Netflix will premiere its latest crackerjack of a series ‘A Suitable Boy’ this month, on 23rd October, to be precise. As you can tell from the title of the series, it is all about the hunt for a suitable boy for an eminently marriageable girl, as all Indians will get it straight away. In India, arranged marriages are a given, and matchmaking, the nation’s favourite pastime.
But let the title not mislead you. Netflix’s A Suitable Boy is not only about looking for a suitable boy to hand the pretty protagonist, Lata, over in marriage. It is a sprawling story of four families, over a hundred characters, and an India that has just stepped out from the shadow of the British rein. Yes, A Suitable Boy is a coming of age story, not only of Lata, but of India, as she marches not-so-confidently towards her first General Elections after Independence.
And just like a freshly independent country is in a state of confused chaos, so is our wildly independent leading lady, Lata. She is smart, sassy and headstrong. In other words, she knows her mind and will not let her mother dictate her choices. On the other side of the spectrum is young Maan Kapoor. The son of a politician, his father could do without scandals that could harm his political ambitions. But his wayward son has other plans – that of a roaring affair with a courtesan, Saeeda Bai. Boy, what a convoluted story A Suitable Boy actually is!
The premise aside, what has us really excited for A Suitable Boy’s premiere on Netflix is taking in the stunning ensemble cast. Tanya Maniktala, who made an assured debut in The Viral Fever’s Flames web series, plays Lata with aplomb. Top that with Ishaan Khatter as Maan Kapoor, Tabu as Saeeda Bai, Ram Kapoor as Maan’s politician father, along with a cast that comprises talents such as Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Namit Das, Shahana Goswami, Vivek Gomber, Gagan Dev Riar, Danesh Razvi, Mikhail Sen, Mahira Kakkar, and it is cherry on the cake.
Lastly, the names associated with A Suitable Boy. The lavishly mounted series is based on writer Vikram Seth’s magnum opus, ‘A Suitable Boy’. The 6-part series is directed by renowned filmmaker Mira Nair, for BBC One and producers, Lookout Point. The novel has been adapted for the screen by acclaimed screenwriter Andrew Davies, who’s earlier adapted Pride And Prejudice, and War & Peace for BBC.
If all of the above isn’t enough to get us excited for A Suitable Boy, then what is!
A Suitable Boy premieres on Netflix on 23rd October. Don’t forget to catch it on your screens of choice!
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
