Heeramandi :The Diamond Bazar, For its lighting tricks and sheer compositional wizardry, the series is a winner | Netflix

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazar, a series about 1920s nautch girls, took 14 years to create. And its stunning to behold. it will take you back to an age when women reigned supreme whether the Nawabs or the British, they were all under the thumbs of the courtesans of Heeramandi.  And most importantly, Bhansali has let the world know about these women who played an important role in our azadi, which not many were aware about.

It will make us realise that if women come together nobody can stop them from what they want whether it is their own independence or their country’s independence. And of course, There is something about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie, where everything starting from the sets to the costumes are class apart. Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s eight-part series is not only a treat to the eyes, but is a lesson of history too.

Bhansali is known to be a task master. He doesn’t settle for less. His movies are a testament to his passion and madness for cinema. The pages of Heeramandi will be etched in his opulent and star-studded universe for posterity. It might not be his best work, but at a time where VFX and remakes are taking precedent, it’s worth applauding a filmmaker who hasn’t succumbed to the pressures of conforming to the norm.

The music, also by Bhansali, falls flat; the tinkling of anklets fades away, to be replaced by the echoes of better tawaif sagas past.

Language: Hindi

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Cast: Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman and Adhyayan Suman.

 Streaming on Netflix.

Pic Courtesy : Bhansali Productions/Netflix