TV and Film | Channel 4's Indian Summer
I love big, epic dramas; it's certainly the genre I most enjoy (closely followed by comedy and sci-fi, if anyone cared to know). So I've really enjoyed getting my teeth stuck into Channel 4's latest TV drama, Indian Summers. The show follows the intertwining lives of those living in India in the lead up to Partition. I studied the partition of India and Pakistan last year as one of my final History modules, so that definitely impacted on my intrigue when I heard the show was airing.
Let me start with the good. I think the show had a great premise and an excellent cast too! Julie Walters as the deceptively sly Cynthia is arguably the biggest name, but Nikesh Patelb and Alyy Khan who played Aafrin and Ramu Sood respectively were stellar castings. Alexander Cobb was also excellent as Ian Mcleod, although I took a little time to actually warm to his character! I also liked the developing relationship between Aafrin and Alice Whelan, which was perfectly drawn out across the episodes. I can't wait to see where the show takes their relationship in the future - I'm hoping it's to a good place! In complete opposition, but equally as compelling, was the disintegration of the relationship between Sarah and Dougie Raworth. Both were complex characters but it worked in great contrast to the budding relationship of Aafrin and Alice.
It may be because I haven't watched many dramas based in or around India, but I did feel some similarities in overtone with a 1997 film called Earth. There was a screening at my university for students and the community alike, and it was my first foray into this period of time that wasn't wholly Western. As Indian Summers progressed, the similarities lessened but I distinctly remember learning from both how, broadly speaking, Parsis were the most neutral in what came to be a battle between Hindus and Muslims as India fought for independence. There drama did not wholly focus on the political situation of course, bringing in the romantic elements to balance out the episodes and add dramatic intrigue. I'm thinking the lead up to the partitioning of India will perhaps be explored more deeply in the second series, although those who were affected most in reality are not those who are focused upon in the show. The poorer people, the women who were not as fierce as Aafrin's sister Sooni, were the ultimate victims and I'm interested to see what occurs in the second series in relation to that.
There were obvious differences between the native Indians and the British, which circumvent far deeper than skin colour. It is known that the British felt themselves to be of far greater intelligence than the Indians and this arrogance was portrayed brilliantly a number of times.The sense of injustice ran deeply in the veins of this show and of course some scenes made for uncomfortable viewing. Purposefully so, I'd imagine, which I think makes the drama all the more important. For instance, when Ramu Sood's life literally hangs in the balance, Ralph Whelan abuses his position and lets Sood hang despite knowing the man to be innocent. Whilst it may have been in support of his life-long friend, Whelan's actions essentially killed an innocent man. In the lead up to the verdict, the treatment of Sood in the court by other Brits made for some important scenes, demonstrating the widely held opinion that the British felt superior is every way possible.
The final episode was significant because it demonstrated with perfect awkwardness how the British then struggled to lessen their authority. When Cynthia's social club is to be opened to Indians as well as British members, there is uproar. There was also, in my mind, an unnecessary use of language that I think we could have done without. There had already been so many portrayals of the injustice faced by Indians at the hands of the British, so I personally feel there was no need to add in the n- word in the final episode, especially when it hadn't been referenced all series. The acting, the performances, the plot all proved how poorly the British could treat Indians, and I feel like it was used more as a shock factor than anything else. Watching the scene where Aafrin tries to order two drinks at the social club only to be ignored and the club to fall in to a deathly silence was a far greater demonstration of the void the British wanted to cement between themselves and Indians. In fact, I think that was one of the most poignant and important scenes of the final episode.
Overall? I loved it. I'd definitely recommend it, whether you know anything about India's history or not. It has political drama and secret romances all set against a background of a country striving for independence at a time when the British were seemingly drunk on Empire. A great concept for a TV drama and I cannot wait for series two.Let me start with the good. I think the show had a great premise and an excellent cast too! Julie Walters as the deceptively sly Cynthia is arguably the biggest name, but Nikesh Patelb and Alyy Khan who played Aafrin and Ramu Sood respectively were stellar castings. Alexander Cobb was also excellent as Ian Mcleod, although I took a little time to actually warm to his character! I also liked the developing relationship between Aafrin and Alice Whelan, which was perfectly drawn out across the episodes. I can't wait to see where the show takes their relationship in the future - I'm hoping it's to a good place! In complete opposition, but equally as compelling, was the disintegration of the relationship between Sarah and Dougie Raworth. Both were complex characters but it worked in great contrast to the budding relationship of Aafrin and Alice.
It may be because I haven't watched many dramas based in or around India, but I did feel some similarities in overtone with a 1997 film called Earth. There was a screening at my university for students and the community alike, and it was my first foray into this period of time that wasn't wholly Western. As Indian Summers progressed, the similarities lessened but I distinctly remember learning from both how, broadly speaking, Parsis were the most neutral in what came to be a battle between Hindus and Muslims as India fought for independence. There drama did not wholly focus on the political situation of course, bringing in the romantic elements to balance out the episodes and add dramatic intrigue. I'm thinking the lead up to the partitioning of India will perhaps be explored more deeply in the second series, although those who were affected most in reality are not those who are focused upon in the show. The poorer people, the women who were not as fierce as Aafrin's sister Sooni, were the ultimate victims and I'm interested to see what occurs in the second series in relation to that.
There were obvious differences between the native Indians and the British, which circumvent far deeper than skin colour. It is known that the British felt themselves to be of far greater intelligence than the Indians and this arrogance was portrayed brilliantly a number of times.The sense of injustice ran deeply in the veins of this show and of course some scenes made for uncomfortable viewing. Purposefully so, I'd imagine, which I think makes the drama all the more important. For instance, when Ramu Sood's life literally hangs in the balance, Ralph Whelan abuses his position and lets Sood hang despite knowing the man to be innocent. Whilst it may have been in support of his life-long friend, Whelan's actions essentially killed an innocent man. In the lead up to the verdict, the treatment of Sood in the court by other Brits made for some important scenes, demonstrating the widely held opinion that the British felt superior is every way possible.
The final episode was significant because it demonstrated with perfect awkwardness how the British then struggled to lessen their authority. When Cynthia's social club is to be opened to Indians as well as British members, there is uproar. There was also, in my mind, an unnecessary use of language that I think we could have done without. There had already been so many portrayals of the injustice faced by Indians at the hands of the British, so I personally feel there was no need to add in the n- word in the final episode, especially when it hadn't been referenced all series. The acting, the performances, the plot all proved how poorly the British could treat Indians, and I feel like it was used more as a shock factor than anything else. Watching the scene where Aafrin tries to order two drinks at the social club only to be ignored and the club to fall in to a deathly silence was a far greater demonstration of the void the British wanted to cement between themselves and Indians. In fact, I think that was one of the most poignant and important scenes of the final episode.
Jade x
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British TV
TV and film
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