At a time when there are debates all over the rewriting of our history, Disney Hotstar has the story of the Mughal Empire that was central to the history of medieval India, The Empire. Probably the first season of this six-season run story was released today. It is the story of the life of Babur, the first Mughal emperor to come to India from North/Central Asia.
Present-day Uzbekistan was under Turko-Mongols in the 14th-15th centuries and Babur’s story begins with the kingdoms of Samarkand and Fergana located there. Babar’s father tells him that far away from here is India, which is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The father shows Babur the dream of going and settling there because life on the land of Turko-Mongols-Afghans has never-ending difficulties and there is a tough struggle with the tyrannical enemies. Whereas India is the paradise of this earth.
The Empire is based on ‘Riders from the North’, the first episode of Alex Rutherford’s series of six historical novels ‘Empire of the Muggle’. It begins with the First Battle of Panipat in April 1526, where Zaheeruddin-Muhammad-Babur, who has almost laid down his arms in the field, is remembering the journey of his life. Where did you go from and where did you reach? The story reaches Samarkand and Fargana in flashback. Where after the death of the father, 14-year-old Babar is placed on the throne of Fargana by Nani (Shabana Azmi), but the eyes of Shabani Khan (Dino Morea), the enemy of Fargana, are fixed here. He wants to capture both Fargana and Samarkand. Babar likes peace. He cares about family and people. He doesn’t want bloodshed. He also remembers the dream shown by his father. Babar proposes to Shaibani Khan that if he is allowed to leave the fort along with his family and well-wishers, he will be gone forever. Shaibani agrees but on the condition that Babur leave his beautiful sister Khanzada (Drishti Dhami) there with her.
The story of Babar in the web series shows the ups and downs and struggles in his life. How he came out of the icy-hill-hard-barbaric area and reached India via Kabul. What was his family and political struggle like? Apart from the grandmother, how did the sisters and begums affect his life? His fate with Babar is also mentioned repeatedly in the series. Babar himself is confused whether he really deserves to be a king as he is not cruel, cynical, tyrannical and thirsty for the blood of others despite being a warrior by profession. He comes across as a soft-hearted, thoughtful and philosophical person time and again. Even at the last moment, there is a war going on within him as to who should hand over his legacy to two capable sons, Humayun and Kamran.
The Empire is a must watch series. Each episode averages 40 minutes or more. The eight-episode series has been made lavishly and will definitely make its place in the world of OTT. History may not be understood here in depth but can be understood partially.