Victoria and Abdul

From the royal bowel movement to the verbal abuse of several religions and dynasties this story and film has enough to rile up the Brits, the Hindus and the Muslims. In attempting to portray that in a couple of hours it is hilarious.

As to what is fact v fiction I think it is up to the viewer to behold and determine. The film starring Dame Judi Dench as Queen Victoria (the Empress of India) and Ali Fazal (as Kareem the Munshi) is a watchable tale of the Queen's penchant to have trusted aides by her side when she does not trust her inner circle.

Apparently she has had a couple of these advisor/confidants from India during her tenure as Queen and in this installment we see a Muslim clerk from Agra get selected to present a token of gratitude in what is a stroke of luck for him when he is sent from India by boat to England. The royal staff keeps referring to him as a Hindu in several ironic comical moments.

Munshi as he describes himself (as in a secretary but in the context of the film a teacher) gets close to the Queen in a series of lucky coincidences with looks and bearing influencing the Queen's desire to have him by her side. He is well read and advises the Queen on the meaning of service to her people as well as teaching Urdu - the language of the Mughals and also quotes from some of the saints and poets of the era to resolve conflicts in her head.

This enthralls the borderline senile Queen who latches on to the exotic aspect of this relationship much to the chagrin of her closest staff and family. In one scene she asks for a Mango to be shipped from India and in another goes ahead and does some interior decorating to create a Durbar as an extension to one of her royal residences.

The movie ends up with the Queen dying with Kareem at her bedside and then being promptly sent back to India by the son who is pissed off at the whole arrangement.

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