{"id":55644,"date":"2024-02-03T01:58:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T01:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/what-viewers-love-and-hate-about-slbs-heeramandi-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-02-03T01:58:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-03T01:58:11","slug":"what-viewers-love-and-hate-about-slbs-heeramandi-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/what-viewers-love-and-hate-about-slbs-heeramandi-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"What viewers love and hate about SLB’s ‘Heeramandi’ | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

An opulent spectacle of Lahore’s Red-Light District, the first teaser of Sanjay Leela Bhansali\u2019s highly-anticipated OTT debut,\u00a0Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, <\/em>dropped <\/span>on February 1<\/span>. Unveiled by streaming giant Netflix, the teaser\u00a0<\/span>took <\/span>us back in time \u2013 1940s, to be exact\u00a0\u2013 <\/span>by offering <\/span>a glimpse into the world of Lahore’s courtesans.<\/span><\/p>\n

It had\u00a0viewers both excited and riled up, with several hung up on the fact that a film about Heeramandi should\u2019ve been Pakistan\u2019s to make. Others, however, expressed their eagerness\u00a0to watch\u00a0Bhansali\u2019s take on the area, its women, its politics and lure. Drawn by the opulence of his larger-than-life sets, production\u00a0and glam, many <\/span><\/span>we<\/span><\/span>re “seated” on X, intently waiting on the director to deliver.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The good\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The micro-blogging platform <\/span>was full of<\/span> fans-in-the-making, who c<\/span>ouldn<\/span>‘t help but admire Bhansali’s visual genius and his\u00a0dressing up of the bazaar and all its courtesans. “This looks incredible omg!” commented a user. “This is going to become a new obsession I just know\u00a0it. It looks so good and it’s so colourful, I have no idea what’s going on and I don’t care!” added another virtually screaming! “The West could never! OMG!” maintained\u00a0a commenter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

THIS IS GONNA BECOME A NEW OBSESSION I JUST KNOW IT<\/p>\n

IT LOOKS SO GOOD ITS SO COLORFUL I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON AND I DONT CARE https:\/\/t.co\/lmFKwfQ0dl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hillary \ud83d\udc0b Ocean Ogier \ud83c\udf0a (@mellowhale) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

A user, among many others, confessed that they’ve “never been this excited for a show.” Others were pleased to see their favourite heroines razzle and dazzle. “I’m going to collapse, Sonakshi!” wrote a user. “Omg Aditi Rao Hyderi, your pretty eyes, will have to watch this now,” chimed in another.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s giving Saawariya<\/em>?” pointed out a user. “Oh! this is about to eat” remarked one more. “I confess, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is authentically the best at showing women so celebrative! Can’t wait to watch this,” expressed a tweep. “Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an artist among filmmakers. His canvas is opulent, intricate albeit muted with a tinge of darkness. The sheer acting powerhouse in this series is a feat in itself. I mean, Manisha Koirala?! This better be good!” urged a user, and we second. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an artist among filmmakers. His canvas is opulent, intricate albeit muted with a tinge of darkness. The sheer acting powerhouse in this series is a feat in itself. I mean, Manisha Koirala?!!! \ud83e\udd29\ud83e\udd29\ud83e\udd29\ud83e\udd29 This better be good!! @netflix<\/a> @NetflixUK<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/4bD6IpSyM4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sulagna\ud83d\udc26 (@maitra_sulagna) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

The bad<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Many, however, h<\/span>e<\/span>ld that the\u00a0intense glamorisation <\/span>may take<\/span> away from the story and what the courtesans\u00a0really represented back in the day. A user even called the <\/span>show<\/span> Bhansali’s “romanticisation of tawaifs”. There were also those\u00a0who felt cheated by Bollywood’s up-taking of stories\u00a0centred around Pakistan’s Lahore.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAaaah, another Bollywood movie with a Pakistani flavour,\u201d tweeted a user under Netflix\u2019s teaser unveil on X. “<\/span><\/span>Most of this is based on imagination not true events,” another offered in\u00a0a disclaimer that is sure to be part of the film. “Take Pakistan out of the picture and Bollywood will crumble!” quipped one more. “Without Pakistan, you Indians can’t do politics or make films. You hate Pakistan and then you’re also obsessed with it,” commented another.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Aaaah, another bollywood movie with a Pakistani flavour<\/p>\n

\u2014 Masood Khan Yousafzai (@AMz_masood_12) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Most of this is based on imagination not true events.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Baz Muhammad (@Stanikzai834) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Pakistan ko nikal dein tu bollywood crumble hojaye \ud83d\ude2d<\/p>\n

\u2014 kenchiii \u2702\ufe0f (@SanaaaKhaan) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Pakistan ky bina tum Endians ka na to Politics chalta hai, na hi Bollywood chalta hai<\/p>\n

Nafrat bhi Pakistan sy… Diwanapan bhi Pakistan sy<\/p>\n

\u2014 \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf0 \u0633\u0631\u0641\u0631\u0627\u0632 | (@sarf7a9z) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

“What inaccurate representation Bollywood. Although historically was it ever that glam? All the Mughal history I’ve read, the tawaif<\/em> were actually very educated and sophisticated,” an X user inquired. “SLB’s delusory romanticisation of tawaifs,<\/em>” slammed on more. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Lmfao what inaccurate representation
Bollywood smh \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d
Although historically was it ever that glam?
All the mughal history I’ve read the tawaif were actually very educated and sophisticated https:\/\/t.co\/HPnbcAFNH8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Namrah Shafiq (@theEldestB0y) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

The needful\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

While Bhansali continues to amaze or disappoint, it is important for cinema fans\u00a0that he do the needful \u2013 deliver justice to the narrative and their viewing time. With regards to that,\u00a0Heeramandi<\/em>\u00a0promises to explore stories of courtesans and the hidden cultural reality of the area, a buzzing red-light district prior to the Partition of the subcontinent. The project is about love, betrayal, succession, and politics in the kothas\u00a0with multi-faceted characters and soulful compositions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The series stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Sheikh in the lead roles. The makers in a recent statement described the show as \u201ca mix of love, betrayal, succession, and politics in the kothas (house of courtesans)\u201d. They said, “Heeramandi promises Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s signature style of larger-than-life stories, intricate and soulful characters, and rippling dynamics of a world rife with conflict during a defining time period for India. Like all of the auteur’s creations, Heeramandi will have unique compositions and music that linger with the audience, just like his stories.”<\/p>\n

In a statement last year, Bhansali told\u00a0ANI<\/em>, “Heeramandi<\/em>\u00a0is an important milestone in my journey as a filmmaker. This is an epic, first-of-its-kind series based on the courtesans of Lahore. It is an ambitious, grand and all-encompassing series; therefore, I am nervous yet excited about making it. I am looking forward to my partnership with Netflix and bringing Heeramandi to audiences all over the world.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The official streaming date of the show is still awaited. However, the series is expected to drop on Netflix in 2024.<\/p>\n

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n