A Suitable Boy

I haven't seen last night's episode yet but I enjoyed the first two. ruby song, I think the "Indian thing" you mention is because the cast is Indian. I've been lucky to spend time in India twice and find the way of speech and manners in the series so reminiscent of spending time in the country.

I know it's cultural but I do find the singing hard to listen to, in fact, I fast forward through it. There's something painful about the voices. The instrumentalists are great though and I do enjoy the sitar and tabla music.

I understand the drama is in 6 episodes and whilst the book is super huge. So that is a problem in itself. A bit like Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies in 6 episodes. They were 2 huge books. A recipe for trouble. I am enjoying it however, but mixing the people up somewhat.

It's a bit War and Peace for me - I need one of those lists that were printed at the front of my copy of War and Peace, naming each character, with essential links recorded. I was 25 when I read W and P, my memory was much better then.

Jane10- I'm with you on enjoying sitar and tabla, less keen on the singing. The woman playing the courtesan is brilliant and manages to combine beauty with looking slightly worn.

I'm recording the series and think I'm going to wait until all 6 episodes are finished before watching it. I loved the book, all 1400 plus pages of it, so hope the tv series has done it justice.

I do like it very much, music not my taste but it’s relevant so I put up with it. Good to see how they live and interact, the caste system seems so cruel though.

katie72925.tripod.com/553/characters.html - here is a link to the family trees - I have read it and feel none the wiser!

I love the music, including the singing. I am persevering with it for that and the costumes.

I watched it last night until I suddenly realised how bored I was and switched off ! Have since spent most the night with dodgy tummy issues so maybe that was the problem....I’ll try it again on catch up.

Bluebell & Maggiemaybe, I concur to all you say, today.
I've now watched the 3 episodes, each time, nearing the end, I start to work out who-is-who! only to forget the following week!!
I must have dozed last night!!!

I really need to watch again.

I love the music costumes and culture but not much else I ll try it on iPad this evening and see if I can get my head round all the different people they seem to come in in their dozens without any sort of indirect introductions
Do you think the ‘cousin‘ if she is a cousin has been abused by the ‘father‘ if he is the father she seems very subdued ?
I m glad I m not the only one struggling gillgran

Does anyone know who the woman with Lata’s mum was, the one she said “is like a daughter to me”? She recommended the shoe man as a potential husband.

Do you think the ‘cousin‘ if she is a cousin has been abused by the ‘father‘ if he is the father she seems very subdued ?

Yes, I do, BlueBelle. Ugh, he’s horrible.

It's a marvellous book, but unless they have left out a great deal it will be a very, very long film or series.

Bluebell & Maggiemaybe, You must be reading my thoughts, & posting them!!

Luckygirl, Those family tree links have me even more confused!

froglady, A good idea, watch it "altogether"!

Me too gillgran!!!

Lucca

I watched it last night until I suddenly realised how bored I was and switched off ! Have since spent most the night with dodgy tummy issues so maybe that was the problem....I’ll try it again on catch up.

No, that wasnt the problem.
The problem is that it is utterly boring like many of the BBC's offerings lately.

Downton Abbey was ten times more exciting when we decided to change channels.

Hope you feel better now.

Luckygirl

katie72925.tripod.com/553/characters.html - here is a link to the family trees - I have read it and feel none the wiser!

I love the music, including the singing. I am persevering with it for that and the costumes.

I think I might print it off and have it handy next week so I can make notes!

I love India and everything Indian but after watching the first two episodes sadly I have given up.

Acting not great, far too stereotypical, very poor script in my opinion.

It's just what I need. Beautiful people, incredible scenery and a plot and story which keeps you just excited enough without being too frightened or too disgusted, yet. Apart that is for a child being crushed in a stampede
I'm loving it and may get around to reading the book.

Best programme on atm. Kept me engrossed all the way through. Love the mother in it, she's so funny.

Just watched episode 3. Still enjoying this production. The abusive uncle was well drawn, as was his subservient wife and traumatise daughter.
I'm loving the colours, the landscapes and in fact, all of it

I really thought we were going to stick with this, we enjoyed the first episode. Colourful, yes. Beautiful scenery, yes. Exquisite photography, yes. But it's really boring, and I don't care about any of the characters. Couldn't get on with the book either.

Back to reruns of Waking The Dead on i-player ....

I shall continue watching. I was born in India but left too young in 1954 to remember it. We lived in Ballygunge in Calcutta where the Calcutta scenes are set. I have been back once on a tour to Calcutta and Darjeeling (where we used to spend the summers). Despite my lack of memory of the time, the lush vegetation seemed really familiar.

Oh it is boring I can’t seem to really ever get into it
None of the characters really pull me in or excite me
I ll keep watching it’s not dreadful but it’s really not grabbing me at all
Lovely scenery and music and colours but such dreary acting

I don’t real care who Lata marries

Luckygirl

And who is the young man who held her hand in the garden? - is that her brother? - her cousin?

And the young man who crashed drunk into the dinner party? - same guy?

So the older guy there is her brother's father-in-law?

Am I creeping anywhere near?

Same confusion here re a couple of the male characters. we're catching up on iplayer, just watched episode 2. We'll stick with it, for the beauty, and the atmosphere of India and hope the characters become more distinguishable as the story plays out.

Just a thought, would we be in the same place a Bollywood if it hadn't been for John Osborne and kitchen sink dramas? I don't think Bollywood has ever come across kitchen sink drama...