The Far Pavilions

Someday, a distributor will make the complete miniseries available for the consumer. Any release of about 300 minutes has about 2 or 3 episodes cut from the original. The opening scenes of the current releases showing flashes of Ash's youth are pieces of these episodes which have been dropped since they would be considered nothing more than superfluous exposition to most Western viewers. But in order to fully appreciate M.M Kaye's story, they are vital and should be restored. These lost episodes impress the viewer with the customs of India, the background of Ash and Anjuli, the treachery of Biju Ram, the love of Sita and the wisdom of Koda Dad. Without them you don't really fully appreciate why Ash and Juli are so close, why Ash is torn between two cultures, and his relationship with Gulkote. The exposure to life in an Indian royal court contained in the lost episodes adds so much to the experience. So until you see a release that has a running time of about 400-500 minutes, let the buyer beware -- you are not getting the complete original of the mini-series.

I watched this film as a kid and thought it was excellent. I was living in the Sub-Continent at the time, and thought it portrayed life there very well.

I'm still trying to get ahold of a copy of it to relive the experience once more.

This miniseries is set in the 19th century British colonial India.It tells about the battles of a young man named Ashton Pelham-Martyn and his forbidden love with the princess Anjuli.The Far Pavilions (1984) is directed by Peter Duffell.It's based on M.M. Kaye's novel from 1978.The actors are all good.Ben Cross does very good job as Ash.Amy Irving is terrific as Anjuli.Christopher Lee, who turns 90 this year, is great as Kaka-ji Rao.Omar Sharif is brilliant as Koda Dad.Benedict Taylor is excellent as Wally.Great job by John Gielgud, who plays Cavagnari.I just saw this miniseries on a DVD.It looks very good.The battle scenes are very well made.I liked the love story.And you learn a little bit of India's history while you're watching it.

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.

This mini series was an unexpected eye candy one summer, for the lazy Sunday afternoons when we didn't expect something special to be broadcasted.

I was fascinated with the fairytale-like story and the wind of adventure blown into it. Amy Irving was (as always) likable but I found Ben Cross too stoic and a bit cold. Omar Sharif brought an air of nobleness to an otherwise cruel environment.

The most breathtaking scene was the suttee ceremony that haunted me for weeks after. Even though I know now that some women did it voluntary, it is the cruelest custom I ever heard...