‘The Empire’ review: Babur as a slave to an inherited dream of conquest

It’s advisable to persevere beyond the first two shaky episodes of The Empire. After the questionable casting, bare-bones production design and sketchy visual effects have been overlooked, The Empire turns out to be a pleasant shock – an absorbing and thoughtful if romanticised portrait of Babur, the much-pilloried founder of Mughal rule in India.

The eight-episode series on Disney+ Hotstar has been directed by Mitakshara Kumar. The screenplay, by Kumar and Bhavani Iyer, is based on the first novel in the Empire of the Moghul historical fiction series by Alex Rutherford (the pen name for Diana and Michael Preston).

Mixing historical fact with generous lashings of pure imagination, the series sets out to understand the nature of dynastic rule in a kill-or-be-killed world. Forced onto the throne after his father’s untimely death and buffeted by attacks from all sides, Babur loses loved ones and advisors, gains partners and family headaches, and inherits a dream of ruling a land called Hindustan.

Babur’s formative years – also the subject of the first two episodes – inspire little confidence. Unsure of himself and heavily dependent on his loyal lieutenant Wazir Khan (Rahul Dev) and forceful grandmother Esan Dawlat (Shabana Azmi), Babur struggles to fit into his preordained role.

The biggest headache for Babur’s clan is Shaibani…

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