Meet the Detective Who’s Breaking Barriers in Love and Crime Like Never Before!

One might assume that all types of fictional and TV detectives have already been introduced by this point. However, Amit Dhand, an avid crime fiction reader from Bradford, recognized a void in the genre as he grew up.

The author, aged 45, expresses that he noticed a lack of South Asian characters in western on-screen dramas during his upbringing. He points out that shows like Goodness Gracious Me were popular at the time and there were many successful global comedians. However, no one had tackled drama. Inspired by this gap, he began writing Harry Virdee to bring a character that mirrors his own self-image onto the screen. Furthermore, he wanted Harry’s story to reflect the city of Bradford – encompassing light, dark, and complex aspects.

Detective Virdee, of Indian descent, has been a character in four novels thus far, with the debut being “Streets of Darkness,” published in 2016. The fifth installment, titled “The Chemist,” is set to release in May, and its sales are expected to surge due to an upcoming six-episode BBC One series, based on the author’s initial book and scheduled for airing around the same time.

Beyond featuring a South Asian detective and showcasing Bradford, Virdee stands out by having its lead character happily married. This deviation from convention, as pointed out by Dhand, was intentional: “I recognized that detectives are often portrayed as divorced or lady’s men. Virdee is a tale of love set within a crime thriller. I aimed to create a detective whose family life is the most significant aspect of his world.

The unique and intriguing aspect of Virdee lies in the fact that Harry and Saima’s harmonious marriage brings discomfort to many others. Despite sharing an Indian heritage, Harry is a Sikh while Saima is a Gujarati Muslim. Their union faces opposition from some family members due to historical tensions dating back to the 1947 partition of India by the British colonial rulers, which established India and Pakistan along primarily religious lines.

According to Dhand, it’s a mixed-religion marriage. There have been many portrayals of couples who are Catholic and Protestant, or Catholic and Jewish in media. While it may be rare to see two individuals of color in such roles, the idea itself isn’t novel.

In a unique and heavily charged manner, a union like Harry and Saima’s might be comparable to a Jewish-Arab marriage, given the volatile political climate they navigate. Aysha Kala, who portrays Saima, has a rich background that allows her to authentically depict how the past can impact the present. With a television resume boasting shows like Shameless, Indian Summers, and Apple TV+’s Criminal Record, this 34-year-old actor also graced the stage at the National Theatre in Anupama Chandrasekhar’s play, The Father and the Assassin, a dramatic work exploring the historical and ongoing divisions within India.

Kala comments, ‘Staging that play in India would be challenging.’ At the National Theatre, we experienced walk-outs and protests, even a show where we were heckled. However, one must persevere and continue despite such incidents. I believe it’s important to confront and address these global tensions rather than avoiding them.

In the debut episode of Virdee, some harsh comments on social media might stem from a conflict rooted in racial and cultural differences. The BBC has requested that no details about a particularly impactful, disrespectful gesture be shared before broadcast, but let me tell you, it’s one of the most remarkable scenes I’ve ever witnessed on television.

Staz Nair, portraying Harry on British TV for the first time following his notable roles in Game of Thrones and Supergirl, responds positively: “I interpret that as a compliment!” During his performance, he strived to look past religious aspects and focus on the internal emotions. Harry has found contentment with his wife and child, yet there are those who refuse acceptance. He is resolute in shielding his child from similar rejection experiences. Showing great courage, he advocates for forgiveness by saying, “Let the past be the past”, enduring immense humiliation.

Dhand comments: “The setting you mentioned is traditional yet genuine, reminiscent of my trips to India. Upon seeing it, I was taken aback and thought to myself, ‘This is remarkable, I’ll utilize it someday.’

The question of whether actors should be true representations of their characters is becoming more relevant during the casting process. Some believe that Daniel Craig’s lack of Oscar recognition for his role in ‘Queer’ may have stemmed from discomfort about a heterosexual actor portraying a gay character. Similar to her character, Kala comes from a Gujarati Muslim background and expresses: “It’s an ongoing debate; how closely should the actor resemble the character. There are aspects of my background that I use when playing Saima.

Speaking thoughtfully, Nair – a person with both Indian and Russian heritage – shares: “I believe it’s crucial to cast roles authentically, yet the interpretation of authenticity varies. It isn’t our responsibility to portray everyone, but rather, to embody the character we are asked to bring to life.

The 33-year-old actor found a strong connection with Harry’s character through his own experiences of an absent father during childhood and the ensuing emotional scars: “While I won’t delve deeply into my personal story, my dad wasn’t present much in my early years. It was more about the intricate family issues, the sense of being deserted, feeling starved of a supportive figure who should have been there to guide you. The emptiness left behind and the longing to fill that void, a yearning that doesn’t always lead to positive choices.

It quickly becomes clear in conversation that neither of the main characters hail from Bradford, showcasing yet another layer of complexity when it comes to “authentic” casting. Kala admits they had to put a lot of effort into mastering the accent, and their first meeting after getting the role was with Natalie Grady, our talented dialect coach.

Martin Freeman, who hails from Surrey but portrayed a Liverpudlian in The Responder, mentioned that he had specific phrases to help him find his character’s voice on set. Did Nair adopt a similar approach? “Indeed, if I reflect upon it, absolutely yes,” he affirms, speaking flawlessly with a Bradfordian accent. “Of course, of course, of course.” Then switching back to his polished RP (Received Pronunciation), he adds, “So, yes, I do have certain regions that I tap into to perfect the accent. One day, one of the young crew members asked me: ‘So, where in Bradford is he from?’ That was a memorable moment.

Virdee’s story is usually quite gloomy. Unlike the upcoming remake of Bergerac, which the Jersey tourist board is supporting, it seems unlikely that the West Yorkshire tourist board would back Dhand’s show. However, the fact that the BBC plans to air it aligns with its selection as the 2025 UK City of Culture.

The story of Virdee tends to be quite grim. In contrast, the Jersey tourist board is sponsoring the upcoming remake of Bergerac, but it seems implausible that the West Yorkshire tourist board would endorse Dhand’s show. However, since the BBC plans to broadcast it, this coincides with its designation as the 2025 UK City of Culture.

He gently disagrees, stating that like any city, Bradford has its bright and dark aspects. However, he feels that it’s been labeled too often as a place of darkness, while its positive sides have been overlooked. The Virdee books, which are bestsellers at Bradford Waterstones, enjoy a large fanbase in the city. Furthermore, he believes that the show has beautifully captured Bradford, making it look attractive and stunning. He suggests that people should consider visiting the city after watching the series.

2025-02-04 03:43

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