Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut on the streaming platform with ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ was met with high expectations. Released on May 1, the series promised a rich tapestry of pre-Independence Lahore, a city known for its cultural vibrancy and historical significance. However, the show has since been embroiled in controversy, with viewers and critics alike pointing out glaring historical inaccuracies and a lack of authenticity in its portrayal.
The series, which boasts a star-studded cast and a budget of a whopping 200 crores, has been criticized for its anachronistic elements. Viewers from Lahore, the very heart of the story’s setting, have expressed disappointment over the show’s landscape, which seems to borrow more from Agra than Lahore itself. The language, too, strays from the authentic Urdu spoken in Lahore during the 1940s, instead reflecting dialects from Delhi. The costumes, reminiscent of Lucknow rather than Lahore, add to the dissonance, leaving audiences feeling disconnected from the era the show claims to represent.
The narrative’s focus on the courtesans of Heeramandi has also come under scrutiny. The portrayal of these women, often shown in a state of intoxication, has been described as a caricature that does little justice to the nuanced lives they led. The use of Urdu, delivered in a tone meant to be seductive, has been labeled as a disservice to the language’s rich literary heritage.
Despite the lavish production, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ seems to have missed the mark in capturing the essence of the time and place it aimed to depict. The question remains: can Bhansali’s visual spectacle make up for the historical liberties taken, or will the series be remembered as a missed opportunity to tell a more accurate and engaging story?
