The book, which is set in the 1950s and showcases various interreligious friendships and relationships, has remained popular among readers due to its relatable family dramas and its portrayal of what it means to be a secular, independent citizen. After multiple failed attempts, the beloved novel has finally been adapted into a new six-part series directed by Mira Nair. The series premiered on BBC One in July and received praise in Britain for being the network's first prime-time drama filmed in India with an almost entirely Indian cast. In India, the response was mixed, with members of the ruling Hindu nationalist party calling for a boycott over its portrayal of interfaith romance. In the United States, where the series debuted on Acorn TV, it arrived with less fanfare but without any calls for a boycott. Nair, who grew up in India but is based in New York, jokingly refers to the show as "The Crown in Brown" due to its epic story and production. However, beyond its grandeur, the project holds personal and political significance for her. Nair expressed that she wanted to create a mirror reflecting the world of the 1950s, a time of idealism and secularism, which she felt was drifting further away. The novel "A Suitable Boy" was written as Hindu nationalist politics gained prominence in India after violent clashes in 1992. The story is set in the aftermath of the 1947 division of India by the British, which led to the creation of Pakistan. His approach was to write a dramatic comedy of manners, focusing on a mother's attempts at Indian matchmaking and turning it into a sprawling saga involving four upper-class families, star-crossed lovers, religious coexistence, and post-Partition politics. This novel became the definitive representation of India's early years. Despite failed attempts to adapt the book, Seth personally chose Andrew Davies, a successful Welsh screenwriter, for the job. Seth entrusted his sister, Aradhana Seth, to oversee the adaptation while he worked on a sequel. The BBC commissioned the series in 2017, with director Nair joining the project the following year. The adaptation of "Suitable" was not as lavishly funded as "The Crown," resulting in a condensed production with less focus on the novel's multiple characters. Instead, the TV version centers on young protagonists Lata and Maan as they navigate coming of age in India during the 1952 post-independence elections. Maniktala commented on Lata's abundant energy, noting that she is a recent university graduate who is eager to explore the world. Lata lives in a bubble where she believes everything will be great. Filming was finished in India in December, and Nair took a break from editing in London to visit her home in New York in March. However, international borders closed due to the coronavirus shortly after. In a video interview, Nair showed how she edited the show with her team across multiple screens from around the world. The music for the show was composed remotely, with a full orchestra in Budapest, Hungary, and the composers, Alex Heffes and sitarist Anoushka Shankar, in Los Angeles and London. The show received positive reviews in the mainstream press in Britain for its representation on the BBC, but South Asian critics criticized the English dialogue and accents. Some questioned why an 84-year-old Welsh writer was chosen to adapt the iconic story about the birth of modern India and a young woman's romantic awakening. As criticism grew on social media, Vikram Seth defended his choice of Davies, stating that "race should have nothing to do with it." Davies justified his selection by emphasizing the importance of finding someone experienced in adapting long books. His other TV adaptations include "Bleak House" and "Pride and Prejudice." Nair, who was raised in a secular Hindu family, expressed a need to defend his territory as a writer and claimed the right to put himself in the mind of people different from himself. She pushed to include more of the novel's political themes in the screenplay, shifting focus from the traditional marriage plot to making Lata feel like the making of India. Nair also worked to include as much spoken Hindi and Urdu in the screenplay as possible within BBC broadcasting guidelines. When asked about balancing her unapologetically brown gaze with the demands of prestigious British television, she laughed. "It was a delightful struggle, if I may say so." This is a common challenge for Nair, who is experienced in fighting for more authentic and artistic portrayals of South Asians in Western media. She has created many well-received films about India and its diaspora, often focusing on social issues rooted in everyday life. According to Amardeep Singh, an English professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and author of "The Films of Mira Nair: Diaspora Vérité," Nair's latest project, "A Suitable Boy," continues her exploration of modern India, following in the footsteps of films like "Monsoon Wedding" and "Salaam Bombay!". The series was filmed in real cities, where production designers worked to capture a midcentury Indian minimalism amidst the grandeur and decay of urban life. An old mansion in Lucknow was transformed into the home of a Muslim singer and courtesan named Saeeda Bai, representing the fading aristocratic Islamic culture and literary sensibility of the era. Tabu, one of India's most celebrated actors who gained international recognition in Mira Nair's 2007 adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's novel "The Namesake," portrays the character of Saeeda in the film. Saeeda's poetry, singing, and beauty captivate Maan, the son of a prominent Hindu politician. Tabu mentioned that Mira Nair is very particular about how women are portrayed on screen, highlighting Saeeda Bai's ethereal and untouchable qualities. Maan, played by Khatter, emphasized the powerful theme of interfaith love in a diverse and sometimes divided country like India. He shared that these stories are relevant to him as the son of parents from different religious backgrounds. The film's completion coincided with protests erupting in cities following the passage of a law by the Hindu nationalist government that excludes Muslim migrants from obtaining Indian citizenship easily. Sadaf Jafar, who portrays Saeeda's servant, Bibbo, took part in the protests and was arrested and beaten by the police during a harsh crackdown. Despite being advised against it, Nair launched a public campaign for Jafar's release, inspired by a quote from Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The optimistic multiculturalism seen in "A Suitable Boy" may appear outdated, but Maniktala, who plays Lata, found the story's themes of hope and kindness relevant. Reflecting on her own family history, Maniktala became emotional as she remembered her grandfather's experiences as a Hindu refugee during the 1947 partition. She acknowledged the significance of pain and the lessons it teaches. She expressed concern about the decreasing empathy in society and emphasized the importance of remembering our roots.