VICEROY’S HOUSE

UK/India, 2017, 106 minutes, Colour.
Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, Michael Gambon, Manish Dayal, Huma Quereshi, David Heyman, Om Puri, Simon Callow.
Directed by Gurinda Chanda.

Where is the Viceroy’s House? It is in Delhi, and it is 1947, the year for Britain’s solving its role in India’s move for independence, which led to Partition into India and Pakistan, Hindu and Muslim.

For those interested in British history, especially in India, this is a film which recreates the atmosphere and dramatises the personalities and events of the time. The viceroy is Lord Mountbatten, who had achieved significantly during World War II in Burma. He is accompanied by his wife, Lady Edwina Mountbatten.

The task that Mountbatten was given by the British Parliament was to move India towards the independence that it hoped for and which had been fostered by Mahatma Gandhi. This independence was not to be an easy task because of Hindu traditions, of the Muslim traditions, the cultural and religious clashes, in 1947 turning into local massacres, uprisings and a general sense of unease. Hindus were led by Nehru and the Muslims by Jinna. It was very difficult times to arrange meetings between leaders.

As a way of bringing the audience into the thinking of the issues, there is a kind of Romeo and Juliet story underlying the political activity. Jeet (Manish Daval) is a Hindu who has worked in prisons but is now promoted as a personal servant to the Viceroy. Also promoted in the Viceroy’s House is a young Muslim woman, Aalia (Huma Quereshi). Jeet is in love with her since he looked after her father in prison. She has been promised to someone else and it would seem that their love has no future.

Hugh Bonneville portrays Mountbatten, an excellent choice, bringing dignity and status as well as some compassion to the role trying with his wife (Gillian Anderson) to move amongst the people, meeting with the govetexttextrnors, the political leaders, facing the reality of a low Partition for many, including Gandhi, are against it.

An expert, who had actually never visited in, is called in to determine the borders between India and Pakistan, as well as establishing East Pakistan, later Bangladesh. He is played by Simon Callow. One of the main advisors to the Viceroy Is General Ismay (Michael Gambon), who eventually reveals to the border expert that there had been a long plan for Partition, sponsored by Winston Churchill, no longer Prime Minister, a plan that had not been shown to Mountbatten who had reported well to the Parliament which decreed that the solution was to be named after him.

In the meantime, the romance between the two young people does blossoms, the girl’s father (Om Puri) appreciates Jeet. At the same time, as the riots and massacres break out, the intense differences are manifest amongst the clashing servants who eventually, when Partition is to have to make a decision whether they want to stay in Pakistan or in India. This leads to an enormous migration throughout the subcontinent.

Audiences interested in British politics in 1947 should see a United Kingdom, the story of the King of Bechuanaland and and his marrying an English woman and the consequent racial difficulties and decisions of the British Parliament under Atlee under Churchill to preserve links with South Africa where apartheid was officially emerging. During the final credits, there is a note that the director’s grandmother was caught up in the searches at the time of Partition so that there is great personal investment in the film as a memoir.

Beautifully photographed, an excellent re-creation of the period, a very watchable political and social film.


1. Subcontinent history? The traditions, the peoples, religion and culture? 300 years of British rule, empire? The challenge of the Partition?

2. The period, 1947, costumes and decor, European and Indian? The city of Delhi, the buildings, government, the viceroy’s house, lavish? Dining rooms, meeting rooms, kitchen? The place of the servants?

3. The cities and the uprisings, the massacres, the hatred? The movement for independence? British withdrawal?

4. The director, the end information about her grandmother during Partition, the photos? Audience empathy?

5. The underlying Romeo and Juliet story? Jeet, from the Punjab, Hindu, eager, educated, serving, his friend, promotion, attendant to the Viceroy, in a position to hear the discussions? His seeing Aalia , his work in the prison, care for her father, bringing letters, food, the Dickens books? Preserving his dignity? His love for Aalia, the years, has being consumed by it?

6. Aalia, Muslim, in service in Delhi, attendant to Lady Pamela, the British supervisors of the women staff? The tasks? Meeting Jeet, rejecting his offer, having been promised to Asif, her father and mother’s will, her care for her father, visiting him? His being blind? His jovial personality despite his imprisonment and suffering? Delight in his daughter? His friendship with Jeet?

7. The Indian setting, the masses of people, the role of Gandhi, his campaign, ideas, interventions, not in favour of Partition? Jinna, Nehru, Nehru’s years in prison? The Hindu and Muslim authorities?

8. The upstairs downstairs situation in the viceroy’s house, the many servants, their being present, hearing, religious clashes, cultural clashes – a microcosm of India?

9. The history of the viceroys, the role of British Empire, military, commerce? Treatment of Indians, considering them primitive? The history, unrest, the viceroys of the 20th century? The sending of Mountbatten, his reputation, career in Burma, the suggestion that he was being used by Churchill, by the British government? Edwina, her background, charity work, concerned? Pamela, young, open to India and the changes?

10. Their arrival, the pomp, the red carpet, the great range of servants, in the hall, the family settling in, Mountbatten and his wanting two minutes for dressing, having 13! Edwina, her interest, going to the kitchen, talking with the servants, praising the chef, Indian food and European food, the response of the chefs and their having learned European cooking? The guests from India as well as Europeans? Pamela with the children? The Mountbattens’ friendly approach, wanting to end the British Empire, people’s response to them?

11. The role of the local governors, their visiting, frank discussions, reports of uprisings? Ismay, his presence, his advice, his influence? David Heymann and his role, the servant spitting on him?

12. The plan, deadlines, the need for quick action, continued reports of riots and massacres? The use of Movietone News, newspaper front pages and headlines? The decision about Partition, the meetings with Jinna and Nehru, Gandhi, the need for some kind of compromise?

13. Mountbatten going to London, the Cabinet approval, his return, the plan being called the Mountbatten plan?

14. The date for Partition, for the celebration? The delay in announcing the borders? The invitation to Sir Cyril, his commission to define the borders, his never having been in India, his dismay, the discussion with Ismay, the revelation of the 1945 plan, Churchill and his role? Mountbatten not being told? A fait accompli? Edwina listening to Sir Cyril’s explanation? A sense of Fate?

15. Pamela, her help, the news of the Princess’s wedding to Philip Mountbatten, the news of the massacre, her father being curt to Pamela – and her later using this advice for him to stand firm? In public?

16. The symbol of dividing everything in the kitchen, the material for Pakistan, the material for India?

17. The servants themselves, discussions, outbreaks of violence, hostility and hatred?

18. People lining up with the authorities and the choice of their destination?

19. The further details of the romance between Jeet and Aalia, the arrival of Asif, his working for Jinna? Jeet and his plea to Aalia, going to farewell them, the father asking about his girl,
then realising it was his daughter, father feeling his daughter’s tears? Hurry to the train? Asif driving?

20. The official announcement, Jinna, and his knowing about the previous plan? Nehru? Gandhi and his absence?

21. The announcement, the papers and the newsreels? The hostilities? The visuals of the million migrants? Poverty, lack of food, water, shelter?

22. Jeet, his anger with Mountbatten and his outburst against him? The news of the train crash? The Hindu woman, finding Aalia, caring for her, Aalia getting the microphone, calling out to Jeet, the emotion in the reunion? Love, possibilities of uniting, hope for the future?

23. India subsequent history, the history of Pakistan? Of Bangladesh? Tolerance and intolerance, culture, religion?