A Suitable Boy

[GCAcademic]

Just seen that this starts on 26 July on the Beeb.

I love, love, love the book. I read it during lockdown and wanted to start reading it again as soon as I finished it. Am hovering between excitement and apprehension in case the TV series is a let down.

Anyone else looking forward to this?

Piggy - The God of Small Things is one of my favourite books too. It’s years since I’ve read it, and I can’t remember the plot at all (it’s the beautiful writing that has lingered in my memory), so I’m going to read it again soon.

Wemay - in the book, Meenakshi gets pregnant with Billy’s child and pretends that it’s Arun’s. She then has a miscarriage, which Arun is really sad about. It’s the only time you feel an iota of sympathy for him!

It is so beautiful isn't it? And actually quite witty : which is also what I liked in Seth, too.

Orangedrink lemondrinkman never leaves me...shudder...

Maan had saved Firoz' life (from the mob) in the previous episode hadn't he, so I assumed that was why Firoz decided to pretend it was an accident - although then it turned out to be his father's idea (why??).

Is the series 'happier' in its ending than the book - I've seen one review suggesting that?

Interesting that in the end Lata basically adopted her mother's approach to marriage. What was unsuitable about the poet - was it that he wasn't serious about making a living - whereas haresh, as stumbled says, is a capable businessman. In fact he may go on to be a mega shoe millionaire! (assuming he doesn't walk out on this employer as well - well meaning though he was last time, he perhaps lacked persuasive techniques in the work place!)

Oops - forgot to thank GC for the info about the sil as well, that's interesting. She seems to 'get away with it' re the affair, which is quite unusual.

Does sil's sister (the one marrying the German lieder singer) have more of a role in the book - she was amusing if annoying!

In fact he may go on to be a mega shoe millionaire!

That's just what I was wondering. How would Lata cope with being the wife of a millionaire and ending up back with all the superficial rich people and endless entertaining.

But maybe she would persuade him to set up a bursary scheme for aspiring poets!

Yes, she does, and there is a younger brother too. And a dog??

And Varun has a gambling addiction which is actually quite important.

In fact, I think there is also another brother?

I have just finished watching the final episode. I have really enjoyed this series! The courtroom scene made me cry!

I think Lata made the right choice for husband. A suitable man, and suitable future father! There are enough threads on here to show that that is not a bad thing to look at. The other two lacked any substance, and I think she really did love Haresh.
I haven't read the book so can't tell whether this was a faithful adaptation, but it was certainly a great series.

Anyone else feel a bit sorry for Kabir and his bicycling eyebrow?

Wemayhavemetbefore - you are right. I have got so fixated about Maan just being an empty headed playboy that I forgot about that. Even if done from personal anger he was brave and saved Firoz.

Also Firoz's father later regretted his anger about the stabbing and conspiring to make sure Maan's father would lose the election. (I hope I've got the famlies right dont have the family tree to hand.) I do wish there had been more time for the politics and the religious divides. Partition had been totally horrific, with anything from 1 to 2 million killed and 14 million displaced. And that was only 5 years before.

Yes I did feel a bit sorry for Kabir but his behaviour was quite strange, blowing hot and cold, or just being rude. He was quite adolescent.

Also have to say I thought all of the cast were really good, including those with much smaller parts. (And that young boy certainly knew how to steal a scene!)

I wonder if it will be shown in India and what the reaction will be.

I hope the BBC does more international productions. And as English speakers we are so spoilt that there are so many countries where English is spoken that there would only be occassional sub titles.

But I do think it deserved more episodes.

And the pushed the last two together to make way for Strike!!!!

The one thing that did throw me a little was figuring out timings between events. I'm not sure how long Maan was in jail waiting for his court appearance. His older brother brother had his head shaved for his mother's funeral, and then in the next scene or so, where they are sitting around the table in the garden with Amit, he has a full set of hair. There was no other sense of time passing, so was this continuity?

Kabir was lovely to look at, but ultimately wasn't a good match for Lata.

I had guessed Lata would end up with Haresh. Even though his reaction being called mean was a bit OTT, he consistently strove to be worthy of Lata and respected her, when he thought his feelings weren't reciprocated.

The political side was very rushed. I am pleased Firoz survived and that he remained a loyal friend to Maan. Still sad that his heart was broken after finding out that he and Tasneem were half siblings.

Haresh's knitted waistcoat was just too much for me. Though in my household we did all have a little cheer that he won her hand.

I will definitely read the book now and it makes sense that it was a long book adapted to tv. I guessed that Tasneem and Firioz were half siblings (because it was heavily suggested) but I thought Lata and the first boy would get married an run away to England, but that’s maybe just because that’s what my granny’s neighbours did at much the same time. They were so confused that people didn’t recognise they were a mixed marriage. Seemed terribly romantic to me

I'm very sad it is over. I'd like it to be done again in a few years and stretched out to give viewers (who haven't read the book), time to work out who is related to whom. It was good though and agree it was well cast. The actors were lovely and natural and so many good looking too.

Yes it will be shown in India, I thought it was a joint British-Indian production.

I so enjoyed this series but it could easily have been twice as long.

I really liked Haresh. Yes, he did overreact to being called mean, but it followed him spending a month's salary trying to impress Lata's family at a Christmas dinner where they didn't all seem grateful, so it was probably a sore point. And he was lovely when he came back to apologise and wish her well without expecting anything in return. I think that was a turning point for her.

I think Lata realised that he truly loved and respected her and would always want the best for her, whereas the other two men were more focused on themselves and what they wanted.

I must reread the book now .. it's been over twenty years.

And I agree with GC that A Fine Balance is a brilliant book. One of my absolute favourites and I recommend it to everyone.

On a frivolous note, I know the character Maan had many flaws but my goodness I thought the actor who plays him is gorgeous!

I agree, Guylan, he was beauty personified.

I’ve never read the book. But it’s no different to some Bollywood movies I’ve seen. The girl is madly in love with a guy her parents don’t approve and in the end goes for the suitable guy who is madly in love with her. Because life is not a fairy tale and the suitable guy will look after the girl with no drama.

I thought they would take a different direction and she would go with kabir ...I felt very sorry for him.

I thought it was more sophisticated than a Bollywood, there was quite a lot of background detail. However the book reveals far more.

@jessstan2

I agree, Guylan, he was beauty personified.

So I am not the only one mesmerised by his beauty ;)

The series is based on a book, and they couldn't have got away with changing the ending to make it more contemporary! It was about 1952. At least there was an element of choice.

And of course Bollywood films have similar plots - because they are about real life.

But it is a shame that in making it such a short series the BBC didn't give more air time to the other elements of the story ie Indian independence, religious tensions, politics, family relationships, a cutlure escaping from colonial domination, and .......

I too wish the series had more episodes to allow for the richness of the book to shine through.
Eg the relationship dynamic between Maan and Firoz. The book suggests that they have a sexual relationship, with one scene at Baitar Fort where they sleep with each other. It is suggested that while Maan's prefers women, Firoz prefers men. When Maan strikes up a friendship with the openly gay son of the Raja of Marrh (him of the Hindu temple, who also visits Saeeda Bai) Firoz is jealous.

I also loved the portrayal of Meenakshi, Amit and their sister Kuku in the book, and the way they speak in rhyming couplets. In the book Amit is witty, rather flippant and ineffectual with women, not suave as he is in the tv series. Lata likes him but does not fancy him. When she rejects him he isn't too put out and they remain friends. Kabir is Lata's first passionate love but she ends up finding him self centred. He plans to study in the UK for 2 years and wants her to wait for him, which she feels she can't do.

I remember feeling disappointed with the ending when I read it 20 years ago as I hoped she'd choose Kabir. Now I'm not so sure.