{"id":79646,"date":"2024-05-05T20:21:04","date_gmt":"2024-05-05T20:21:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/internet-slams-bhansalis-heeramandi-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-05-05T20:21:04","modified_gmt":"2024-05-05T20:21:04","slug":"internet-slams-bhansalis-heeramandi-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/internet-slams-bhansalis-heeramandi-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Internet slams Bhansali's 'Heeramandi' | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s latest offering, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar<\/em> streaming on Netflix, has stirred a storm of reactions among Pakistanis on the internet. Despite high anticipation, many viewers were left disappointed, particularly by what they perceive as glaring inaccuracies in historical depiction and Urdu pronunciation.<\/p>\n

Boasting a stellar cast, featuring the likes of Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal, the series raised expectations for a visual feast of talent and grace on-screen. Bhansali expressed his eagerness for audiences worldwide to immerse themselves in the magnificence of Heeramandi <\/em>on Netflix, marking his first collaboration with the OTT giant. However, scores on this side of the border have flocked to the microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter, to express their discontent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One disgruntled viewer remarked, \u201cJust watched Heeramandi<\/em>. Found everything but Heeramandi in it. I mean either you don\u2019t set your story in 1940s Lahore, or if you do- you don\u2019t set it in Agra\u2019s landscape, Delhi\u2019s Urdu, Lakhnavi dresses and 1840\u2019s vibe. My not-so-sorry Lahori self can\u2019t really let it go.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Just watched Heeramandi. Found everything but heermandi in it.<\/p>\n

I mean either you don\u2019t set your story in 1940\u2019s Lahore, or if you do- you don\u2019t set it in Agra\u2019s landscape, Delhi\u2019s Urdu, Lakhnavi dresses and 1840\u2019s vibe. My not-so-sorry Lahori self can\u2019t really let it go. pic.twitter.com\/1O6Iq36SV9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hamd Nawaz (@_SophieSchol) May 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Another critique honed in on linguistic errors, stating, \u201cAll of Heeramandi<\/em>‘s factual\/historical blunders (call it artistic license, if you like) aside, Urdu alphabet \u062a is pronounced ‘tay’ and NOT ‘tou’.\u201d Even the lavish production budget and extensive crew didn’t shield Bhansali from criticism. \u201cFor a limited series produced on a lavish budget, with a crew of over 100 people, Bhansali could’ve done better in Urdu diction,\u201d the post continued while another exclaimed, \u201cOmg, the Urdu accent is so bad in Heeramandi <\/em>like they aren\u2019t even trying!\u201d<\/p>\n

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All of #Heeramandi<\/a> ‘s factual\/ historical blunders (call it artistic license, if you like) aside, Urdu alphabet \u062a is pronounced ‘tay’ and NOT ‘tou’ .
For a limited series produced on a lavish budget, with a crew of over 100 people, #Bhansali<\/a> could’ve done better in Urdu diction pic.twitter.com\/0FWdlPIwBB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Usman Ghafoor (@usmanghafoor) May 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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omg the urdu accent is so bad in heeramandi like they aren\u2019t even trying !!<\/p>\n

\u2014 ahmed \ud83c\udf49 (@onlyysimps) May 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

However, some viewers couldn’t help but find humour in the situation. \u201cHeeramandi <\/em>is actually a comedy show. If you know Urdu, you\u2019ll be deadass laughing every minute,\u201d quipped one commenter. The genre of historical fiction has long enjoyed its liberties with anachronisms but rising criticism of Bhansali\u2019s recent raises an all-too-important question: Is good art more generously excused for its missteps? As per one X user, this is certainly the case.<\/p>\n

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#heeramandi<\/a> is actually a comedy show if you know urdu you\u2019ll be deadass laughing every minute<\/p>\n

\u2014 shr (@soorajdukhii) May 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0\u201cI think people wouldn’t mind SLB playing with historical details if the story was good…a bad show or movie will always lead people to tear it apart…alright, he made Heeramandi into his own version of Aaina Mahal…Dude could have at least taught his actors Urdu,\u201d a post contended.<\/p>\n

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I think people wouldn’t mind SLB playing with historical details if the story was good…a bad show or movie will always lead people to tear it apart..chalo, he made Heeramandi into his own version of Aaina mahal..bhai apne actors ko kam se kam urdu toh sikha sakta thha?<\/p>\n

\u2014 Vimla (@TumhariVimla) May 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Others raised concerns about attention to detail, with one critic pointing out, \u201cDid they seriously try to use the broken spelling software that separates each letter like they do in English to print out the name of the newspaper in Heeramandi<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

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did they seriously try to use the broken spelling software that separates each letter like they do in English to print out the name of the newspaper in heeramandi?? pic.twitter.com\/nxfznFpdFo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 jinn (@catboy_jinnah) May 4, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

The newspaper prop spawned a hatebase of its own with one disparager saying, \u201cWhat in the gibberish is the name of that newspaper? In case you want to see what an actual Urdu newspaper from Lahore in that era looked like, see Zamindar (tweet below) – Please hire researchers\/ PhD students – You can get a team for the same sum as a tent.\u201d<\/p>\n

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what in the gibberish is the name of that newspaper ? In case you want to see what an actual Urdu newspaper from Lahore in that era looked like, see Zamindar (tweet below) – ffs please hire researchers\/ PhD students – ek shamiane ke kharche mein team aa jayegi https:\/\/t.co\/rC9KoBKKjV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Amit|\u0627\u0645\u0650\u062a|\u0a05\u0a2e\u0a3f\u0a24 (@amitjulka) May 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Calls for more thorough research were prevalent. \u201cBefore you decide to watch Heeramandi<\/em>, just know that if you are easily irked out by historical inaccuracy and flawed Urdu and Punjabi, then don\u2019t watch it. Otherwise, it’s a good ‘I’ll watch anything with good visuals’ kinda series,\u201d advised another viewer.<\/p>\n

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Before you decide to watch heeramandi, just know that if you are easily irked out by historical inaccuracy and flawed urdu and punjabi, then don\u2019t watch it. Otherwise, its a good \u201cill watch anything with good visuals\u201d kinda series.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ariha Fatimah Arain (@arihafatimah) May 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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