Power-packed drama has compelling performances
THE Hindi language eight-episode historical epic based on the novel series Empire of the Moghul by Alex Rutherford premiered on streaming site Hotstar recently.
The lavish costume drama charts the rollercoaster life of a fearless emperor, from conflicts within his inner sanctum to doing battle with fearsome enemies and confronting his own inner demons. The story also looks at the journey taken by his fearless sister Khanzada Begum, as she takes on the male patriarchy.
While it is supposed to be based on real life events, plenty of creative licence has been taken with the story and many influences of successful historical epics have been absorbed into the narrative. This works for and against The Empire. On one side, a certain amount of authenticity is removed, but at the same time a Game of Thrones type setting takes audiences on an interesting adventure. It is no surprise that director Mitakshara Kumar worked on Padmaavat because the villainous Shaibani Khan character seems to have been inspired by Ranveer Singh’s memorable portrayal of the ruthless Alauddin Khalji.
Although the special effects are ropey in places, the period has been captured well in this drama series that boasts eye-catching costumes and opulent sets. Kunal Kapoor puts in a spirited effort as Babur, but it’s Drashti Dhami who steals the show with her incendiary performance of Khanzada Begum. She is stunning and delivers many scenestealing moments, which show off her range.
Shabana Azmi and the supporting cast also do well. The only real weak link is Dino Morea, who doesn’t have the presence needed to play a powerpacked antagonist like Shaibani Khan. Despite being flawed in places, the power-packed drama is a good binge-watch. Don’t be surprised if you are reminded of other stories in historical settings.