Victoria & Abdul

Queen Victoria forms an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk, Abdul Karim, who travels to Britain to present a medal. Despite initial resistance from her court and family, Victoria develops a deep bond with Abdul, who becomes her confidant and teacher. Their relationship challenges the rigid social and racial norms of the British Empire, offering Victoria a new perspective in her later years.

Victoria & Abdul received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Judi Dench's performance. While some found the film's narrative somewhat conventional, others appreciated its warmth, humor, and exploration of an unconventional friendship that defied the era's conventions.

• Judi Dench delivers a commanding and nuanced performance as Queen Victoria.

• The film effectively portrays an unusual cross-cultural friendship that defies societal expectations.

• While engaging, the narrative sometimes adheres to familiar biopic conventions.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the heartwarming and charming nature of the central friendship between Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim. Many appreciated the historical insights and the performances, particularly Judi Dench's, finding the film to be a pleasant and entertaining watch.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (Judi Dench).

The film is based on Shrabani Basu's book 'Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Most Unexpected Friendship', which itself was inspired by a collection of Urdu diaries written by Abdul Karim that were discovered in 2010.