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The Empire review: Kunal Kapoor, Dino Morea, Shabana Azmi bring Babur’s saga to life

The Empire, starring Dino Morea, Shabana Azmi, Dhristi Dhami and Kunal Kapoor, provides an image makeover to Zahiruddin Mohammad Babur, the most-maligned Mughals in India. Possibly second only to descendant Aurangzeb, whose Moti Masjid in Lahore Fort, ties him firmly in Pakistan for the Hindu right-wing.

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The Empire

ByMohammad Javed Rasheedi

The first season of the 8-episode web series The Empire, helmed by Mitakshara Kumar and created by Nikhil Advani, is heavy with detail and purport to hold attention for the lay viewer. But a historyphile will have reason to replay quite a few scenes.

The Empire, starring Dino Morea, Shabana Azmi, Dhristi Dhami and Kunal Kapoor, provides an image makeover to Zahiruddin Mohammad Babur, one of the most-maligned Mughals in India. Possibly second only to descendant Aurangzeb, whose Moti Masjid in the Lahore Fort, ties him firmly in Pakistan for the Hindu right-wing.  

The web series is currently streaming on Disney+Hotstar.

Based on Alex Rutherford’s historical fiction Empire of the Moghul: Raiders From The North, the series captures the life of Babur who believed his destiny was to form an empire in India. Most of us know the basic bits that Babur was merely 14 when his father died leaving him the kingdom of Ferghana.

His biggest hurdle is Shaybani Khan (Dino Morea), a rival claimant for Ferghana and the neighbouring Samarkand, who occupies the throne. Khan even exploits Babur’s sister, Khanzada Begum (Drashti Dhami), in a sexual arrangement. But the twist in the story reveals that both Khanzada and Babur’s paternal grandmother Aisan Daulat Begum (Shabana Azmi), two powerful women, plotted this tale for Babur’s benefit.

With the guidance of his grandmother and the bravery of his trusted lieutenant, Wazir Khan (Rahul Dev), Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat and wins the throne of Delhi, laying the foundation for the Mughal empire in India.

The series delves into hard, gritty life which lay the groundwork for the Mughal Empire, beyond the idolized love yarn of Salim and Anarkali and Jodha and Akbar’s match to tie-up martial pacts. Mitakshara Kumar and writer Bhavani Iyer look beyond the romanticised idea of Mughals that Hindi cinema has peddled since times immemorial, possibly because cinema verite and the Mughals cannot exist in the same frame. Reality is indeed harsh, for Babur, the forbear of the Mughal dynasty, is not an easy man, he is harsh verging on the barbaric. As opposed to the charm and erudition of the illliterate Akbar and his storeyed court and Shah Jehan’s peacock throne. 

The story is of Babur, a young noble trying to claim Samarkand in the face of danger, enemies, his family, especially his sister, her sacrifices and bravery and this entire family’s back and forth with the nemesis, Shaybani Khan. This team of directors and producers have tried something really out of the box and have done a commendable job.

The actors may not be perfect but they are close. In fact, Dino Morea as Shaybani Khan is awesome as is Drashti Dhami. Veteran Shabana Azmi as Aisan Daulat Begum and Rahul Dev as Wazir Khan don’t keep a step awry. Kunal Kapoor doesn’t disappoint as Babur.

Other actors in supporting roles have done a commendable job. Almost all the characters are very well written and the dark shades of some are convincing.

Read Also: Siddharth Shukla: Bigg Boss 13 participants visit his family, Asim Riaz reaches Cooper hospital

Among the big takeaways is the breathtaking visuals. The special effects are pretty good, even much better than high-budget films like Thugs of Hindostan, for instance. Cinematography is beautiful in most of the places and it’s hard to take your eyes off the phone. Accuracy of costumes and jewelleries is spot on.

Overall, the show is a very good venture. It may not be consistently satisfying but thanks to strong performances from Dino Morea, Shabana Azmi, Kunal Kapoor and Drashti Dhami, the period drama sets up a strong foundation for a second season.

In other News, The Kasganj Police arrested a man for allegedly killing his wife and two children in 2018

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Amit Shah accuses Congress of preserving Article 370 for 70 years

Shah was addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh where he said the Congress and the Samajwadi Party preserved Article 370 for 70 years, due to which terrorism in the country increased.

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Amit Shah accuses Congress of preserving Article 370 for 70 years

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday attacked Congress on Sunday for preserving Article 370 of the Constitution, due to which terrorism increased in the country. He further added that BJP will never let another division of the country happen. Shah was addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh where he said the Congress and the Samajwadi Party preserved Article 370 for 70 years, due to which terrorism in the country increased.

Addressing the people Shah said they had made Modiji the prime minister for the 2nd time and he abrogated Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.  He compared the situation to earlier times in the valley, when the Army had to be taken along for hoisting the tricolour, at that same Lal Chowk (Jammu and Kashmir) to the situation now when the shobhayatra of Lord Krishna is being taken out. The rally was organised to garner support for B P Saroj, the BJP candidate from the Machhlishahr Lok Sabha constituency in Jaunpur.

Shah further added that the divisive policies of the Congress want to divide the country again but BJP will never let that happen again. The Union Home Minister accused the grand old party of spreading lies that if PM Modi comes to power for a 3rd time at the centre then he will abolish reservation.

Shah Pointed out that the prime minister has been in majority for the last 10 years and he did not use it to abolish reservation. Shah said, he wanted to ask (SP chief) Akhilesh Yadav and (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi that when their government was in power for 10 years, what did Uttar Pradesh get in that period? The UPA government gave Rs 4.9 lakh crore to Uttar Pradesh in 10 years as compared to the NDA government which gave Rs 19.11 lakh crore.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Arvind Kejriwal says BJP started Operation Jhaadu to crush AAP

The Delhi chief minister alleged BJP has started Operation Jhaadu so that they do not grow big and become a challenge to them

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Arvind Kejriwal says BJP started Operation Jhaadu to crush AAP

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged BJP has started Operation Jhaadu to crush the Aam Aadmi Party since its popularity among the people is rising too fast. Kejriwal was addressing Aam Aadmi Party workers at the party office in New Delhi where he claimed the AAP’s bank accounts would be frozen after elections and they will be brought on the roads and left without an office.

The Delhi chief minister alleged BJP has started Operation Jhaadu so that they do not grow big and become a challenge to them.  He further added that through Operation Jhaadu, AAP’s big leaders will be arrested; they are being arrested, and in the coming days, Aam Aadmi Party’s bank accounts will be frozen.

Kejriwal pointed out that ED’s lawyer has already given this statement in court that soon after the election, AAP’s bank accounts will be frozen. He said that if they freeze their accounts now, then AAP will get sympathy. As a result after the election, ED will freeze AAP’s bank accounts. He said AAP’s party office will be cleared out, and the party will be brought to the streets.  Kejriwal said these are the 3 plans made by the BJP.

The Delhi chief minister claimed that no gold or money has been recovered from him, and the BJP, by creating false cases has got AAP leaders arrested. Kejriwal recalled that since the time he came to power in 2015, many allegations had been against him by the BJP. He said after the liquor policy scam has happened people are asking them if the scam happened then where is the money. He pointed out that in other places, when raids happen, notes and gold are recovered, but here nothing was found. Kejriwal asked the people that where is all the money? He said BJP had made fake cases and arrested AAP leaders.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

PM Modi says Congress is the mother of corruption, party was involved in coal and 2G scams

PM Modi said, Congress and JMM know nothing about development and their only job is to speak lies, loudly, again and again, and everywhere, their only objective is to do an the X-ray of poor people’s wealth and steal it.

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PM Modi says Congress is the mother of corruption, party was involved in coal and 2G scams

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur on Sunday (May 19) amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024.  While addressing the election rally in Jamshedpur PM Modi said, people’s excitement told him what result will come on June 4 in Jamshedpur.

He recalled the time when he used to work as a BJP party worker for many years and used to ask people at that time they would come at 10 or 11 am to attend an election rally. But today he was witnessing a huge crowd here. The prime minister thanked all of them and said Lok Sabha election decides and strengthens the future of the country.

During a public rally in Jamshedpur, PM Modi said, Congress and JMM know nothing about development and their only job is to speak lies, loudly, again and again, and everywhere, their only objective is to do an the X-ray of poor people’s wealth and steal it. He further accused the Congress and JMM of snatching the reservation of SC and ST and the party leaders of the two parties are continuously abusing Modi every day. He asked if they are not able to think beyond this? He said the whole country has realised their truth.

PM Modi said, Congress and their ally parties, wherever they have governments, he challenged those chief ministers and this is not his political statement. The prime minister said Congress’s Shehzada keeps opposing business industries, businessmen and investments.

 PM Modi asked which businessman will go and invest in those states? What will happen to the youths of those states?  He said all investors who come to him and say that they would not go to these states because of their ideology against them. He said businessmen are verbally abused there and investors are forced to think that since Shehzada has this kind of thoughts, his ally parties would have the same thoughts as well. PM Modi added Congress is the mother of corruption and party was involved in coal and 2G scams as well

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