Ashoklata leave Tribhuvan?
During Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper‘s ending, Teeka Ram was being taken to the hospital, while Tribhuvan and his family were on their way home on a white horse. To Tribhuvan’s surprise, a man named Titu Arora waited in his car to receive Ashoklata and the kids. This suggests that Ashoklata was having an affair or that she had developed a friendship with Titu Arora. It would also not be surprising if she lied to Tribhuvan to make him regret his actions. Tribhuvan headed home alone, riding a horse through Noida city—an absurd image that will remain etched in the minds of the audience. This does not seem to be the end of Tribhuvan’s story—Teeka Ram would not give up so easily, especially if he survives the bullet wound, but clearly, Dhaincha will not be the one pulling the trigger on his hero. Having a common enemy brought Bindi and Teeka Ram closer than ever before. He did not shy away from expressing his love for Bindi anymore, and she too realized that Teeka Ram was the hero in her life’s story and not the CA Topper.
Will the police continue to investigate the murder case (their sole witness, Vineet, might succumb to the bullet wounds, and they will possibly never get to Tribhuvan), or will they come to a settlement with Raja Bhai? Will Tribhuvan leave Noida and start his life afresh? But given the family man that he is, it seems unlikely. Tribhuvan learned an important lesson: lying could only take him so far. Hopefully, in the next season (if there is one), Tribhuvan will realize that honesty is not a virtue of the weak, and he will find a way to get his family back.