Established 1961 21 Lifestyle Movies Wednesday, April 10, 2019 ‘Indian ’ turns colonial cliches upside down

he maker of a lavish new television series dubbed able to jump between the two sides,” she added. was an appetite to explore the “relationship between the “Indian Downton Abbey” wants to turn the Chadha set the show-which will be broadcast on ITV Britain and in a long-running TV series. I really Ttables on the cliches of the glorious British Raj. The in Britain and on PBS in the US in the coming weeks-in wanted to go back to the beginning” to explain as well as sweeping historical drama, “Beecham House”, which is 1795 “at a point when India could have gone in any way”, entertain and counter the “colonial amnesia” that Britain premiering at the Canneseries festival in the French she said. “The Mughals are on the way down, the Indian often suffers from. Rivera resort, is set in the final years of the 18th century maharajas are standing by and the English are on their Chadha said there were many Englishmen like as the battle for India between the British, the French and way to but are not there yet, and the French are Beecham who wanted to do right by the subcontinent the fading Mughal Empire reached its peak. down in the south with Tipu Sultan-and they were and its peoples and would have melted into its fusion of But unlike classic series such as “Jewel in the Crown”, damned if they are going to be beaten by the British. cultures. “Many people went native, as they say, and it is not told from the point of view of the British there are wonderful portraits of Englishmen all dressed colonists, its maker said. The “Bend It up in Indian clothes with their Indian wives and children. Like Beckham” director told AFP she has brought her We still have this fascination with India through food, “own British-Asian perspective to the story”, including yoga and meditation, and it has had a massive cultural using material from Indian politician Shashi Tharoor’s impact on Europe. hard-hitting bestseller, “Inglorious Empire: What the “It is all up for grabs” “It is Sunday night TV, and is all about personifying British Did to India”. Chadha said Tharoor’s “anger” is the history through characters you care about and balanced by her lead character, an “honorable” English through the moral questions and judgments they had trader called John Beecham who quits the East India to make and the dilemmas they were faced with.” Company in disgust at its rape of the country. English director Gurinder Chadha poses for a photo session Nevertheless, Chadha said the Brexit crisis, with some Colonial amnesia during the 2nd edition of the Cannes International Series conservatives yearning for a so-called “Empire 2.0” of Doing the right thing “But the French Revolution is going on back home so Festival (Canneseries) in Cannes, southern France. — AFP a free-wheeling Britain trading with its former The father of a half-Indian child, Beecham, played by they are an army without a government... A few years lat- colonies, had given the series “a sudden and unexpect- British period drama heart-throb Tom Bateman, is caught er Napoleon is going to set out” to follow in the foot- ed relevance”.—AFP up in the intrigue. “I try to tell the story of empire and steps of Alexander the Great and “invade India”, of the subcontinent. Her 2017 movie about Indian colonialism through the eyes of an Englishman who is although he never got further than Egypt, she added. “It Partition, “Viceroy’s House”, was banned in Pakistan, with trying to make the right moral decisions, who is trying to is all up for grabs, a free for all, everyone is plotting with the poet and writer Fatima Bhutto-a niece of the coun- be good,” Chadha told AFP. “I grew up with shows like each other and making alliances,” the director added. try’s former leader Benazir Bhutto-calling it “a servile ‘Jewel in the Crown’ and ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’ so I am This is not Chadha’s first foray into the fraught history pantomime”. Making that film convinced Chadra there

engagements, such as posing with the likes Has the media turned of Olympic gold medal sprinter Usain Bolt. Fantastic AMC greenlights third on UK’s Prince Harry “When you went on tour with Harry before he was married, it was a fantastic series in ‘The Walking and wife Meghan? tour. Every day he would make great pic- tures, he would do something that was spec- ast May, millions across the world tuned tacular,” Edwards said. “We think he’s the Dead’ universe in to watch Queen Elizabeth’s grandson best thing in the royal family.” But since S broadcaster AMC announced Monday it approved LPrince Harry tie the knot with his Harry tied the knot, something changed, he a third series in “The Walking Dead” universe-set to American actress girlfriend Meghan Markle, said. Newspapers were given minimal Upremiere in 2020, following the wildly successful with the media feting the couple as the epit- access to the couple’s wedding in May and original show and its spinoff “Fear the Walking Dead.” The ome of glamour and royal modernity. But there has some discontent among senior fig- new series, as yet untitled, will feature two young female less than a year later, the couple have found ures in the industry about the level of access protagonists and focus on the first generation to come of themselves on the receiving end of much to the royals who continue to be a huge age during the zombie apocalypse, the channel said. Its less flattering coverage as they prepare for draw for readers. first season, comprised of 10 episodes, will begin produc- the birth of their first child this spring. “Suddenly he’s turned completely the tion this summer in Virginia. “Frown Jewels: Meg is banned by Queen other way - he’s Mr Cool,” Edwards said. “The Walking Dead” started life in 2003 as a comic from using Di gems,” the front page headline “He thinks, possibly, ‘why should I do any- book written by Robert Kirkman and illustrated by Tony on Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper the thing for them?’” The reason is likely to be Moore and Charlie Adlard, before being adapted for tele- Sun said on Thursday over a story which the recent coverage of his wife. There have vision in 2010. The show was a huge success with audi- claimed the monarch had banning Meghan been numerous reports of excessive ences even beating out major terrestrial networks like from wearing royal jewelry, a sign of grow- demands the new duchess has made of staff ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox on ratings. In the prized 18-49 ing tensions between Harry’s wife and senior and of rifts between Meghan and Harry and demographic, “The Walking Dead” was for several seasons Windsors. “Meghan Markle ‘pretty difficult’ his elder brother William and his wife Kate. In this file photo Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, second right, and Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of the most watched programming on US television, and person to deal with - ‘Harry is Miserable,’” Also, Meghan’s family, particularly her father, beating out even sports, a feat which had never before said a Daily Express headline last month, have regularly made headlines with critical Sussex, right, react as they are presented with baby gifts by Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Janice Charette, second left, at Canada House, the offices of the High been achieved by a cable show. while the Daily Mail ran this story in comments about her. At its peak, it drew 17 million overall viewers. But audi- January: “How Meghan’s favourite avocado Meghan herself said she avoided news- Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom, during an event to mark Commonwealth Day, in central London. — AFP ences began declining steeply in 2017, even though it still snack ... is fuelling human rights abuses, papers or Twitter. “I don’t read anything, it’s dominates cable. The series is centered on Rick Grimes, a drought and murder”. much safer that way,” she told a panel dis- sheriff who wakes up from a coma following an injury to There is no doubting the enduring, global cussion at King’s College London in March. find the world has been overrun by the undead. He then But in January, US magazine People said five goes on a search for other survivors. Last July, actor of Meghan’s close friends had broken their Meghan’s baby to test Andrew Lincoln, who plays Grimes, announced that the silence to speak about the “lies and ninth season of “The Walking Dead,” which just finished, untruths” and “global bullying” the duchess was his last. had suffered and their fears about how this royal appetite for reform The show itself will continue and AMC has already would affect her and her baby. committed to a tenth season. In 2013, the channel launched The following month, her friend, ailed as a breath of fresh air in a era of social media and celebrity mania. stuffy institution, Prince Harry’s But the monarchy must walk a fine the spinoff “Fear the Walking Dead” which was also well Hollywood film star George Clooney told received though less successful. AMC Networks, the par- Australian magazine WHO the media were Hwife Meghan is set to test the lim- line, also remaining true to its core pur- its of the British monarchy’s desire to pose of serving the British public, both ent of AMC, has already announced several feature films harassing Meghan as they had Diana. “She’s set in the universe.—AFP a woman who is seven months pregnant and modernize when their first baby arrives officially and symbolically. This tension she has been pursued and vilified and this month. Meghan’s new-age ideals flared when the 37-year-old flew to New chased in the same way that Diana was and and US glitz have already raised eye- York for an extravagant three-day baby its history repeating itself,” he said. Royal brows during her pregnancy. How she shower with celebrity friends including commentators and even those on the receiv- intends to bring up the baby, who will be Amal Clooney, reportedly costing Just say ‘Shazam!’ ing end say media negativity is a rite of pas- seventh in line to the throne, will only £300,000 and leading to a barrage of sage for the royals. increase the scrutiny. The Mail on criticism. “The absolutely number one “It was something that Prince Charles Sunday reported that Meghan had rule is don’t rub the British people’s and the movie fans said years ago when he and Diana were already broken with royal tradition by noses in your wealth,” said journalist receiving some negative coverage. People appointing her own delivery team with- Piers Morgan, a frequent critic of the put you on a pedestal just to knock you off,” out “the men in suits”-a reference to duchess. start lining up Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, gynecologists working in the Royal The palace was also accused of told Reuters. Those who write about the Household. hypocrisy by Twitter users after sending ith ticket sales of $56.8 million in its opening The royal family rarely issues state- out a tweet the next day reading “73 weekend, Warner Bros.’ “Shazam!” showed In this file photo Britain’s Meghan, Duchess royals say the problem is not so much the W media itself, but vicious comments from ments reacting to media reports but, in a percent of the poorest families cannot that DC Comics can enjoy success with a of Sussex leaves after participating in a pan- sign of potential battles to come, it always afford to feed their children dur- lighter spin on their usual dark superhero tales, el discussion convened by the Queen’s online trolls and heated social media argu- ments involving Meghan’s fans. The rise in denied a recent story in Vanity Fair that ing the school holidays.” “Could you ask industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Commonwealth Trust to mark International Meghan wanted to bring the baby up the Duchess of Excess to contribute Monday. The family-friendly flick stars young Asher Women’s Day in London. — AFP such abuse led Britain’s royals to unveil a new online protocol last month warning gender-neutral. The magazine had quot- some of her wardrobe allowance,” said Angel as Billy Baston, an unhappy foster kid who is fascination with the British royals. On users of possible police action. ed a source close to Meghan as saying the most liked response, posted by user transformed into a muscular, wise-cracking adult Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, “There’s been an awful lot of negativity that the couple “have already planned a “OK”. The Queen was also said to be superhero (Zachary Levi) when anyone pronounces as Harry and Meghan are officially known, online, social media, racism, all sorts of vile gender-neutral nursery... and this seems unimpressed by Meghan’s demands to the secret word. Both the film’s reviews and audience launched their first Instagram account. Two abuse but that’s not coming from the main- to be in line with Meghan’s ideas about borrow a tiara from the Royal Collection responses have been strongly positive, according to days later, it had 3.4 million followers. While stream media,” said Robert Jobson, veteran how to raise children”. A spokesman for for her wedding, telling Harry that “she Hollywood Reporter. much reporting by the British press on the royal correspondent for the London Evening Kensington Palace, the couple’s London gets what tiara she’s given by me”, Its domestic take for the three-day weekend was royal family is respectful, verging on the Standard newspaper. “The odd commenta- residence, called the story “totally false”. reported the Daily Mail. The monarch not a bad return on the $80 million Warner and New Line spent to make it-particularly considering over- sycophantic, at other times it can be harshly tor may say something but actually on the Ever since the pregnancy was has now “banned” Meghan from access- seas ticket sales of $102 million so far. Another new critical, even cruel. “The press here in Britain whole it’s been very, very positive,” he announced, the couple have been ing the collection to “maintain order, release, horror film “Pet Sematary”-a remake of the is very aggressive, and they don’t hold added, saying people were shooting the preparing their future home at Frogmore hierarchy and precedence” within the 1989 film based on the Stephen King book-had a sol- back,” said veteran Sun photographer messenger for covering negative stories Cottage on Queen Elizabeth II’s estate in family, said the paper. id $24.5 million in ticket sales, nearly $4 million more Arthur Edwards who has covered the royals Windsor with a £3 million renovation. coming from Meghan’s own family. Readers, than Paramount spent to produce it, Variety reported. for more than four decades. The Duchess of Sussex wants to use A normal, natural birth though, are not so sure. Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz and John Lithgow star The first public acknowledgement that vegan paint infused with eucalyptus oil The tension has been exemplified in “I think she’s been treated a bit unfairly in the tale of a creepy burial ground deep in the Harry and Meghan were dating in to decorate the nursery for the new the reported rift between Meghan and from what I’ve seen,” said student Savanah Maine woods near a family’s new home. In third spot November 2016 came in a statement criti- Edwards. “I see that she’s criticized for a lot arrival, according to the Daily Mail her more traditional sister-in-law Kate, newspaper. Meghan, who grew up in the wife of Harry’s older brother Prince was last weekend’s box office leader, Disney’s cizing the media for intruding into his then and I don’t think that’s fair to her.” American “Dumbo,” at $18.2 million, down 60 percent from its girlfriend’s private life. It was indicative of student Laura Youngblood, 21, said: “I think California and is a long-time advocate of William. Meghan will not follow in holistic treatments, was recently spotted Kate’s footsteps and give birth in the opening. The Tim Burton remake of the original 1941 how Harry views the media which he blames that she gets a bit of bad rap. Marrying into film tells the story of a small elephant with huge ears visiting an upmarket boutique that offers exclusive Lindo Wing of St Mary’s for the death of his mother Princess Diana. the royal family is difficult coming from an and a powerful desire to be reunited with his mama. homoeopathic treatments for new moth- Hospital in central London, opting for She died in Paris in 1997, when he was just American background which is a completely Fourth place, at $13.8 million, went to Universal’s ers, the tabloid reported. somewhere “more private”, according to 12, when her limousine crashed as it sped different culture. As Americans as a whole, “Us” from writer/director Jordan Peele. It stars The Sun. “She just wants a normal, natu- away from chasing paparazzi photographers. we admire her so much - we think she’s Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke as a couple Baby-shower criticism “If there is a story and something’s been great.” ral birth and to bond with her baby, frighteningly confronted by their own doubles. written about me, I want to know what’s In a speech to 12,000 children and teach- Other signs of her influence include without being primped and blow-dried And fifth was Disney’s “Captain Marvel,” taking in been said. But all it does is upset me and ers at Wembley Arena in London last month, her reportedly convincing her husband to within an inch of her life just for the $12.4 million. Oscar winner Brie Larson stars as a for- anger me,” Harry said in a broadcast inter- Harry made little secret of his ongoing dis- to eat less meat, joining in her vegan diet pictures,” a source told the paper. Kate mer fighter pilot with superpowers. Rounding out the view while on military service in Afghanistan like of the media. “Every day you are inun- during the week. The former US televi- received praise, and criticism, after weekend’s top 10 were: in 2012. In his youth, Harry found himself in dated with an over-exposure of advertising sion actress and lifestyle blogger is close appearing on the steps of the hospital “The Best of Enemies” ($4.4 million) the headlines for under-age drinking, wear- and mainstream media, social media and to her mother Doria Ragland, describing looking fully recovered, just hours after “Five Feet Apart” ($3.9 million) ing a Nazi outfit to a costume party and endless comparisons, distorting the truth her as a yoga-teaching free spirit. giving birth to her third baby Prince “Unplanned” ($3.3 million) scuffling with photographers outside and trying to manipulate the power of posi- Meghan’s arrival in the royal family was Louis in April last year.—AFP “Wonder Park” ($2.2 million) London nightclubs. But his popularity grew tive thinking,” he told them. “But you don’t greeted with optimism that her star “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” both with Britons generally and the media let them sway you.”—Reuters power and modern culture savvy would ($2 million)—AFP who loved his antics when on official help make the institution relevant in the