Heeramandi Explained

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language period drama television series created and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The series is about the lives of tawaifs in the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement against the British Raj.^[2] It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal Mehta and Taha Shah Badussha.

The series was released on Netflix on 1 May 2024 and received mixed reviews from critics. A month later, it was renewed for a second season.^[3]

Premise

With a backdrop of the Indian independence movement against British rule in India in the 1940s, Heeramandi chronicles the lives of tawaifs of the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore.^[4]

Cast

Main

• Manisha Koirala as Mallikajaan: chief courtesan of Shahi Mahal
• Sonakshi Sinha as
  • Rehanajaan: former chief courtesan of Shahi Mahal, Mallikajaan's elder sister
  • Fareedanjaan: chief courtesan of Khwabgah and Rehana's daughter
• Aditi Rao Hydari as Bibbojaan: Mallikajaan's elder daughter
• Sharmin Segal Mehta as Alamzeb: Mallikajaan's youngest daughter
• Sanjeeda Sheikh as Waheeda: Rehana and Mallikajaan's younger sister
• Richa Chadha as Lajwanti "Lajjo": Mallikajaan's foster daughter
• Taha Shah Badusha as Nawab Tajdar Baloch: an advocate and Alamzeb's lover

Recurring

• Farida Jalal as Qudsia Begum: Tajdar's grandmother^[5]
• Adhyayan Suman as Zoravar Ali Khan / Imaad: Mallikajaan's son and Lajjo's patron^[6]
• Fardeen Khan as Wali Bin Zayed-Al Mohammed: Bibbojaan's and Fareedan's patron^[7]
• Shekhar Suman as Khan Bahadur Zulfikar Ahmed: Mallikajaan's patron^[8]
  • Adhyayan Suman as young Zulfikar
• Indresh Malik as Ustaad
• Jason Shah as Alastair Cartwright
• Jayati Bhatia as Phatto: Mallikajaan's maid
• Nivedita Bhargava as Satto: Mallikajaan's maid
• Abha Ranta as young Mallikajaan
• Vaishnavi Ganatra as young Waheeda
• Shruti Sharma as Saima / Mirza Begum: Alamzeb's maid, Iqbal's lover
• Rajat Kaul as Iqbal "Balli" Singh: Mallikajaan's driver, Saima's lover
• Pratibha Ranta as Shama: Waheeda's daughter
• Anuj Sharma as Hamid Mohsin Ali
• Mark Bennington as Samuel Henderson
• Astha Mittal as Huma
• Nasirr Khan as Choudhry
• Anju Mahendru as Phoophi
• Abhishek Deswal as Nawaz
• Ujjwal Chopra as Ashfaq Baloch: Tajdar's father
• Pankaj Bhatia as Feroze: Waheeda and Shama's patron

Production

Heera Mandi was officially announced in April 2021, as a project Bhansali had envisaged 14 years ago.^[9] The eight-part series, which also marks Bhansali's first foray into streaming, began filming in June 2022.^[10] Filming was reported to have ended a year later in June 2023, after Bhansali asked for reshoots in May.^{[11] [12]} Bollywood Hungama reported that Bhansali directed the pilot episode, while the rest of the episodes were directed by Mitakshara Kumar, who had worked as an associate director to Bhansali in Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat, replacing Vibhu Puri, who had previously been hired.^[13]

In a 2023 interview with Netflix's CEO Ted Sarandos, Bhansali described Heeramandi as his "biggest project" and that the series would be a tribute to the films Mother India (1957), Mughal-e-Azam (1960), and Pakeezah (1972).^[14]

In an interview designers Rimple Narula and Harpreet Narula revealed that some of the creations for the series, were inspired from the style of Patience Cooper, Suraiya, Swaran Lata, Noor Jehan, Shamshad Begum and Mukhtar Begum.^[15] In an interview with Lilly Singh, Bhansali also said that he wanted to cast Pakistani actors Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan and Imran Abbas in the series but this did not materialise due to the ban on collaborating with actors from Pakistan.^[16]

Soundtrack

The first song from the soundtrack "Sakal Ban", composed by Bhansali, with lyrics written by Amir Khusro and sung by Raja Hasan, was released on 8 March 2024.^[18] On 2 April, the second song "Tilasmi Bahein", sung by Sharmistha Chatterjee, was released.^[19] The folk songs "Phool Gendwa Na Maaro" and "Nazariya Ki Maari" had earlier been used in the Bollywood films Dooj Ka Chand (1964) and Pakeezah (1972) respectively.^[20]

Each classical composition has been picturized on every actor from the primary cast, mostly in the form of their mujra performances in the show. "Tilasmi Bahein" is picturized on Sonakshi Sinha, "Phool Gendwa Na Maaro" and "Saiyaan Hatto Jaao" on Aditi Rao Hydari, "Chaudhavi Shab" on Sharmin Segal, "Nazariya Ki Maari" on Sanjeeda Shaikh and "Masoom Dil Hai Mera" on Richa Chadha. "Sakal Ban" and "Azadi" include most of the primary female cast.

Release

A teaser of the series was released in February 2024, with a release date planned on Netflix for later in the year.^{[4] [21]} The following month, it was announced that the series would premiere on 1 May 2024.^[22]

Reception

Viewership

During 29 April – 5 May 2024, Heeramandi was the second most-watched non-English show on Netflix globally.^[23] It received 4.5 million views, with 33 million viewership hours in its debut week, breaking the record for the most-viewed Indian series in its first week of release.^{[24] [25]} It was trending at number-one in 10 countries and was among the top ten most-watched shows in 43 countries.^{[23] [24]}

Critical response

^[26]

Shilajit Mitra of The Hindu stated "Filmed on a massive budget, Heeramandi is stunning to behold."^[27] Dhaval Roy of The Times of India commented "Heeramandi, overall, might feel like a long watch, but the cinematic experience will linger on long after its conclusion."^[28]

Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost gave 4/5 stars and commended, "Bhansali‘s eight-part series is not only a treat to the eyes, but is a lesson of history too".^[29] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 3 stars and praised Bhansali's effort. Chatterjee stated that "In the climate that obtains in today's India, the espousal of the subcontinent's entrenched syncretism is a noteworthy thematic strand that should not be lost in the hypnotic glow of the glitzy Heeramandi universe that Bhansali conjures up."^[30]

Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com rated 3/5 stars and observed "Heeramandi, a passion project that took off after years in development and planning, mirrors Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film-making's finest and frustrating features."^[31] Shubhra Gupta for The Indian Express rated the series 2.5 stars and opined "Bhansali's world, awash with his trademark shine and glitter, sets out to tell us the story of these 'other' women, once such an integral part of Indian popular culture."^[32]

Indian classical dancer, and founder of The Courtesan Project, Manjari Chaturvedi believes that "Heeramandi does not make a good distinction between tawaifs and prostitutes or sex workers. It leaves people with the impression that tawaifs were illiterate women scheming for mere sexual favours. Heeramandi does not have much reference to the historical tawaif culture."^[33]

See also

• Rajkahini (2015) and Begum Jaan (2017), Indian films on a similar prostitute topic set during the partition of India
• Jaanisaar (2015), Indian film about tawaifs during the Indian Rebellion of 1857
• Kalank (2019), Indian film about tawaifs and the partition of India

Notes and References

1. News: Netflix's 'Heeramandi' budget around Rs 200 crore, creator Sanjay Leela Bhansali took home Rs 60-65 crore, other stars got paid… . 2 May 2024 . . 2 May 2024 . en-us . 2 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502035010/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/netflixs-heeramandi-budget-around-rs-200-crore-creator-sanjay-leela-bhansali-took-home-rs-60-65-crore-other-stars-got-paid-13766143.html . live .
2. News: Frater. Patrick. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' Drops First Footage. Variety. 31 January 2024. 1 February 2024. 1 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240201043026/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/sanjay-leela-bhansali-heeramandi-the-diamond-bazaar-1235893808/. live.
3. News: Ramachandran . Naman . Naman Ramachandran . Sanjay Leela Bhansali Hit 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' Renewed for Season 2 by Netflix (EXCLUSIVE) . 5 June 2024 . . 3 June 2024 . 4 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240604014324/https://variety.com/2024/global/news/sanjay-leela-bhansali-heeramandi-season-2-netflix-1236022762/ . live .
4. News: Heeramandi first look: Sanjay Leela Bhansali series starring Manisha, Sonakshi, Aditi will take you back to another era. Hindustan Times. 1 February 2024. 1 February 2024. 1 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240201052151/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/heeramandi-first-look-sanjay-leela-bhansali-manisha-koirala-sonakshi-sinha-aditi-rao-hydari-richa-chadha-101706760393079.html. live.
5. Web site: Farida Jalal joins Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi. The Times of India. 8 November 2022. 1 February 2024. 26 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326165527/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/farida-jalal-joins-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-heeramandi-exclusive/articleshow/95373372.cms?from=mdr. live.
6. Web site: Adhyayan Suman To Star In Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi: "For Me He Is No Less Than God". NDTV. 24 August 2023. 1 February 2024. 28 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231128142424/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/adhyayan-suman-to-star-in-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-heeramandi-for-me-he-is-no-less-than-god-4325212. live.
7. Web site: Fardeen Khan to star in his first ever period drama Heeramandi by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Bollywood Hungama. 23 July 2022. 1 February 2024. 1 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240201132322/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/fardeen-khan-star-first-ever-period-drama-heeramandi-sanjay-leela-bhansali/. live.
8. Web site: Shekhar Suman Reveals The Role Of Chunnilal In Devdas Was First Offered To Him. NDTV. 15 September 2023. 1 February 2024. 1 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240201130918/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/shekhar-suman-reveals-the-role-of-chunnilal-in-devdas-was-first-offered-to-him-4391176. live.
9. News: India's Sanjay Leela Bhansali Sets Netflix Series 'Heeramandi'. Variety. 9 August 2021. 1 February 2024. 23 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230823080742/https://variety.com/2021/streaming/news/sanjay-leela-bhansali-heeramandi-netflix-1235037240/. live.
10. Web site: Ted Sarandos On Netflix's Ambitions In India: "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". Deadline Hollywood. 18 February 2023. 1 February 2024. 27 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230327145813/https://deadline.com/2023/02/sanjay-leela-bhansali-netflix-ted-sarandos-1235263992/. live.
11. Web site: Heeramandi to be Wrapped up by end of the Month. Deadline Hollywood. 12 June 2023. 1 February 2024. 1 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240201122409/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/quick-reads/heeramandi-to-be-wrapped-up-by-end-of-the-month. live.
12. News: Sanjay Leela Bhansali orders re-shoot of 'Heeramandi; risks delayed release of web series. The Times of India. 24 May 2023. 1 February 2024. 30 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230530040703/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/sanjay-leela-bhansali-orders-re-shoot-of-heeramandi-scenes-risks-delayed-release-of-web-series/articleshow/100471047.cms?from=mdr. live.
13. Web site: Heeramandi finds a new Director; Vibhu Puri replaced with Mitakshara Kumar. Bollywood Hungama. 1 June 2022. 1 February 2024. 31 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230731045327/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/breaking-heeramandi-finds-new-director-vibhu-puri-replaced-mitakshara-kumar/. live.
14. Web site: Heeramandi is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Biggest Project" Yet. Film Companion. 21 February 2023. 2 February 2024. 1 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240201122345/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/heeramandi-is-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-biggest-project-yet-aditi-rao-hydari-manisha-koirala-sonakshi-sinha-richa-chadha. live.
15. Web site: Fashion Masterminds Rimple & Harpreet Narula Bring Alive SLB's Vision For Heeramandi. Elle India. 12 February 2023. 21 February 2024. 16 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240216122345/https://elle.in/heeramandi-rimple-harpreet/. live.
16. Web site: Sanjay Leela Bhansali says he wanted to cast Mahira, Fawad Khan in 'Heeramandi' . 2 May 2024 . The Asian Mirror . 2 May 2024 . 2 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502074840/https://theasianmirror.com/latest/51044/sanjay-leela-bhansali-says-he-wanted-to-cast-mahira-fawad-khan-in-heeramandi/ . live .
17. Web site: Heeramandi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). 29 April 2024. Spotify. 29 April 2024. live. 11 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240511133818/https://open.spotify.com/album/6b2vHhEysVp1gXn7WMrBFy?si=pyy-PmZ9T12M03jfqMa_Mg&nd=1&dlsi=f73961915bee42b5.
18. News: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Launches Music Label With 'Heeramandi' Soundtrack. Variety. 12 March 2024. 8 March 2024. 26 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240526112230/https://variety.com/2024/music/asia/sanjay-leela-bhansali-music-label-heeramandi-1235934783/. live.
19. News: 'Tilasmi Bahein': Sonakshi Sinha is femme fatale in 'Heeramandi's 2nd song . 5 April 2024 . India Today . 3 April 2024 . 11 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240511133802/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/tilasmi-bahein-sonakshi-sinha-is-femme-fatale-in-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-heeramandis-second-song-2522640-2024-04-03 . live .
20. News: 'Heeramandi' songs: Sanjay Leela Bhansali remade three iconic old songs for the series. Mirchi Plus. 30 April 2024. 6 May 2024. live. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430085721/https://mirchi.in/stories/music/sanjay-leela-bhansali-recreated-three-iconic-songs-for-heeramandi-the-diamond-bazaar/109717907.
21. News: Heeramandi: First look of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's series to be revealed on THIS date. Filmfare. 2024-02-01. 2024-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20240201034856/https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/heeramandi-first-look-of-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-series-to-be-revealed-on-this-date-64159.html. live.
22. Web site: Bhansali's 'Heeramandi' to drop on Netflix on May 1. Rediff.com. 27 March 2024. 27 March 2024. 26 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240526112231/https://news.rediff.com/commentary/2024/mar/27/bhansalis-heeramandi-to-drop-on-netflix-on-may-1/8e83691040991a3fed81875d865c9402. live.
23. Web site: Netflix Global Top 10 - Most-Watched Non-English TV (29 April 2024 – 5 May 2024). https://web.archive.org/web/20240508144017/https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10/tv-non-english. 8 May 2024. 8 May 2024. 8 May 2024. Netflix.
24. News: Top 10 Week of Apr. 29: 'Baby Reindeer' Holds Strong; 'Heeramandi' Breaks Records; Katt Williams and Tom Brady Live Events Bring the Laughs. Netflix. 8 May 2024. 8 May 2024. live. 11 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240511133705/https://about.netflix.com/en/news/top-10-week-of-apr-29-baby-reindeer-holds-strong-heeramandi-breaks-records.
25. News: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut web show Heeramandi becomes most-viewed Indian series on Netflix. Hindustan Times. 8 May 2024. 8 May 2024. live. 8 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240508145052/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/sanjay-leela-bhansalis-debut-web-show-heeramandi-becomes-most-viewed-indian-series-on-netflix-101715172741662.html.
26. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. heeramandi_the_diamond_bazaar. tv. 13 May 2024.
27. News: Mitra . Shilajit . 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' series review: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's dazzling soap opera . subscription . 15 May 2024 . . 1 May 2024 . en-IN . 15 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515153226/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/heeramandi-the-diamond-bazaar-series-review-sanjay-leela-bhansalis-dazzling-soap-opera/article68127732.ece . live .
28. News: Roy . Dhaval . Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Season 1 Review : Dazzles with stellar performances and visual grandeur . 15 May 2024 . . 1 May 2024 . 14 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514114227/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/heeramandi-the-diamond-bazaar/season-1/seasonreview/109685822.cms . live .
29. Web site: Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha's Heeramandi Review: Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial series is intoxicatingly beautiful Netflix. Firstpost. May 2024 . 2 May 2024. 2 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502051937/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/manisha-koirala-sonakshi-sinhas-heeramandi-review-sanjay-leela-bhansali-directorial-series-is-intoxicatingly-beautiful-netflix-13765827.html. live.
30. News: Chatterjee . Saibal . Saibal Chatterjee . Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Review - There's More Than The Blindingly Sumptuous Means Sanjay Leela Bhansali Employs . 1 May 2024 . . 1 May 2024 . 1 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240501083513/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/heeramandi-the-diamond-bazaar-review-theres-more-than-the-blindingly-sumptuous-means-sanjay-leela-bhansali-employs-3-stars-5563342 . live .
31. Web site: Heeramandi Review: Romance, Revenge, Rebellion. 1 May 2024. Rediff. 3 May 2024. 3 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240503133554/https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/heeramandi-review/20240501.htm. live.
32. News: Gupta . Shubhra . Shubhra Gupta . Heeramandi review: Part history, part myth, full-on Sanjay Leela Bhansali . 2 May 2024 . . 1 May 2024 . en . 2 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502042112/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/heeramandi-review-part-history-part-myth-full-on-sanjay-leela-bhansali-9300636/ . live .
33. Web site: The British reduced all tawaifs to sex workers – so has Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Heeramandi . 8 May 2024 . 2024-05-09 . 2024-05-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509014501/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/tawaifs-sex-workers-sanjay-leela-bhansali-heeramandi-9316484/ . live .