Victoria & Abdul Dvd

Victoria & Abdul is a 2017 British biographical comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and written by Lee Hall. The film is based on the book of same name by Shrabani Basu, about the real-life relationship between Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her Indian Muslim servant Abdul Karim. It stars Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Michael Gambon, Eddie Izzard, Tim Pigott-Smith (in his final film role), and Adeel Akhtar. The film had its world premiere at the 74th Venice Film Festival, and was theatrically released on 15 September 2017 in the United Kingdom. It has grossed over $65 million worldwide.

The film was nominated for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 90th Academy Awards, and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (for Dench) at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.

Plot

Abdul Karim, a young prison clerk from British India, is instructed to travel to Britain for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 to present her with a mohur, a gold coin that has been minted as a token of appreciation from British-ruled India.

The queen, who is lonely and tired of her fawning courtiers, develops an interest in and then a friendship with Abdul. She spends time with him alone and gives him a bejewelled locket with her photograph. She promotes him to become her Munshi. She asks him to teach her Urdu and the Quran. When Victoria discovers he is married, she asks him to return to India and bring his wife to join him in England. He arrives with his wife and his mother-in-law, both wearing black burqas, to the consternation of the household but the fascination of Victoria.

As Victoria’s interest in India grows, she has the Durbar Room built at her Isle of Wight home of Osborne House for state functions. It is elaborately decorated with carvings by Bhai Ram Singh in an intricate style, with a carpet from Agra, formal portraits of renowned Indians, and a replica of the Peacock Throne.

While Victoria treats Abdul as a son, his preferment is resented by her household and inner circle, including her son Bertie and the prime minister. The household plots to undermine their relationship, hoping that Abdul will be sent home. When Victoria embarrasses herself by recounting to the court the one-sided account of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 that Abdul had told her, Victoria’s faith and trust in him are shaken and she decides he must go home. But soon after, she changes her mind and asks him to stay.

The prime minister is adamant that the royal household must find a way to get rid of Abdul. They research his family background in India and present Victoria with a dossier to show that his family is more ordinary and poor than Abdul has told her. When Victoria insists her doctor examine Abdul to find out why his wife has not become pregnant, he discovers that Abdul has gonorrhea and rushes to tell the queen, expecting her to dismiss him in disgust. However, Victoria remains loyal to Abdul and admonishes her courtiers for plotting against him. She tells the household that she intends to give Abdul a knighthood.

Eventually, the household decides that if Victoria does not break with Abdul they will all resign. They also threaten to certify Victoria as insane. When Victoria is told, she angrily summons the entire household to the Durbar Room and demands that anyone who wants to resign step forward. When none do so, she tells them she has decided not to make Abdul a knight, but to include him in her next honours list as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

When Victoria falls ill, she urges Abdul to return to India, while she can still protect him. She warns him that when she dies, the court will turn on him, but Abdul insists that he will stay with Victoria until the end of her life. In 1901, Victoria dies, and her son Bertie, now Edward VII, rejects Abdul, burning all the gifts and papers he has received from the Queen, and sending him and his family back to India. Abdul’s wife manages to save the locket for him.

It is revealed that Abdul lived in India until his death eight years later in 1909. The film ends with Abdul kneeling at a large statue of Queen Victoria close to the Taj Mahal, talking to it and kissing its feet in respect.

Cast

Judi Dench as Queen Victoria
Ali Fazal as Abdul Karim
Tim Pigott-Smith as Henry Ponsonby
Eddie Izzard as Bertie, Prince of Wales
Adeel Akhtar as Mohammad Bakhsh
Michael Gambon as Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Paul Higgins as Sir James Reid, 1st Baronet
Olivia Williams as Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill
Fenella Woolgar as Harriet Phipps
Julian Wadham as Alick Yorke
Robin Soans as Arthur Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham
Simon Callow as Giacomo Puccini
Simon Paisley Day as Mr Tyler
Amani Zardoe as Princess Helena of the United Kingdom
Sophie Trott as Sophia of Prussia
Penny Ryder as Sophia of Nassau
Joe Caffrey as Sous Chef
Tim McMullan as Tailor
Jonathan Harden as Wilhelm II, German Emperor
John Rowe as Head Waiter