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Movie Review | Heeramandi : The Diamond Bazaar

 

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Heeramandi – THE DIAMOND BAZAAR is his first-ever series streaming on Netflix, from May 1. Set in the period of pre-independence, the series revolves around the lives of nawabs, tawaifs and british rulings in Heeramandi. The series stars Monisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Fardeen Khan, Adhyayan Suman, Sekhar Suman and many other prominent faces adding grandeur to the casting. It was released on May 1.

After brutally murdering Rehana Appa (Sonakshi Sinha) and disguising it as a suicide, Mallika (Monisha Koirala) takes over the shahi mahal and becomes the new huzur as Mallika Jaan. And 16 years later, rehanas Daughter FAREEDAN (again played by Sonakshi Sinha) arrives to avenge her mother’s murder and starts reinvestigating the long shut case. Waheeda (Sanjeeda Sheikh), Rehanna and Mallika’s sister all the while has been the sole witness of the brutal murder and has hidden a murder evidence alongside for years. 

The story also takes a romantic cut with Alamzeb, Mallika’s daughter falling in love with Tajdar (Taha Shah Badussha) son of an esteemed Nawab and not choosing to become a Tawaif like other women at Heeramandi. This leads to dramatic family chaos resulting to which Alamzeb runs away and starts living her life with TAJDAR and later becoming pregnant with his child. 

As a result of the clash between Fareedan and Mallikajaan, families and relationships fall prey to death and despair and Heeramandi starts losing its charm and delight. The British officers torture the Indian revolutionaries and as a result of which Tajdar is killed by a British police officer on the day he is supposedly to get married to Alamzeb. 

The Nawabs are seen fascinated by the beauty and elegance of these Tawaifs and almost spend all their wealth on their debauchery.

The story comes to a sad climax when pregnant Alamzeb dressed as a bride hears the death of Tajdar and finally accepts the identity of a TAWAIF. 

The story ends with Bibojan (Aditi Rao Hydari) Mallika’s younger daughter who is a patriot herself is arrested by the officer and is tortured and declared to be executed. Meanwhile, Fareeda and Mallikajaan join hands to support the Indian rebellions and shelter them.

The women of Heeramandi march with fire in their hands despite a curfew to stop BIBO’S execution. Sadly, Bibo is shot dead by the British officers leaving the story at a sad and disturbing end.

The songs of this series have been excellently composed and crafted giving it a touch of royalty and Hindustani charm.

It is only Sanjay Leela Bhansali who can expertise such a medieval glamour on the screen truly.

The casting has been excellently done; however the director has failed to emphasize the importance of each character as the storyline fails to showcase every character prominently. 

As like what we usually expect of a grand end and closure from the directors’ other previous work, Heeramandi falls short and fails to catch hold of the story to a point. 

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