WATCH: ‘Victoria and Abdul’ – An unusual friendship between Queen Victoria and an Indian man is now a film

A film that explores the extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship between Queen Victoria and a young Indian man, Abdul Karim is releasing this September.

Victoria and Abdul

Source: Imdb

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SBS Hindi is giving away two tickets to the movie, Victoria and Abdul to our audience living in Australia. To participate in the competition, tell us what do you like about SBS Hindi? Leave your answers in comment section or email us at hindi.program@sbs.com.au or inbox us on Facebook. *Competition open till 2nd September 2017 12 noon.
“Whatever you do, you must not look at Her Majesty,” Abdul Karim, who travels all the way to England from colonised India, is told to do when he meets Queen Victoria.

According to BBC, Abdul Karim arrived in England from Agra when he was just 24. He was given to Queen Victoria as a ‘gift from India’ where Karim was invited to present a ceremonial coin to Queen as part of Queen Victoria's golden jubilee celebrations in 1887.

Abdul, who had been advised against looking at her majesty, goes on to make eye contact and one of the most unlikely friendships between a monarch and a peasant is born.
Victoria and Abdul
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This unusual true story is the basis of Stephen Frears’ new film about this alliance between Victoria and Abdul Karim.

Based on the book of same name by Shrabani Basu, Victoria and Abdul stars Judi Dench, Ali Fazal and Adeel Akhtar and is slated for release on September 22, 2017.
Victoria and Abdul
Source: Wikipedia
The trailer shows how friendship between the two blooms and how this young Indian man goes on to become a powerful figure in court and becomes the queen's teacher - or munshi - and teaches her to write in Urdu and tutors her on Indian affairs.

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2 min read

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By Mosiqi Acharya

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