A Pakistani doctor named Hamd Nawaz, who goes by the X handle Sophie Schol, recently criticised Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' in a series of tweets on her social media handle.
The Pakistani doctor mentioned that she is writing about the series as she has visited the real Heeramandi and interacted with the women there.
In her tweets, she mentioned how she couldn't find ‘real Heeramandi in the series’, which is being lauded for its larger-than-life sets and set-up.
"I just watched Heeramandi. I found everything but Heermandi in it. Either you don’t set your story in 1940’s Lahore, or if you do, you don’t set it in Agra’s landscape, Delhi’s Urdu, Lakhnavi dresses, and 1840’s vibe. My not-so-sorry Lahori self can’t really let it go," she tweeted.
Just watched Heeramandi. Found everything but heermandi in it. I mean either you don’t set your story in 1940’s Lahore, or if you do- you don’t set it in Agra’s landscape, Delhi’s Urdu, Lakhnavi dresses and 1840’s vibe. My not-so-sorry Lahori self can’t really let it go. pic.twitter.com/1O6Iq36SV9— Hamd Nawaz (@_SophieSchol) May 3, 2024
She also wrote, "To begin with, where exactly is it set? Lake Como? Amalfi Coast? The most evident landmark still visible from every building in today’s remnants of Heera Mandi is the Shahi Qilla-Grand Mosque’s doom and minaret skyline. If you call it Lahore, show Lahore."
To begin with, where exactly is it set? Lake Como? Amalfi Coast? The most evident landmark still visible from every building in today’s remnants of Heera Mandi is the Shahi Qilla-Grand Mosque’s doom and minarets skyline. If you call it Lahore, show Lahore. pic.twitter.com/rR7lVEWW6f — Hamd Nawaz (@_SophieSchol) May 3, 2024
Now Indian director Vivek Agnihotri has also lauded Hamd for the criticism and said that brothels are “monuments of human injustice, pain, and suffering.”.
Quoting Hamd's tweet, Vivek wrote: "Bollywood has the "tendency to romanticise courtesans and brothels.".
Sharing the tweets by Hamd Nawaz, Vivek wrote, "A brilliant critique by @_SophieSchol. I haven’t seen the show, but I have visited Heeramandi in Lahore a few times. Bollywood has this tendency to romanticise courtesans and brothels. It’s a sad commentary because brothels have never been places of opulence, glamour, or beauty. These are monuments to human injustice, pain, and suffering. Those unfamiliar with this should watch Shyam Benegal’s Mandi."
A brilliant critique by @_SophieSchol. I haven’t seen the show, but I have visited Heeramandi in Lahore a few times. Bollywood has this tendency to romanticize courtesans and brothels. It’s a sad commentary because brothels have never been places of opulence, glamour or beauty.… https://t.co/D56qU0Zyg0— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 4, 2024
He further asked makers about taking too much liberty in the name of creativity.
"Also, a question we must ask: Does creativity give us the freedom to glamorise human suffering? Is it okay to make a film where slum life is depicted as a life of abundance? Is it okay to portray slum dwellers wearing clothes as if they are attending an Ambani wedding? "Please discuss," he further tweeted.
A user also wrote on Vivek's tweet: "The glamorization of certain cultures and shows of tawa'if-bazi has been going on—tto portray that somehow their “life and lifestyles” are or were better, only to undermine the same of others, especially Hindus—ffor a very, very long time.
And they call it “larger than life,” woman's "aspirations,” and man’s expression of “love and emotion.”
The reality... one could find behind Turkman Gate, in Delhi, or near Charbagh or Aminabad in Lucknow—if one doesn’t have to travel to Heeramamdi, Lahore—to find the truth."
Another user by the handle, @janme21, said, "Well said. I watched a few minutes of it on Netflix and found it a shallow ad for Indian outfit jewellery with a very tacky screenplay. Skip. 200 cr wasted."
One more wrote: ·
Bollywood doesn't just have a habit; they are obsessed with romanticising brothels, courtesans, etc., particularly in some of the later movies. But I do think this is a SLB problem; his movies thrive on showing opulence. Umrao Jaan and Bazaar were more balanced."
Hamd also wrote about Sharmin, who is Bhansali's niece and plays the lead role of Alamzeb in the series. She criticised her acting in the series as well: “Abhi to, I’m not even touching the nepo-baby going around with a frozen face, lip fillers, and expressionless, rote Urdu. Plot, dialogue delivery, and song selection are other rant-worthy domains. Indian cinema has given us masterpieces. Imagine having all this budget and no research.”
Abhi to, I’m not even touching the nepo-baby going around with a frozen face, lip fillers and expressionless, rote Urdu. Plot, dialogue delivery, song selection is another rant-worthy domain. Indian cinema has given us masterpieces. Imagine having all this budget and no research. — Hamd Nawaz (@_SophieSchol) May 3, 2024
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is an eight-episode series directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and it also marks his OTT debut.
It is set in 1940s Lahore and talks about the lives of tawaifs against the backdrop of India’s independence movement. Heeramandi stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, Taha Shah Badussha, Fardeen Khan, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman.
Heermandi premiered on May 1 on Netflix.
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