Set in the bustling streets of the fictional city of Bhramapur in the background of 1950s post-independence India, the short series adaptation of Vikram Seth’s book A Suitable Boy is a definitive take on major topics of religious communalism, modernity in India, politics, and love. Director Mira Nair brought to life the words of Vikram Seth through the masterful setting of the show in the cultural tapestries of the cities of Lucknow, Kanpur, and Mahmudabad. Spanning through landscapes of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh the colonial architecture of old Lucknow, the comparatively modern aspects of Maheshwar, and the art deco architecture of Kolkata visually transported us to post-colonial India.
The six-episode long short series walks through the life of four interconnected families, majorly focusing on Lata Mehra, the protagonist of the show. Lata is a 19-year-old university student whose mother is out on a search to find her ‘ a suitable boy’.
The Fictional City of Bhramapur
The silhouette of Lucknow’s Charbagh Station, the King George Medical University, the La Martiniere College, and the iconic structure of the Imambaras are not hard to notice as the prime sets showcasing the fictional city of Bhramapur. The marbled white domes, the chajjas, the minarets, and the havelis depicted the blend of Mughal, Nawabi, and colonial architecture as explained in the story. The city of Bhramapur was reflected in a majority throughout the series. The series distinctively explains the condition of Indians in the 50s period, stuck between the newly introduced modernism through colonization and the mindset of the old India. The fluid shift from the aristocratic nawab Lucknow to the slightly grown, modern Maheshwar tends to represent a similar ideology.
The Bhramapur University
The King George Medical University plays the part of the lead character Lata’s university. Lata being a modern-day woman walking through the life that forces her to find a husband, spends a lot of time at this college. The University is a perfect blend of British Colonial Architecture with Indian Architectural Heritage. There is a touch of Victorian Gothic and Indo-Sarcenic Architecture observed as well. Fitting to the purposes of the series it reflects the dilemma Lata is going through, wanting to be an independent young woman while a part of her is stuck with her mother’s cultural approaches. The wooden interiors, the central clocktower, the courtyard, the buttresses, and the towers are as if taken straight out of Vikram Seth’s book.
Saeeda Bai’s Haveli
Another prominent structure in the series is Saeeda Bai’s Haveli set in Bhramapur city sharing the same Mughal and post-colonial architectural fabric. According to Architectural Digest, the Director Mira Nair wanted something very minimal and austere for this Haveli. The green walls of the interiors, the carpeted floors the courtyards, and the jhoola converge to create a potent milieu where one can easily envision a character such as Saeeda Bai to live. The interiors of the haveli while heavy do not overshadow Saeeda Bai instead they center her as the focus in every scene that takes place there. Covered in rich elements of Mughal and Nawabi Architecture the Haveli was originally situated in Mahmudabad collaborating along with the the structure from Lucknow.
The Bara Imambara
The city of Lucknow is known for its numerous monuments and the highlight amongst them is the Bara Imambara. Shining through the skyline of Bhramapura City, the Imambara is visible in the backseat of the Kapoor family’s residence. One cannot talk about Nawab and Awadhi architecture and not bring Lucknow’s Imambaras into the picture. Standing as a true epitome of Mughal influence on Indian Architecture, The Bara Imambara with its domed facades, chattris, minarets, and arches, the pale yellow structure adds to the painting of Bhramapura City.
The City of Kolkata
The lead role’s hometown of Kolkata has received a vital amount of screen time during the show as well. Kolkata’s architecture is known for its Art Deco influence represented through its upcoming Bungalows and Townhouses during the 1950s period. The Colonial Architecture of Kolkata is quite different from that of the Nawabi Awadhian Architecture observed in Lucknow. It has a touch of contemporaneity to it with strong notes of Victorian Influences. This in a manner dramatically hints at the character of Lata at large. Her modern-day outlook on life is a stark difference from what Indians were used to and that difference is subtly visible through the architectural backdrops of the two cities. The city houses Lata’s brother and his wife who live quite a different lifestyle to her other sister in Bhramapur. Her brother and sister-in-law seemingly enjoyed a more irreverent lifestyle and so was their taste in architecture. Their home is decorated with Faberge-blue silk, terrazzo ceiling, and pale walls lined with antique paintings meant to depict a similar picture.
Synchronicity through Architecture
In a series like this, where the location and the timeline play a major role, Architecture is a prime factor affecting the storytelling process of it all. The details of the selection of backdrops can make or break the essence of any scene. The landscape of Bhramapura City being showcased through the iconic structures of Lucknow truly represented the lifestyle of post-independence India and the cultural shift experienced with each changing location explained the turmoil in the character’s brain in an exemplary manner. In this series ‘ A Suitable Boy’ the setting of the show in itself explained a majority of the sociopolitical tensions, personal conflicts, and character development that went through the various episodes. It gives a brief description of the character’s background lives that led to the monumental scenery visualized through every scene change. The role of Architecture in Film and Media can truly be understood through this project.
REFERENCES:
- Mira Nair, L.P. (2020) A Suitable Boy: Mira Nair takes us behind the scenes of her Netflix show, Architectural Digest India. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/a-suitable-boy-mira-nair-takes-us-behind-the-scenes-of-her-netflix-show/ (Accessed: 01 September 2024).
- Medd, J. (2020) Where is ‘A suitable boy’ filmed?, CN Traveller. Available at: https://www.cntraveller.com/article/where-is-a-suitable-boy-filmed (Accessed: 01 September 2024).
- A suitable boy review – a very British, Indian period drama (2020) The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jul/26/a-suitable-boy-review-a-very-british-indian-period-drama (Accessed: 01 September 2024).
