BEECHAM HOUSE(2019) Netflix
Directed by: Gurinder Chadha
Cast: Tom Bateman, Dakota Richards, Pallavi Sharda, Gregory Fittousi, Leo Suter, Lesley Nicol, Vivek Kalra, Roshan Seth, Bessie Carter, Tisca Chopra, Arunoday Singh, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Advait Kottary, Marc Warren, Denzil Smith, Amer Patel, Trupti Khamker and Lara Dutta.
An original television series which was broadcasted on London television in 2019 and American broadcasting in 2020 has been streaming as web-series on Netflix. Set in the 19th century at the peak of British Raj in India the story unfolds in a mansion in Delhi owned by a former east India company soldier John Beecham.
Beecham is the protagonist here, there’s a streak of patriotism that generates in him when he witnesses mass destruction of Indian tribes by his company. There are personal issues as well, he falls in love with and gets married to a Rajasthani princess who gives birth to his child who in turn is the heir to a kingdom at Kalyan. The mother is murdered and there are enemies preying on the little heir who is an innocent threat to prospective claimants of the prestigious throne. Beecham battles royal politics as well as some domestic disagreements and disputes in the process of safeguarding his little son- the future maharajah.
It’s a beautiful concept and am unsure if it’s adapted from a novel, as the story has that distinct novelish texture to it. The pre independence era is recreated thoughtfully but the director gets trapped in the stereotyped impression of India. Elephants, snake charmers and the outsider view of dirty Indians that’s what we get to see. Chadha is the same school of film making as Deepa Mehta or Mira Nair they make great movies, winning international awards but the biased stereotyped depiction of India is always there. 
Of the cast Bateman gets an author backed role, and he plays it with great finesse, very well in difficult scenes and there are many such performance oriented scenes for him. Dakota Richards is sheer delight to watch, that almond shaped face and delicate petite frame reminds of the graceful Susan Sarandon. Veteran Roshan Seth playing a blind emperor is great treat, what a mind blown performance! Leo Suter is in fine form and Pilgaonkar as the feisty Chanchal is impressive.
Barring the exceptions of stereotyped characterisations of Indians the series could have been far more polished and better researched. It does feel odd to listen to the house keeping staff speak in impeccable English but then there is no other option as such. One wonders what prompted former miss universe Lara Dutta to play the nymphomaniac Begum Sahiba, she’s nothing worse than a glorified junior artist in this series. 
If period dramas are what you root for then you must watch it once, it ends on a cliffhanger but haven’t heard of the sequel season as yet. ⭐️⭐️
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