Heeramandi Review | Sucharita Tyagi | Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Netflix
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- čas přidán 3. 05. 2024
- Heeramandi is consumed by its own vastness.
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Heeramandi Web Series Review by Sucharita Tyagi - Considering the time, talent and expertise that went into making Heeramandi, and there is a TONNE of work here, the show only fully manages to come into its own, after resetting about 5 times, in the final episode. I won't reveal what leads up to this point, but to see the tawaifs young and old march up to British prison where a firing squad is about to assassinate one of their own, singing songs of a Azaadi gives me goosebumps to even think about right now. We finally get a solid glimpse into the cultural decline of the era, a country on the cusp of change, highlighting even further the missed opportunities for deeper exploration. We are told over and over, Tawaifs are artists and not sex workers, yet not once do we see them take dance lessons, do kisi kism ke shastriya sangeet ka riyaaz, imply how hard they work at their craft. Fareedan aayi toh seedhe mujre par baith gayi, par seekh kar kya aayi aisa joh Mallika ya Bibbojaan ko khatra ho unki kala se, yeh kabhi pata hi nahi chala.
#Heeramandi #Review #SanjayLeelaBhansali #Netflix #SonakshiSinha #ManishaKoirala #SucharitaTyagi #AditiRaoHydari #TahaShah #SharminSehgal #FardeenKhan
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is an Indian Hindi-language period drama television series created and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The series is about the lives of tawaifs at the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement against the British Raj. It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal.
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Be decent people,
Sucharita
Thank u so much Sucharita for mentioning my character in such wonderful words..made my day!
Loved you ma'am in the show...whether in the laughs or the teary scenes you were absolutely great🎉
u were outstanding
Stole the show
Absolutely beautiful performance 🎉
Loved your performance ❤ excellent in every scene
The looooong screentime that sharmin got in the show was painful to watch considering her bland dialogue delivery and expressions. Pure nepotism at its peak.
@abhishekbabu810 very well said!
True
That introduction is sanjay leela bansali in a nutshell. He creates exquisite empty paintings.
Bro stripped bhansali naked with his keypad.😂😂
Lol this!
He is as overrated as sabyasachi
Bhai bhai 😆😆😆
Ornate jewellery boxes with nothing inside is how I've described his recent output.
Richa's storyline felt incomplete, almost like an afterthought and Alam just didn't fit.
I would have liked to see more of Aditi.
Most of the actors are putting a lot of effort in subtely but failing miserably.. the 'ada' doesn't come to them naturally and the worst is Alamzeb
The biggest pet peeve for me in this series was Sharmin lipsyncing to Shreya Ghoshal. I mean she couldn't move her lips properly forget about the facial expressions that was the worst.
Too much botox and lip fillers....her face is permanently expressionless
Omg i totally agree! It actually annoyed me that such a beautiful song was performed so poorly by her. She was a complete miscast for this series.
Same for Aditi
I think the man who played ustaad also deserves a mention. Very good performance.
Absolutely agree.Indresh Malik is just terrific. Probably the best!!
a 100% .... I would rate his performance miles ahead and better than those of the AWFUL Shekhar and Adhyayan Suman ... YIKES !!!!
Absolutely agree. He was so so good, and not an easy part to say yes to
My favourite scene was when sonakshi puts a nose ring on them and they see themselves in the mirror. Such great longingness portrayed by the actor felt like an untold story. Idk if Bollywood would ever have the courage to tell that story but I'd like to see it
@@nv7883yes l would have loved to see the story behind that
Tripti Dimri as Alam would have been amazing
As we have similar in qala
yes, also Wamiqa Gabbi.
Yes she’s also more beautiful and enchanting, which Alam is supposed to be.
I was imagining Jennifer Winget...
Totally agree. Both Tripti Dimri and Wamiqa would have suited the show much better
I was thinking the same while watching it. Tripti dimri.
Alam reminded me of Sonams Character in Saawariya.
The movie lacks research. It's like Bhansali made the sets first and later thought of a story, and then haphazardly put it all together. I found Farida Jalal's presence very comforting. And Manisha Koirala stole the show.
Agree, Manisha is amazing throughout the series. Farida g is a darling ❤❤❤
So true on the research. Literally no one on set could read urdu? The bookshop scene had a copy of Peer e Kamil by Umaira Ahmed, which is a mistake as big as putting 3KG music in Bridgerton
@@missyquill5709 that’s the reason the actors were also struggling with Urdu, they were confused in k, kh, g, gh…. Sadly these generation of actors can’t even say Hindi properly, Urdu to rehne de. If you watch Pakeezah, Umraojaan, you will find the flow of Urdu dialogues mesmerizing. SLB can create beautiful sets but couldn’t work on actors diction?
@@missyquill5709there are a lot of pop songs in a classical version in Bridgerton, and also K3G song is there. The whole point of the show is that it is not historically accurate, as it is showing white characters marrying non-white characters anyways. It was a deliberate, stylistic choice to use music from the wrong time period.
A better comparison would be to use a wrong element in Pride and Prejudice or something.
I agree.
Alamzeb spoiled the show for me :( Why Sanjay? Why?
His niece
I respect that he wanted to give his niece a chance..but she needed to be intensely trained in being able to emote. Sadly the lip enhancement gave her a permanently fixtured half smile so even when there was tragedy the audience could not tell if she was happy or sad 🥹
@@neisham7478 absolutely right
Absolutely.
Along with the script/story writing.
He should have exchanged saima and alam actors seriously 😭
Unfortunately no one is talking much about Waheeda's character played by Sanjeeda
Cos her story was so weird and incomplete. Same for lajjo
Yeah, coz her character never developed properly and was so inconsistent. There was no reason given for her to turn good suddenly. Her character wasn't not given much nuance, she was just there.
I really loved her character, she did a great job.
Aditi rao hydari had the best and most consistent story arc.For all the other characters the abrupt change in motivations towards the end was really weird!
Being a Lahori, everything felt wrong about Heeramandi of Mr. Bhansali and I am astounded to see Indians commenting "Hamari series hai, mat daikho/Pakistan diDn'T eVeN eXiSt bAcK tHeN" okay but Lahore did??? What is this stupid excuse to not research enough about the city your whole series is based in?
Sharmin was a massive letdown. Sanjeeda Sheikh was outstanding. Richa Chadda's character felt more like a cameo.
You have all.the right to criticize madam.. don't listen to the ones who talk rubbish.
I 100% agree that you should be allowed to give criticism.
But just out of curiosity…..which part did you feel was inaccurate? Because I have heard that the tawaifs contributed a lot to the struggle of freedom, but they still did not get the recognition they deserved. I think their story needed to be told
Infact it looks like Lucknow more than Lahore it's a Punjabi territory for god sake they are putting lucknowi style of nazaakat than Lahori style of it
My family migrated in 47, from Lehnda to Charda Punjab. Considering how many Hindus and Sikhs (with their own huge internal diversity) lived in pre partition Lahore, and what a cosmopolitan city it was, the sheer absence of any religious, cultural, ethnic diversity in Bhansali's Lahore was shocking. Zor zor se bol kar koi nahi batata to pata hi nhi chalta ki Lahore mein set hai.
Lol, why would you expect realism and research from SLB. None of his historical movies, neither Devdas, nor Gangubai got the cities right. They only belong in SLB's head. To be fair to him, he never did claim any historical accuracy here.
I can’t believe, she didn’t once talk about Aditi Rao Hydari and her acting which was my favourite.
Agreed! The most sensible and stable character arc and story too amongst the lot.
bibojaan was hero nd her mother manisha was villan both were excellent
I was looking for this comment.
Agreed! Most beautiful looks and craft was by Bibbojaan, almost feels intentional to not mention Aditi Rao Hydari
“Kathak ke classes dobara start kar do” hits very close to home, I feel attacked 😂❤
Do you even know history of heeramandi it's really sad people are liking this show
That scene when Fareedan makes Ustaad wear a nath was very impactful.
I struggled to understand the symbolism of that scene
He's a closeted gay.
Sonakshi did a great job...also Ustaad was too good!
What was the symbolism therw
I mean, let’s not glorify Ustaad’s character just cause he was an unspecified queer token to pander to a certain community. He was essentially a pim.p who misused the conflict between two groups of Tawaifs for his selfish needs, and he only had a change of heart in the very last episode.
My belief in Bhansali is shattered just by the fact that he casted Sharmin for Alam! Disappointed and practically betrayed! C’mon the girl got NOTHING!
A dummy could have replaced her easily.
Even sharing the scene with Manisha Koirala and other great actresses felt like an insult to them.
What a waste
😢
Richa Chadha is easily the best this industry has produced. Just a short appearance in a movie and she can make it her own. She did the same with this one, towering over everyone else without asking for attention. Such a fierce performer!❤
True...❤
Richa should have been cast as Sonakashi's character. I wouldn't have given up mid second episode then.
@@rm3015 yeah...
But actually she chose this role by herself...
@@devendralilke6182 actors dont choose role by themselves lol.
Its casting director is in charge to choose which actor for any role.
@@gyansahu2894but she mentioned in an interview she gave up another character to play this one
I so agree with u regarding the absence of dance lessons or music lessons taken by these girls. If u watch the old umrao jaan movie you care about the character because you see her journey of becoming a tawaif. That entire morning montage of her growing up and taking dance lessons along with the resident princess makes us care so much about her and her craft so later when she falls from her grace it affects us emotionally. Rather than fighting about "sahab". The fight could have been about art and one's pursuit of achieving excellence
i feel like this type of story will always be in the shadow of Rekha + Asha Bhosle..
Sharmin ruined the series for me
She is Bhansali's niece. Nepo kid
For everyone I guess 😂😂😂
Best one line review of the series.
Woh character arc starting me khatam Kar Dena tha
The role of alamzeb should have gone to the actresses playing sayema or shama (waheeda's daughter) who also played jaya in lapata ladies
She would have killed it with her charming performance but unfortunately she has no relatives in Bollywood
In the film Geisha, which opens similar theme of how Geisha in Japan arent prostitutes but artists. This film really shows how much a Geisha is made to work on her craft. It took it my breath away. So i agree with Sucharita that Heermandi could have shown that background homework done by Tawaifs
Heeramandi isnt anywhere near Geisha. I binge watched HM only because I am stuck in bed with covid. Nothing which took my breath away. Story was in the wrong timeline for one. The sets and costumes were glamorous...but that is all. Is that the only criteria to present a block buster series?? Would you watch Geisha multiple times? Would you watch Heera Mandi for the second time??
I was definitely missing that
Watched it for Manisha Supreme Koirala ♥️ Could NOT stand AlamZeb !!!!!
Me too, love manisha ❤❤❤
Can't agree enough. At one point, felt like slapping Alamzeb through screen.
@@TanuGupta2112 please go ahead, one from my side also🤣🤣🤣 For me Manisha saved it, I skipped all other’s scenes just watched Manisha’s ❤️❤️❤️
@@saniyakhan3110 ikr?! She was smirking throughout the series for no reason. Now I understand that some have lips that may appear as if they are smiling even if its a resting face but then understand your problem area and compensate by showing emotions through other features of your face. But Nada. Dead. Zero. I don't know wtf she was doing and it's even strange to me that SLB okayed all of her scenes. How????? Itna andha pyaar bhanji ke liye?😭
@@TanuGupta2112 even her voice is also bad, really andha pyar hi hai maamu ka🤣🤣🤣
Classic case of not seeing the forest for the trees. Bhansali was so engrossed in making the perfect frame that everything else was lost in translation.
Attention to detail is impeccable! Tez hawa urdu printed newspaper with covid news! Like really? Alam turning the book pages right to left!!!! And then over acting looking at a gramophone in 1940 whilst gauhar jahn was already a star by 1920s!! And humein dekhni hein, which is hum dekhenge-lite was not so soul sitting considering they made a ghunghroo stick to march with!!! 😆😆😆 and also the intricate poetry in Saiyaan hato jao aap baDe WO ho! 😂😂😂😂😂
😂
Turning the pages right to left is because she’s reading Urdu. That’s how the script is written and printed.
Rest is all great observation 😀
Sharmin looks stunning beyond belief??? Maybe Sucharita has not seen beautiful women. Ash in Devdas was stunning beyond belief. Sharmin is not beautiful tbh.
Not to bash anyone but yes I didnt find her that pretty. I had to look up whether she was related to someone famous that she got such an incredible role..and sure enough!
@@PropertyGuru-pp6on : Spot on 😂
I wanted to write this too but didn't want to sound mean. I didn't even find sharmin pretty let alone stunning 😮 I felt bad for the girl..SLB didn't do her a favor by casting her in this role for which she neither has the looks nor the acting talent. He actually set her up for all the criticism that is so vehemently directed towards her!
@@fatimaadil371 : I hear you 🙌🏻 In fact even I wouldn’t have said anything if Sucharita had not said that Sharmin looked stunning beyond belief 😂
She ruined the whole show. She does not have the acting chops or urdu diction skills to carry out the central role. When she said the line in Urdu "100 pigs died" I was actually laughing
I wanted to see Nawabs and their sons and daughters learn Tehzeeb at Heeramandi under the Tawifs' tutelage.That, for me would give Heeramandi the gravitas it claims to have. Now I was unsure what it was.. was it a brothel? Was it like NMACC? 😛
That was missing.. Sharmin's acting and Sonakshi's acting were underwhelming.. Why did Rehana and Fareedan have the same face? That was random lol.
Fareedan was Rehana’s daughter. It’s happened in many movies that parent and child have same face.
I remember when Kalaank came out some people were saying how SLB would be able to do justice to the scale and premise of the movie. Even the name of the area Madhuri and Varun were from was Heeramandi. Fast forward to now and it seems like it was just wishful thinking. At least Kalaank had some memorable songs.
I don't think kalank is an SLB movie, it was kjo trying hard at an SLB lookalike movie ahahahahha
Felt like everything was crammed into one series… It could’ve used a few more seasons to do justice to all the characters and their arcs. Aalam’s role could have been cast differently, but Bibojan stole my heart! 💖 Manisha ji, Richa ji, and of course, Sonakshi totally owned the screen. Their performances were standout! 🎭 The ending had me feeling all the feels-so bittersweet and beautiful. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts, Sucharita ji! Always love and support! ❤️
For me, the showstopper of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film is always the music, and the letdown in Heeramandi was the music, for me. The scope of classical music was huge in Heeramandi. Not that the compositions were not good, but they failed to leave an impact, that, for instance, mohe rang do laal had. Speaking of the urdu talaffuz, the only one doing it effortlessly, was perhaps Farida Jalal. I had loved Farida Jalal in Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi. I wish there was a reprise of a somewhat similar role for her, or maybe, along the same lines, but a more grey/negative character, with more screen presence. I wish Seema Pahwa and Neena Gupta were also part of the series.
Heeramandi in a nutshell - Penny wise, pound Foolish. He is so focused on making every frame look pretty, but lost track. of the big picture - no soul, no connect, everything seems fake.
The show in the middle got dull but for me delivered mostly at the end idk why alamzeb got soo much screen time her character was boring snd her acting was horrible
Because she is nepo kid he launched his niece
Okay i haven't heard anyone say this before - Shriya Pilgaonkar would have been perfect as Alam. Remember her blushing expressions in Mirzapur? god, would have been perfect
I had the same thought!
Suchitra , when you said coy, angry, devastated, hurt…Sharmin had the same look….that is very true. I loved her in Malaal, but even then without the lip enhancers I struggled to interpret her expressions… was she passionately in love or just meh with the guy… was she intrigued by him, was she embarrassed by him…so many emotions to play but sadly the same passive look. Both men, Meezaan and Raha were excellently cast in Malaal and Hera..not just dashing good looks, but incredible actors who make the audience really invest in them…and so they carried the romance along and emoted well
It was lovely to see Manisha Koirala after a long time and she was so great. I'm on episode 6 right now and the show on the whole is a hot mess, but it's still watchable enough that I wanna see it to the end.
This review is as mundane and dull as the show itself. Looks like Sucharita is deliberately restrained in bashing this awful show, the usual spark is missing.
I was eagerly Waiting for your review!
This is so most accurate review 🎉❤
Honestly the series feels Ekata Kapoors daily soap which directed by SLB with GOT budget. Visually stunning but lack in story.
The only review of Hiramandi I was waiting for! I was rooting for you to be able to recover the channel. So relieved to see you back!
Sucharita, who knows whether you’ll read this.
I love your absolutely precise and correct usage of Hindi words (I’m happy with the sprinkling of just words and phrases, ‘shuddh sampoorn vaky’ I don’t expect)
Jahan jitna mil jaaye, thank you hai.
I honestly believe SLB is highly overrated. I don't get the hype around him. He is a decent director but some people treat him like once in a millania director.
I always look forward to your reviews.I trust your judgement mam.🎉
Conclusion of the story
Unity makes you stronger
Every single person deserve some respect
I really liked how grand the show is, the sarees, and the choreography at some points. But i really did not understand what exactly happrned in episode 7 and 8. At one moment we see Bibbo's character handling her jewels to freedom fighters behind her mother and the next is Mallikajaan making them eat a proper meal. It felt like i missed something.
Though on the positive side i am amazed by how beautifully SLB presents women. It feels.like am i born in the wrong era or simething like that.
The best thing is Sanjay voice at the end of the show, he explain the real truth of women reality in society
Watch "RAJKAHINI" it's a bengali movie based on same time period and also about Tawaifs. Its a stunning movie with compact storyline, I am sure you'll enjoy it
Was waiting for your take! 😊
A novel from 2014 Urdu novel was shown in the series that means time travel existed 😂
Which novel?
Frankly I did not find Richa Chadda's and taha's character engaging at all........i was so goddamn bored by the show. And that climax......so rushed. But Manisha Koirala was amazing
Finally!! Been waiting for your review!!!
I was waiting for your review only. Thank you 😊
Everytime that interesting rating given in the end. Subscribed you for that. 😇
Most on point review.
An exquisite series to be watched to big screen tv and not on small mobile screens.
But story telling takes the hit. Only grand sets and bold dialogues won’t save the whole storyline.
After 4 episodes I am not anymore compelled to carry on further.
I was waiting for your review. :)
Was waiting for this review kub se🥰
Fantastical Review Sucharita ! You gave words to our feelings of awe amazement and pain too 😊
The choice of BHackground music in your video was surprising, I took off my headphones thrice to check if the sound was from outside the window or from the video, not complaining, just found it intriguing!
Hey, Sucharita, surprised that you didn't mention Indresh Malik's stunning performance as Ustaad ji. One of the absolute best performances in a long time!
I binge watched it and finished it in 2 days without missing one scene…oh what a masterpiece!
Loved Indresh Malik's role as Ustaad ji after ofcourse, Manisha's and Sonakshi's❤
As stated by Sucharita, watch this to immerse yourself in the exquisiteness, the grandeur and not necessarily in a somewhat loose ended plot.
Thanks for being HONEST ❤
I’m on the seventh episode but just couldn’t wait to watch your review, Sucharita ! For me - Manisha Koirala was incredible - I think the actor - director duo has come such a long way from Khamoshi, it’s truly incredible. My mind immediately went to alternate casting, Mahira as Bibbo, Rekha as Mallika and Mrunal Thakur/ Sajal Aly as Alam would’ve elevated the show sooooo much.
Lastly, I think if they would’ve picked one episode to deal with one conflict and brought it together in the end over a long and stretched narrative just lugging throughout 8 episodes, it may have worked better
I am surprised that you didn't take note of the character "Ustaad ji", amazingly played by Indresh Malik. What a stellar performance ❤
Bang on Review
Exactly explained how it was
It was a great watch folks. Not to be missed. Good acting , fabulous sets and believable
The last song I was sobbing even before I realized. It’s truly a great show. And definitely one should watch sukun ke saath
Manisha Koirala was poetry on screen....inspite of being so beautiful even now...without being over dramatic....she gave a very controlled, nuanced, yet very engaging performance...of various emotions... of bravery, power, vulnerability, empathy, cruelty, depravity...all with such subtelity.....it is unimaginable how any other actor could have managed what Manisha has in Heeramandi...A performance of a lifetime !
I completely agree with your opinions.
It felt like a long star plus drama
Where do even beging, the script had so many flaws, to the extent it seemed outright silly in some episodes. Like the one where Fareedan finds the plans of the revolutionaries in a room which was not even locked, while Tajdar was hosting a party for british officiers in the house. Alam being blissfully unaware of Fareedan's tactics and asking her for help. The Ustaad backstabbing Mallikajaan, then in the later episodes talking about his deep loyalty to her. Had Mr. Bhansali or Mr.Baig contacted me I could have helped them with a far better script... for free. Jokes apart, Sharmin Segal seems to be the next Sara Ali khan in the making, getting roles way above her acting skills.... atleast Sara overacts, but Sharmin only has wooden expressions. And her character Alam writes such mediocre poetry, but aims to become a great poet.....couldn't Bhansali find any good urdu poets....maybe by the time they built the sets there was no money left. Also Bhansali should leave the music to the experts. The urdu used in the series felt similar to the punjabi used in Hindi movies, a dumbed down version.
Other than the beautiful cinematography and the oppulent sets, there is nothing very positive about this series.
Bibbojaan has my whole heart ❤️ Aditi actually performed brilliantly and her mujras are the best of all!
I actually loved Satto-Phatto, Saima and her Sikh lover's story. Felt sad for him at the end.
Spot on! Tried to get into it but got lost somewhere along the plot !
I agree with your take on it being not fit for bingeing.. I wish they had released it as one episode per week instead of all at once - like GoT. May have given SLB the opportunity to go back and re-edit some of the later episodes based on audience reactions
NGL, was waiting for your review...
Was eagerly looking forward to this. I have always been an SLB fan. I loved this series. Manisha was sensational. Also loved Sonakshi and Aditi. Last 15 minutes were a bore. I liked Alamzeb & Tajdar’s love story too
I think Sanjay leela bhansali have no such restrictions as he faced in past and despite being Pakistani I was all up for it but the series has some bigger holes in his writing and casting
If the same budget were given to a Pakistani Director, I think he would have done the series with far far far more finesse and accuracy. For example the pronunciation of Urdu words was so underwhelming, the acting of all the lead actors left me disappointed, the unnecessary voice fry vexed me a lot. In fact the supporting actors were very good, almost outshining the leads. In all, it was a very disappointing series. It had only exaggerated dialogues and extravagant sets and costumes.
You’re absolutely absolutely right
I skipped most of Alamzeb's love story. Also the show deviated from its main plot which was Manisha Koirala vs Sonakshi and starts exploring the Indian Freedom Struggle
Heeramandi made me want to see Pakeezah, yet again, another time. .
What I loved :
Bhansali’s beautiful world with the stunning sets, women, costumes, jewellery - I was awestruck & in love!!
Manisha Koirala was the true Mallika of this one! What a comeback!
Although this was nowhere as “Paak” (pure) as Pakeezah, its still an ode & Bhansali clearly is as obsessed with Pakeezah, as I am :
- Alamzeb’s hair in the small urli, taken from Meena Kumari’s iconic shot in the giant-size urli
- When Manisha K screams “Qutubuddin” - I could hear Veena’s “Shahabuddin”!
Though nothing can match the haunting “aaj hum apni duaon ka asar” & the dance on glass, but SBL had to copy that walking on glass too
- Bringing Alam to his home, with relatives sleeping, yet cannot match the OG Uncle voice - “tum yeh bazaari gaali hume nahin de sakte”! Wowwww - what a dialogue!!
- Tribute to Rajkumar’s tent on the seaside/lake side (Very Vanyavilas 😊)
- The macro shot from top (very Gangubai vibes) with black figures & tonga breezing through it! Outstanding! Richa Chadha’s post death scene & song was the best shot; as per me
(Frankly, for me, post this scene, the series nosedived!)
- Loved the touch of Asa Singh Mastana’s Heer playing so softly in the background in one of the gambling scenes
- Loved that Azaadi song - nice tribute to “hum dekhenge” (Iqbal Bano)
What I felt sad about :
SLB is the only one who could have tried to make something close to Pakeezah. He attempted it & spent so much. Yet, he failed! There’s no way he can repeat this feat & scale & try again- this made me sad!
After the first 2-3 episodes, he was running in all directions. He could not put soul in the romance of Alam & Taj - so so wrong as he is the master of emotion & romance
It was tiresome after first 3, it lost the edge. He should have contained it in a 2-3 hour movie! Post that, it drags - I felt more sad than anything else. Too disjointed!
Bhansali says he cant see his movies as he’s too critical. He shouldn’t see this one. It’ll make him realise that he had so much going for himself yet he messed it up - “royally”!
I feel for him! Aisa mauka phir kahan milega . .
Nailed it!
I was hypnotised by the first two episodes of the show. I rewatched them again and again, just to absorb the sheer opulence, the acting prowess of Manisha Koirala, and the BGM. @SucharitaTyagi, you forgot to mention the spectacular BGM, also Mallika Jaan. The BGM reminded me a lot of Game of Thrones. I won't blame you though for not mentioning them as there're so much fine details in the show that one can never notice in one watch. And if you are binge-watching it then you are bound to miss the soul of the show. Having said that, I couldn't agree more with your opinions on the plots, sub-plots and performances of actors, escpecially Alamzeb. Alamzeb deserved a better actor. The show needed more seasons to do justice with all the sub-plots. I wanted to know Bibbojaan's history. How she got linked with the freedom fighters. Fareedan's adventures. Of course, more of Lajjo's and Waheeda's story. Saima's struggles. It was like Bhansali wanted to show a lot of things in a short time, and he ended up blabbering everything. But he undoubtably crafted beautiful and diverse characters, and it had potential of being India's GOT. Still, I am fan and would rewatch it again, and again, and probably again.
10/10 - it will grow on you !!
In fact for the first time I found Bhansali has found a golden balance of grandeur and good story. I dont know if this is not a story then what is?
I watched the whole series at once. Surprisingly. Visually very pleasing, audibly even better. The heart, well, not really well-placed. But worth one watch run for sure :)
Heeramandi is an absolutely well made, beautifully presented, work of art, which has depth, and pulls at the heartstrings emotionally...Suchitra...I guess has got a one track mind and wants a Magnum Opus to just follow one single story track of struggle between the mother and daughter....The moment there are other characters that have their own stories and struggles, Suchitra gets confused... Suchitra cannot grasp complicated storylines and sub plots...She reminds me of a little girl next door who gets all confused when there are complications and other stories in one story.....Heeramandi is for people who love to see complex stories...complex characters...all intermingling yet standing out on their own...This is possible only due to the fact, that Sanjay Leela Bhansali..is a maestro who could create poetry...on screen...with the performances...the opulence...the poetry...and could hold it up so well together with emotions which tugged at ones heartstrings.... Suchitra picked up Richa Chadda's performance as the best....Richha's performance was the most dramatic for the time span she was on screen..and it was no doubt well done by her...but that will appeal to most people who are not so well versed with film making...even if not dramatic it should appeal and convey. ..and that is what Sanjeeda Shaikh could achieve with a not so dramatic part...and Suchitra could not find any novelty in Sanjeeda's performance....She does not delve into the complexities of Mallikajaan, played by Manisha...And she finds it hard to comprehend how the evilness of Sonakshi's character turns to being good too... Suchitra can see characters as only good and evil..Complex grey characters is beyond her....She even loved the character who played Mallikajaans servant..that too was a very dramatic one...But there too she loved it so much she forgot the characters name !......Sad, being a supposed serious cinema reviewer, Suchitra can only appreciate dramatic characters and has no understanding of subtitles in performances....Pretty shallow for a seasoned critique of cinema...!
Suchitra wanted to see how the tawaifs do riyaz..how they .learn the dance... steps...etc...
Suchitra loved the very dramatic ending..when there is so much to admire in every frame ...every scene of this film...Again dramatic is only what she understands...!...So limiting is her understanding of cinema..!
This is not a documentary of tawaifs ...but a Magnum Opus of a grand scale opulence ....of tawaifs who danced, deceived, loved, celebrated life...in grand splendor...with myriad of emotions tugging at one's heartstrings...
I would give a standing ovation to the maestro Sanjay Leela Bhansali to bring that bygone era..adab...thezeeb...zubaan... opulence.... memorable performances.... glorious music...to bring it all...with such elegance to the screen....Salute !
Why is everyone not acknowledging sanjeeda . I think hers was the best performance
Took the words right out of my mouth. Was worried for a minute that you might be biased as you were part of the promotions, wanted to like this more than I did. And yes, Sakal ban and azadi are incredible. Completely hooked.
You are absolutely right ma'am. I binged watched it, and unfortunately I can see all the flaws and lags in the series. The characters of bibbojaan, satto-fatto, tajdar and mallikajaan tried their best to balance the series. Otherwise it is not the best work of Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Who played young Malikajaan?
Wow great review...
👍
Btw wow Bob Dylan picture on the wall .... timothee chalamet will be great in bob Dylan biopic 😅❤
thoroughly loved watching the show even with the flaws in the script
Susbcribed for the bravery n honesty with which uou described Alemzeb!
Sanjeeda was phenomenal in her role, she just wasnt given the chance to do anything with her anger, no closure to her character.
You didnt mension Inderesh Malik as ustaad ji who was also extremely convincing in his role.
SLB has that passionate romanticism, he has created the lost world v beautifully. The series is appreciated worldwide.
I loved #Sonakshi's performance ❤❤❤🙌🙌🔥🔥🔥
Manisha was wonderful in the series. I wonder why Sanjay Bhansali took 28 long years to work with her again.
Also I loved loved the dialogues..coming back to back like a punch or a breeze after every few seconds. I wish I could talk like that
The angle in the start was quite distracting. Afterwards it was fine. Loved the review tho.
Ah, the Urdu fairydust in your review just gives it added lustre! ✨️
Couldn't finish episode one . Can you review challengers