"The Far Pavilions" (1984) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Peter Duffell

Writers:

Julian Bond (writer)
M.M. Kaye (novel)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

22 April 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

The 'Gone With The Wind' of the north-west frontier of India.

Plot:

Story of forbidden love in 1800's India set against the revolution for India's freedom from England.

Plot Keywords:

Love | British | Forbidden Love | Occupation | Historical

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Ben Cross	...	Ash (1 episode, 1984)
Amy Irving	...	Anjuli (1 episode, 1984)
Benedict Taylor	...	Wally (1 episode, 1984)
Saeed Jaffrey	...	Biju Ram (1 episode, 1984)
Robert Hardy	...	The Commandant (1 episode, 1984)
Sneh Gupta	...	Shushila (1 episode, 1984)
Omar Sharif	...	Koda Dad (1 episode, 1984)
Jennifer Kendal	...	Mrs. Viccary (1 episode, 1984)
Felicity Dean	...	Belinda Harlowe (1 episode, 1984)
Peter Arne	...	The General (1 episode, 1984)
Caterina Boratto	...	Mrs. Chiverton (1 episode, 1984)
Michael Cochrane	...	Crimpley (1 episode, 1984)
John Forbes-Robertson	...	Squadron Commander (1 episode, 1984)
Clive Francis	...	Kelly (1 episode, 1984)
Rupert Frazer	...	Wigram Battye (1 episode, 1984)
William Gaunt	...	Commissioner (1 episode, 1984)
Tanveer Ghani	...	Gul Baz (1 episode, 1984)
Constantine Gregory	...	Porson (1 episode, 1984)
Art Malik	...	Zarin (1 episode, 1984)
Michael Malnick	...	Podmore-Smythe (1 episode, 1984)
Shayur Mehta	...	Prince Jhoti (1 episode, 1984)
Mary Peach	...	Mrs. Harlowe (1 episode, 1984)
Anthony Sharp	...	Chiverton (1 episode, 1984)
Jeremy Sinden	...	Raikes (1 episode, 1984)
James Snell	...	Ponsonby (1 episode, 1984)
Goga Kapoor	...	Diwan (1 episode, 1984)
Vinod Nagpal	...	Gobind Dass (1 episode, 1984)
Parikshat Sahni	...	Mulraj (1 episode, 1984)
Master Ravi	...	Prince Lalji (1 episode, 1984)
Rama Vij	...	Geeta (1 episode, 1984)
Bharati Devi	...	Unpora Bai (1 episode, 1984)
Bhushan Tiwari	...	Manilal (1 episode, 1984)
Praveen Paul	...	Promila Devi (1 episode, 1984)
Jonie Sethi	...	Sita (1 episode, 1984)
Ajit Singh	...	Awal Shah (1 episode, 1984)
Tej Sapru	...	Afzal (1 episode, 1984)
Soltan Lalani	...	Mr. Singh (1 episode, 1984)
Jay Devi	...	Dilasah Khan (1 episode, 1984)
Ojah Maharaj	...	Senior NCO (1 episode, 1984)
Kamran	...	Head Mullah (1 episode, 1984)
Iqbal Jamal	...	Tally Clerk (1 episode, 1984)
Sudhir	...	Jemadar Jewand Singh (1 episode, 1984)
Gaul Hassan	...	Daud Shah (1 episode, 1984)
Colonel Kappor	...	Head Tribesman (1 episode, 1984)
Tony Jordan	...	Ash aged II (1 episode, 1984)
Dilip Singh	...	Ash aged 4 (1 episode, 1984)
Kristina Lesho	...	Anjuli aged 5 (1 episode, 1984)
Prerna	...	Nautch Girl (1 episode, 1984)

Also Known As:

"Blade of Steel"

Runtime:

Brazil:90 min | 315 min (3 parts)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:PG | UK:PG (cut)

Filming Locations:

India

Company:

Geoffrey Reeve and Associates

Trivia:

HBO's first mini-series. Also was the most expensive at the time, budgeted at $12million.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Many Faces of Christopher Lee (1996) (V)

Great romantic miniseries

I saw this one on television shortly after it was made, in the 80s, and I was happily surprised when it appeared on DVD. Like the book, the series doesn't have any deeply intellectual hidden layers (as far as I know), but it's a quality product in its kind and a great romantic story with some action too. The English are played by top English actors and the Subcontintent people by Indians or people who could more or less pass of for them, which is a nice change if you're used to seeing ancient Greeks or early Christians played by surf dudes. The odd one out seems to be blue-eyed Amy Irving as the Indian Princess Anjuli, but if you pay attention, you'll know she's supposed to be half-Russian in the series and she looks splendid in a saree anyway. Looking at British costume-dramas I often get the feeling that they enjoy making them even if it's only for the fun of walking up and down a muddy street in a silly 19th-century costume, and this movie has some of the same gusto. Throw in the breathtaking Rajastan scenery and you have a feast for the eyes.

The Far Pavillions is not a series cut down in size to get a movie, but a miniseries, period. Like India itself, it takes its time. Don't expect to sit through it in one evening but relax, settle down with a chai or a whisky and who knows, you might find yourself watching the end credits at 3 AM anyway.