Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar

Never expected this meandering story from this genius. None of the characters impresses. It's a strain watching pure dialogue delivery. Boring and lacklustre characters that fail to engage.

It seems the makers just wanted to somehow stretch a story to 8 episodes. The sets and costumes will impress only when you have well fleshed characters . Sorry Bhansali ji you have disappointed us.

Too much effort of audience goes in adjusting to names and recollection of past events because the scenes are forgotten due to lack of potency. I wonder why more effort was not put in. Basic principles of scene construction were ignored.

Something which shines too much is not worthy at all same for the case of heeramandi. IT shines and sparkles with the sets , visuals, production , fabulous acting , Over the top cinematography but fails to deliver in Storyline , plot, british part , curiosity to watch more episodes and I think BGM at points. The music of the whole series is average There was no proper intro song or a proper intro, literally no pre intro scene after the 3rd episode and sometimes it feels way too much dragged and long. No proper explanation of relations and the tawaif culture. Could have been a 2 part movie.

Episode 1 to 3 - 4/5 Episode 4 to 6-1½/5 Episode 7- 4½/5 Episode 8-4/5 Good for one time experience with no expectations.

The tale is a dreary and nonsensical affair.

The screenplay proves a tiresome, protracted bore.

The dialogue is insipid and trite.

Performances are utterly devoid of vitality.

The production values, however, are quite lavish.

The locales are top-notch.

The sets and their adornments are simply splendid.

The costumes are exceptionally fine.

The makeup is rather pleasing.

Cinematography is nothing short of remarkable.

The lighting is impeccable.

Alas, the direction feels hopelessly antiquated.

Its a mixed bag of splendid visuals and dreary narration not recommended for viewing.

****4****

If you are a sucker for visually pleasing set pieces, then this is a treat for your eyes. The set design will definitely be the benchmark for Indian cinema for days to come. Every scene looks like a painting. The costume design is immaculately seductive, feminine and elegant making everyone look so rich in taste.

First half of the show, with a lengthy narrative introduces us to its timeline and courtesan's life beyond the singing , dancing and beds. Themes like betrayal, envy, scheming,revenge, poltical subplots are slowly disclosed which gets you hooked as it builds up immense curiosity to find out how it all pans out. As it is set in the pre independence era, it also sheds light on freedom struggle amongst different strata of the society. The writing is just so clean and detailed. Highly appreciable.

But for some reason, the show makers decide to abandon all of these, all the great characters, the story building they themselves did so spectacularly. They just give up all of this to some lazy writing towards the end and devote the concluding moments in exploring "Patriotism" out of the blue. This immediately makes you unhinged from the screenplay, story and it sets in a strong sense of detachment towards the characters.

The show had everything going right for them since the beginning. The actors did a superb job. The art department blew it out of the park. The story had immense potential. But for some reason the writers were in a hurry to finish and didn't climax smoothly XD

Could've easily been a 9/10 but sadly doesn't hold up its side of the bargain.

"Heeramandi" offers a sumptuous dive into the intricate world of high-class "tawaifs", with its opulent sets and captivating storytelling. Aditi Rao Hydari shines brightly in her role, while Sonakshi Sinha and Manisha Koirala command the screen with their exceptional performances. Richa Chadha and Sanjeeda Sheikh deliver commendable portrayals despite limited screen time.

In short, everyone was good except SHARMIN SEGAL what was Bhansali thinking while casting her as a lead... I can do better than her.

Yet the costume team deserves high praise for their exquisite work, creating a visual feast with every attire showcased in the series. Their attention to detail enhances the viewing experience, capturing the essence of the era beautifully.

In conclusion, "Heeramandi" is a captivating journey through a fascinating era, marred only by a misstep in casting. Nonetheless, its visual splendor and compelling performances make it a worthy watch, especially for enthusiasts of period dramas.