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Heeramandi, created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Netflix, is a classic tale of the ‘tawaifs’ who used to live in Lahore during the pre-independence era.
A story that starts around the individual lives of Tawaifs ends as a story of freedom struggle. It’s all about 1920 Lahore Tawaifs who were courtesan high class sex workers and dancers. Then about Nawabs and their children growing up as Tawaifs in Heeramandi, flesh trade simultaneous turned into freedom struggle. There’s nothing so intense and appealing about the storyline of Heeramandi. But I didn’t keep up all the hype that it had created.
If you are a sucker for visually pleasing set pieces then Heeramandi is a treat for your eyes. The jewellery, sets, cinematography and the whole art setting were splendid. Every scene looks like a painting. The costume design is immaculately seductive, feminine and elegant making everyone look so rich in taste, which was very much expected from Sanjay Leela Bhansali. But without a story, it’s not worth it… because of the poor screenplay.
The characters detached from the plot and they never reached their potential. Manisha Koirala gave her best though in the series that could make me go through this. She produced a strong delivery and powerful presence throughout the series. Aditi Rao Hydari and Sonakshi were good too but Sharmin… Sharmin cannot act, there were no emotions in her acting, just plain and boring appearance. On the other hand male cast like Taha Shah did justice with his character. Fardeen Khan finally came back on screen after fourteen years. But his talent is wasted in Heeramandi.
In essence, while Bhansali’s “Heeramandi” might be a feast for the eyes, it’s a famine for the mind. Despite its visual mastery, the series is shallow. It lacks in compelling storytelling and needed to make the aesthetic elements worthwhile.
My Rating: 2.5/5
Review by Aqib Raza
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