Victoria & Abdul

Victoria & Abdul is a historical and biographical drama about Queen Victoria and her friendship with a young Indian clerk, Abdul Karim. It was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and language.

Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) is in her 80’s, and has recently become Empress of India as her empire continues to expand. In 1887, two Indians from Agra are summoned to England to present the Queen with a mohur, which is a gold coin that has been minted in India to honor the Empress. Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) is excited to be sailing the oceans on an adventure, whereas his companion Mohammed (Adeel Akhtar) is less than thrilled.

The subsequent ceremony to present the Queen with the mohur is really something to be seen. Victoria is charmed by Abdul’s innocence and allegiance to her, and they become friends at her insistence. She asks him to remain in England to teach her Hindi and the Qur’an. He insists that to learn Urdu is more suited to someone of her standing, and the Queen proves to be an apt pupil, to the consternation of her staff, advisors, and son Bertie, Prince of Wales (Eddie Izzard). She practices penmanship, speaking the Urdu language, and reading the Qur’an. She refers to Abdul as her Munshi, a term used for native language teachers at that time.

The film shows us the prejudice and racism that prevailed at the time of the occupation of India by British troops. Abdul is not just Indian, he is a Muslim, and is scorned, plotted against, and the Queen’s staff threatens to walk out if he remains on site. Her advisors would like to prove she is insane, which she most definitely is not. Abdul remains devoted to the aged queen until her death.

Stephen Frears, who also directed Philomena, The Queen, and Dangerous Liaisons, directed Victoria & Abdul. The screenplay was written by Lee Hall, and was based on the book by Shrabani Basu. Ms. Basu discovered the hidden friendship between the two unlikely companions during a visit to the Isle of Wight’s Osborne House, where she noticed a portrait of an Indian servant in the Durbar Room that did not appear to be the likeness of a servant. She began research into who Abdul Karim really was, and what he meant to the Queen. She wrote Victoria and Abdul: The True Story of the Queen’s Closest Confidant after four years of extensive research.

These stories are essential to tell as we come to terms with empire, and the accompanying subjugation of native peoples that has occurred throughout recorded time. I enjoyed this film, and learning about Ms. Basu’s dedicated search for the truth about Victoria and Abdul. Here is a link to an excellent article about her search for the truth: http://time.com/4941313/victoria-and-abdul-true-story-shrabani-basu/ I hope you enjoy Victoria & Abdul and the history behind the film as much as I did.