A Suitable Boy

Have to say I found the acting a bit stilted too. I want to like it, can’t say I love it but will stick with it

DH hasn’t liked it at all

Niobe Maan isnt Lata s brother, he s her brother in law s brother?
I m afraid I found last night s episode didn’t come up to my expectations and was pretty dull in the acting stakes It seemed a long time with little going on and I was getting some of the characters muddled up
Umm jury s out for now

I’m really not enjoying it I’m afraid. The scenery is nice but that’s all I can say about it. And I don’t think the acting is particularly good. I’ll stick with it but it wouldn’t bother me if I couldn’t watch it. The Luminaries was disappointing, too.

I was really looking forward to it, and had set it to record (I often doze off after 9 pm!), but was very disappointed. I'll give it another chance this week ... we'll see.

Have been away but looking forward to finding it on the iPlayer soon. I never got around to the book, since it was a mega-doorstop and I can’t cope with those (too heavy and awkward to read in bed) but funnily enough was recently thinking of getting it on my Kindle.

Never read the novel but enjoyed the first episode.

I loved it after a slow start and was very impressed with the actress who played the courtesan. Her suitor , Maan, is the brother of the heroine,Lata. I have ordered the book from Amazon and it should arrive tomorrow.

Just watched first episode. I really like it. Not entirely sure where/when Lata fell in love tho. The subtlety of Seth's writing has failed to translate in that section, at least

BlueBelle

I will take back all I said in my first post as I ve just watched it on iplayer and realise I must have slept through three quarters of it without realising I had.... no wonder I was muddled as to who was who Well now I loved it and look foreword to next weeks episode
I wish I could remove my first post but never mind

I did the same.

I woke up and started asking DH questions because I was very confused but I think I'll have to watch it on iPlayer too.

BlueBelle, your post made me chuckle, thank you! Happens to us all. It reminds me of watching that Norwegian drama, A State of Happiness, and wondering why all the dialogue had now switched to English, only to realise that I had slept through half the episode and was now watching a different film entirely. Thank goodness for iPlayer! (Do you ever wish that real life had an iPlayer for the bits you miss?)

I will take back all I said in my first post as I ve just watched it on iplayer and realise I must have slept through three quarters of it without realising I had.... no wonder I was muddled as to who was who Well now I loved it and look foreword to next weeks episode
I wish I could remove my first post but never mind

As well as reading the book, I listened to a radio adaptation of it on R4 a few years ago. That was also very good.

I enjoyed it but then I love India. We are very sad to have cancelled our holiday there later in the year.

merlotgran

I'll stick with it but Indian love stories of that period all have the same format: Hindu girl falls for muslim boy (or vice versa) and I then spend the rest of the drama trying to remember who's who.

I so agree with this comment Merlotgran. In recent years when watching dramas I get frustrated trying to remember who’s who and how they relate to each other. I have been known to make diagrams to help me.

I did enjoy it though, the colours were amazing and so was the music.

I agree with eazybee about Alison Steadman's portrayal of Mrs Bennett. Beyond awful. Mind you, whathisname playing her husband wasn't very good either.

I much preferred the book. I will give it another go next week.

eazybee

Totally agree re Alison Steadman and Mrs Bennett. Talk about over acting and just too ridiculous for words, her performance I mean.

If Mrs B. had been half as bad as she played her, none of the Bennett daughters would have landed a husband, the suitors would have ran for the hills.

I was quiet looking forward to this but I turned over half way through.

I found it a refreshing change from the usual period dramas. I did get a bit confused as to who was who but think I worked it out in the end. I'll be sticking with this drama. Quality production.

I really enjoyed it too and I hope the story is going to tell it like it really was. However, did unmarried Indian girls really have that sort of freedom in the 1950s though to go off chatting to strange boys; I'm struggling with that concept being correct.

I enjoyed it because I did not fall asleep, and I identified some of the main characters. Wonder if it will be a Jewel in the Crown or The Far Pavilions ? Perhaps even A Suitable Boy.

One review said it was a pity the mother, Ma, wasn't more like Mrs, Bennett; for that mercy , much thanks. Couldn't stand a reprise of Alison Steadman, her worst performance ever.

I started the book many moons ago and abandoned it as I lost the plot!

I was bobbing in and out when watching last night and got confused about 2 of the characters: was the boy she fancied the same person who was getting it together with the singer/courtesan?

I loved the music.
I shall have to concentrate better next time - and I will watch it again as the sets and costumes are so very beautiful.

I watched it and really enjoyed it as did DH. Agreed, it was a bit difficult at times to remember who was who but it became clearer as the episode progressed. We thought it was beautifully acted and the filming was nothing short of superb..

What has shocked me that in today's Mail Online a review of last night's programme has been met with negative and racist comments. Unbelievable.

I really didn't want to like it, what with all the hype. But both DH and I found it refreshingly different, vibrant and colourful and we will stick with it. The lead actress is lovely, such a sparkling face; the older courtesan lady is incredibly beautiful.

Didn't get on with the book at all, far too long and boring.

Beautifully filmed, lots of colour and atmosphere. I did get some of the characters confused at first, but think I have worked it out now! Enjoying it so far.