Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi is a perfect amalgamation of stunning ensemble, captivating acting skills, and aesthetic sets. It is an appropriate blend of rich culture and traditions. Here’s why it should be in your watchlist
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi has been making the rounds for a while now. Bhansali leaves no stone unturned to make his OTT debut a true masterpiece. Heeramandi’s extravagant sets, catchy tunes, perfect ensemble, rich heritage, and culture have made an impression everywhere, from Instagram reels to Pinterest mood boards. Amidst the growing craze of the web series, here are a few reasons why one should not miss watching Heeramandi.
Stellar Ensemble
Well, when it comes to the cast of Heeramandi, we can say that Bhansali has truly chosen diamonds. The stunning cast includes Sonakshi Sinha, Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman. Manisha Koirala and Sonakshi Sinha’s enmity makes the plot more interesting. Meanwhile, Aditi Rao Hydari’s charisma and Richa Chadha’s chic style are captivating. Shekar Suman and Fardeen Khan spell royal, neatly fitting into the character of Nawab.
Larger than life sets
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his extravagant sets and minute details present in every nook and cranny of them. Heeramandi’s set is no different; it speaks of class, vibrancy, rich culture, and heritage. The set features several Mughal Shahi Mahals, mosques, colonial buildings depicting British settlements, and a chaotic bazaar that brings life to everything. In an interview, the Gangu Bai director confirmed that for 7 months, over 700 craftsmen worked on the glorious and gigantic sets of Heeramandi. After getting into the nitty-gritty details, one understands that Bhansali has used different colour palettes reflecting different character shades.
Feminism is at its peak
In the 21st century, where people do not treat women as mere side characters but protagonists of the stories, Heeramandi is a perfect watch. It won’t be an exaggeration if we say the plot of the series is “Of the women, for the women, and by the women.” Every female character in the series has her own say, story, and struggle. In spite of being in the same establishment, no two female characters are overshadowed by each other. On one hand, we meet the character of Bibojaan, for whom freedom is love; on the other hand, we meet the character of Alamzeb, for whom love is freedom. Small female characters like Satto-Phatto, who play the roles of servants, make their presence felt with their courage and boldness.
Melodious music.
Apart from the engaging plot and captivating acting skills, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has given us catchy tunes to groove on. The lyrics of these Thumris reflect the complicated Nawaab-Tawaif relationship, while artists (Tawaifs) make appropriate use of the music and portray their stunning dancing skills. The music easily takes us back to the courtesans era.
Blooming love story
Heeramandi is clearly different than most of the content on OTT platforms these days. The story has the least amount of fighting or bold scenes, yet it has perfectly reached the masses. Apart from the gripping plot, one of the main reasons for Heeramandi’s popularity is its enchanting love story. The blooming love between a nawab and a tawaif melts our hearts. We, as the audience, journey through the couple’s love story as they live it. The story that initially starts with innocence reaches a cliffhanger as it demands sacrifice. Taha and Sharmin’s acting, their poetic way of expressing love, and their gut-wrenching sacrifice make it a Bollywood love story.
